EVALUATION & REFLECTION
Weekly Logs:
Big group session- week beginning 9/12/19
Week 1- As a group, we all improvised and worked together to create music which fitted the on-screen films, pingu and a Japanese horror scene. For pingu we used cheesy surfer themes and mimicking to reflect the cartoon and childish tone. For the horror, we had use of soundscapes, low drones played by me on keyboard and a guitar riff in a chase scene. We then took turns to conduct and write down minimal instructions for half the group to play in a section. I came up with an “ever increasing build” using triplets and a sustained note in the bass. I gave the people who came after me a nice set up to create a grander section and I believe I was the first to deviate and do something more musical which lead to people from the other half of the class to come forward and feel more comfortable trying which then lead to a surprisingly OK sounding composition between all of is. It was a lot of fun.
COMPOSITION#1
~Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull; Nuke Scene~
Our piece for this scene revolves around the relationship between notes; a devil's interval (C and F#) and the clash in scales/modes that do not include them to create an eerie and mysterious atmosphere. The modes being regular C Minor and C Phrygian which overlap to create the dissonance of D and C# together. I found out that dissonance is a common technique used for creating that atmosphere we wanted. The opening section foreshadows a later theme; I play the three-note riff once slowly over the top of a minimal underscore. The music is barren to start with -much like the setting-, comprised of low drones and strange plucking techniques on the guitar. This beginning section leads into where the scene cuts and changes, introducing high pitched strings, small clusters that gradually bleed into each other through the help of the sustain pedal. I added more notes, increasing the tension at every action Jones did to fit the drawn-out cut. When the camera pulls out to reveal the mannequins, low C octaves come in yet again to solidify the theme, to almost match the character’s thoughts and enter the phase of realization. The high-pitched dissonance fades out, and another theme makes an appearance. I chose notes which overlap together, sounding siren-like to influence a new feeling of warning and danger. Over the top of this is screech-like plucking of strings, utilizing the section that is the other side of the bridge, which are timed to the scene changes which have increased in frequency. Other instruments cut out as single note bends along with the zooming out of the camera on the bomb. The music here changes into a completely contrasting section. The three-note riff that was foreshadowed in the begging is now playing repeatedly, gradually increasing in tempo until it reaches a crescendo right when the bomb explodes. String clusters are kept held through this part and the high dissonance is meant to be like pressure on the eardrums like the explosion noise ringing in your ears. Drum rolls and waving of intensity and volume mimics the drawing near of the rushing shock wave behind the enemy car and the slow rolls of the mushroom cloud seen in towards the end. The focus shifts to G (the dominant 5th of C) to create an uplifting feeling of hope when Jones rolls out from the fridge, alive. During the final shot for the scene, reversed versions of the riff and siren-like pattern play to signify he is still in danger and has survived but not “won”. I enjoyed working with string sounds on the keyboard and playing with dissonance between semitones and sustained clashing notes to build tension as that was a main composition tool I researched into.
Black and white photo composition session- 16/12/19
Week 2- Our group chose a photo of a woman pushing a pram in a desolate location. We chose it because it seemed the easiest to interpret and image what is behind the scenes. We interpreted it as wide-open eerie space where the woman is leaving her husband because he is abusive. We created an atmosphere with weird chords, and I sung choir-like high notes along no specific scale as I attempted to create the spaced feeling and then it picked up, turning into a sort of chase and then finished. Our feedback was minimal but overall, it was liked how we created a story and showed it through the music and differing sections.
Week 3- 6/01/20
We used a commercial to compose for, music that would fit each part of the ad. Not really anyone had any ideas except me, so my ideas built basically the entire thing. Creating something on the piano that fitted, it built, had a chase element and a “cheesy” major ending when they kiss. The feedback was great except perhaps that major chord wasn’t needed at the end and felt a bit silly. I used my research into atmosphere creation- using music to increase tension and used minimal notes, changing quickly, revolving around 4 repeating bass notes that enhanced that “ongoing” feeling and only strayed from the pattern a few times.
Week 5 – 20/01/20
I am a little concerned for I struggle a lot with learning sheet music and following it properly. I can, so far, play a few sections with no need to constantly stop or refer to the sheet which is good progress. We were put into smaller groups and given our first clip to compose music for, we just made a few notes in the 10 minutes we had left. I started a structural plan to help us all next week and we focused on the scenes and where we think a change needs to be in music.
Week 4- 13/01/20
I wasn’t there on Tuesday which was the day people started the overture session and tried to perform it for the first time. I got the score and looked at it, writing on it to help catch up and make notes. I set goals for myself to be able to catch up on the first lot of practice others did while I wasn’t there, making up for lost time by going over the sheet music part by part, listening, figuring out and making notes on the sheet. I am aiming to hopefully get to a place where I am in line with everyone else’s progress and can somewhat keep up with the rapid changes and commit my sections to memory.
Week 6- 27/01/20
This week we started to have a look at the second big group ensemble, the vertigo movie theme. I have since practiced my parts (keys 2) and worked on bits I needed to ensure I don’t fall behind like with the ‘Movie’s Rock’. I made more notes looking at the film clip we were given and I have made list of the group decisions as we have had some issues with certain group members being on their phones and not being overly present and contributing. I tried my best to be inclusive and give them an opportunity to have fun with a percussion instrument.
Week 8- 24/02/20
The group covers were changed to large ensemble pieces after completing the overture. I spent extra time at home going through the songs as I was one of the few who had not heard ‘this is me’ and so it wasn’t as easy for me to practice with everyone straight away. I used my skills on being able to work out harmonies and countermelodies to my advantage and made the most out of my parts on all 3 covers
Week 7- 03/02/20
Last week's attempt to try and get all group members to co-operate somewhat worked though the main bulk of the composition was made by another member and me. We then were given the choice to pick any feature film song to cover and do our own arrangement of it. I wanted to go for something more traditionally film music: atmospheric and orchestral but that would have been too difficult for the amount of time we were given and due to the rest just wanting to ‘do what's easiest’ because we had very limited time to do it. In the end, our group chose over the rainbow after discussion about the simplicity. We practiced all ensemble pieces this week too.
Week 9- 2/03/20
This is gig week, so we are coming in early for 3 days to rehearse the whole set list over and over again until its perfect.
eValuations
I have developed skills over the course of this project. I now posses a greater understanding of professional behaviour and will know what to do when in a similar environment. In my opinion, the performance went really well and i have improved greatly since the last project as I have been more focused, more open to criticism, more willing to attempt and more determined to do my work, learn my parts and have not once relied on anyone to do the work for me.
Throughout the creation of the composition piece, I used my knowledge and research to aid me. I tried to think deeper into not just mise-en-scene but the camera shots, angles, length of them and their respective meaning, and how I could be empathetic and most fitting to it with music. For the overture pieces, I found I was able to keep up and after a while, looking up to seek direction from the conductor seemed natural. It took me a while getting used to following a score, then committing to memory and learning my parts but I persevered and I have been able to compare what I learnt to the timings of the conductor to better progress. Leadership skills have been developed from small group work but also helping others with their respective parts in the larger ensembles. Compared to the last project, I have improved on my ability to speak up and take part in musical discussions rather than staying quiet when I have an idea for change. With all of this in mind, I still could have improved on the way in which I presented those ideas or criticism to others.
In terms of interpersonal skills, I managed to solve a problem - i saw a person struggling minutes before the performance and so I told them they dint need to worry about doing a certain section in the vertigo overture (as we shared the same parts) and I would do it solo. I can see how little things like this to help other people are beneficial to creating a work- positive environment instead of being so focused on myself and my own progress. I could develop this communication and teamwork skill further by being more understanding towards group members and their struggles as overall this would improve relationships and attitude.