In the early 1930s, experiments with "Sound Montage" constructed films based on musical rules by perfectly synchronizing cutting and music. Citizen Kane used music by Bernard Herrmann. Films expressed time and rhythm through camera movements like pans, tracks, and tilts. The documentary "New Earth" represented machinery with natural sounds and men with music, with a score by Hanns Eisler that was innovative for its time. The avant-garde film "L'Idee" had an imaginative score by Arthur Honegger using an electronic ondes martenot instrument. Other notable avant-garde documentary films of the era included "Le sang d'un poete", "Zero de Conduite", and "

1. Md. Robiul IslamMd. Robiul Islam
Roll: AA-048-07Roll: AA-048-07

2. My TopicsMy Topics
 Sound MontageSound Montage
Expressing time and rhythmExpressing time and rhythm
 Sound used in the early days documentarySound used in the early days documentary
& Avant garde film& Avant garde film

3. Sound MontageSound Montage
• In the early 1930s, there were someIn the early 1930s, there were some
interesting experiments attempted in ‘Soundinteresting experiments attempted in ‘Sound
Montage’. Sound Montage is essentiallyMontage’. Sound Montage is essentially
constructing films according to the rules ofconstructing films according to the rules of
musicmusic
• Sound montage could be totally successful ifSound montage could be totally successful if
the music could be perfectly synchronized sothe music could be perfectly synchronized so
that the time of the cutting and time of musicthat the time of the cutting and time of music
would correspond exactly.would correspond exactly.

4. Citizen kane ( 1941)Citizen kane ( 1941)
Director: Orson WellesDirector: Orson Welles
Music by Bernard HerrmannMusic by Bernard Herrmann

5. Expressing time andExpressing time and
rhythmrhythm
An idea used to express time and rhythm with film was theAn idea used to express time and rhythm with film was the
moving of the camera itself. They used panning,moving of the camera itself. They used panning,
traveling and flying camera shots to show things not onlytraveling and flying camera shots to show things not only
from unusual angles but, Bornemanfrom unusual angles but, Borneman
claims :-claims :-
• time and rhythm, for example, could now be expressedtime and rhythm, for example, could now be expressed
by horizontal and vertical to-and-fro movements.by horizontal and vertical to-and-fro movements.

6. • Crescendo and decrescendo by approaching andCrescendo and decrescendo by approaching and
retreating the camera.retreating the camera.
• The melodic curve by corresponding curve-movementThe melodic curve by corresponding curve-movement
of the camera.of the camera.
• Slow motion, Ultra rapid motion were used toSlow motion, Ultra rapid motion were used to
represent musical time variationsrepresent musical time variations
• Fade in and fade out for musical increase andFade in and fade out for musical increase and
decrease.decrease.
• One turn for one-picture for syncopation.One turn for one-picture for syncopation.

7. Without A WordWithout A Word
DirectedDirected by Yoness Benaliby Yoness Benali

8. Sound used in the early daysSound used in the early days
documentary & Avant garde filmdocumentary & Avant garde film
There were some significant scores written during thisThere were some significant scores written during this
period belong to the documentary and Avant Garde film.period belong to the documentary and Avant Garde film.
 A fine example of a documentary film from thisA fine example of a documentary film from this
period is the Joris Ivens documentary ‘Newperiod is the Joris Ivens documentary ‘New
Earth’.Earth’.
• Mechinery in the film is represented by natural soundsMechinery in the film is represented by natural sounds
and men by music.and men by music.
• The score by Hanns Eisler is based on what is by today’sThe score by Hanns Eisler is based on what is by today’s
film music standards.film music standards.
• New Earth was highly notable because of its success inNew Earth was highly notable because of its success in
putting Eisler’s individualistic compositional style into theputting Eisler’s individualistic compositional style into the
documentary.documentary.

9.  The animated film L’Idee is an avant garde filmThe animated film L’Idee is an avant garde film
of the times with an imaginative score by theof the times with an imaginative score by the
French composer Aurther HoneggerFrench composer Aurther Honegger
• He uses an electronic instrument called the ondesHe uses an electronic instrument called the ondes
martenot.martenot.
• This instrument is combined with the principle of theThis instrument is combined with the principle of the
theremin with a keyboard.theremin with a keyboard.
• This political film has high degree of synchronization ofThis political film has high degree of synchronization of
music to action at that early date.music to action at that early date.

10.  Other significant avant garde documentary films of this era
were:-
1) Le sang d’un poete (Jean Cocteau, 1931: score by Georges
Auric)
2) Zero de Conduite (Jean Vigo, 1933: score by Maurice
Jaubret)
3) Rising tide and contact (Paul Rotha, 1933: score by Clarence
Raybould).