Science 7 - LAND and SEA BREEZE and its Characteristics
Unit 70: Sound analysis compare and contrast
1. Sound Analysis
Unit 70: Stage Sound Design
Joe Miri
Analysis of: Musical Theatre & Contemporary Dance
2. Musical Theatre
Musical theatre usually follows a conventional approach
and doesn’t often take big risks when it comes to sound.
Musical theatre like to stick to tradition.
3. Examples
• Book of Mormon -
http://youtu.be/OKkLV1zE8M0?t=46s
• Singin’ in the rain - http://youtu.be/-f-CqwYsyQc?t=51s
• Rocky Horror - http://youtu.be/phLmf1PhB6Q
• Rock of Ages - http://youtu.be/H-yrrNaIjhI?t=59s
4. Contemporary Dance
Sound for contemporary dance can be used for structure
however it also can have no correlation at all.
5. Examples
• Beach Birds for Camera - http://youtu.be/0IH_rrpj0CU
• Christopher Bruce Hush - http://youtu.be/dw6xpRTph38
• Christopher Bruce Ghost Dancers -
http://youtu.be/xYPBIailSn8
They often use a traditional score (MUSIC orchestra)
Use motif and motif development (series of sounds)
Leit motif – sounds that are associated with certain characters such as a bugle or a royal horn playing when the prince enters.
The use of sound effects are common in musical theatre so that the audience know what has happened or what is happening.
Also the use of diegetic and non diegetic is used in theatre, for example non diegetic is used to create mood so a guy walking over to ask his girl friend to marry him would have music before hand to create tension, atmosphere and mood.
Direct correlation – music matching the acting and dancing!
It’s very rare for disassociation to be used in musical theatre!
All of these are used to spoon feed the audience.
Book of Mormon –
The repeated motif of the doorbell shows they’re going door to door.
It has a very repetitive rhythm at the start but then starts to build upon it.
The music also builds in loudness as it builds in speed.
The sound show where they are because they are at the door.
The mood, it shows that they are always really cheery and happy!
The sound effect of the doorbell
Orchestra music
I think they are all wearing mics
As they are performing in a large venue I’d assume they are using passive speakers
Use of voice over
Singin’ in the rain –
The diegetic sound of rain is used to make it realistic
Use of mics on the floor of the stage to pick up live sound of rain.
Up beat music to create the happy mood needed
Orchestra (traditional score)
The way he hums the tune at the start creates the atmosphere
Rocky Horror –
The speed of the music create the mood and excited atmosphere
Use of mics on each character to her what they’re saying/singing
Rock of Ages –
Use of a rock band on stage with them playing the music live to create the atmosphere
Not really any use of sounds effects or found sounds
Overall –
Not a great use of found sounds but when effects are used they use sound effects
Staging when mic’d isn’t louder than actors and the words are more important
With musical theatre they want to keep it simple as they don’t want the audience to be thinking about too much they want them to focus on the performance.
When performing there is usually direct correlation between the music and the actions and words!
Use of original score sometimes
New commissioned work/score
Can have direct correlation
Can be completely disassociated
Can provide form, structural devices eg/ climax & time frame
Can suggest place, mood, time, etc…
Ballet = traditional conventional approach
Contemporary = more experimental approach, no rules or regulations
Call and response = question and answer
Beach birds for camera –
No correlation between music and action
Use of an original score
Found sound of stepping (15sec)
Ambient mics on floor to pick up sound
Hush –
Direct correlation between music and action!
Music to create cheery mood
Call & response
No use of found sound
Ghost Dancers –
Use of tradition Chilin folk music
Not always direct correlation
Motif of dripping noise to signify blood.
Very little amount of found sound used
Overall –
All videos show that it isn’t a great deal to have full correlation between music and action
Audience should be made to think a little.
Musical theatre –
Book of Mormon –
The repeated motif of the doorbell shows they’re going door to door.
It has a very repetitive rhythm at the start but then starts to build upon it.
The music also builds in loudness as it builds in speed.
The sound show where they are because they are at the door.
The mood, it shows that they are always really cheery and happy!
The sound effect of the doorbell
Orchestra music
I think they are all wearing mics
As they are performing in a large venue I’d assume they are using passive speakers
Use of voice over
Singin’ in the rain –
The diegetic sound of rain is used to make it realistic
Use of mics on the floor of the stage to pick up live sound of rain.
Up beat music to create the happy mood needed
Orchestra (traditional score)
The way he hums the tune at the start creates the atmosphere
Rocky Horror –
The speed of the music create the mood and excited atmosphere
Use of mics on each character to her what they’re saying/singing
Rock of Ages –
Use of a rock band on stage with them playing the music live to create the atmosphere
Not really any use of sounds effects or found sounds
Overall –
Not a great use of found sounds but when effects are used they use sound effects
Staging when mic’d isn’t louder than actors and the words are more important
With musical theatre they want to keep it simple as they don’t want the audience to be thinking about too much they want them to focus on the performance.
When performing there is usually direct correlation between the music and the actions and words!
Dance –
Beach birds for camera –
No correlation between music and action
Use of an original score
Found sound of stepping (15sec)
Ambient mics on floor to pick up sound
Hush –
Direct correlation between music and action!
Music to create cheery mood
Call & response
No use of found sound
Ghost Dancers –
Use of tradition Chilin folk music
Not always direct correlation
Motif of dripping noise to signify blood.
Very little amount of found sound used
Overall –
All videos show that it isn’t a great deal to have full correlation between music and action
Audience should be made to think a little.
