CBHH – Joe Mariglio: Solo for the Amplified Window

Joe Mariglio is one of many students who performed in december 2008 at the seventh anual NIME (New Interfaces for Musical Expression) performance at Exit Art in New York in 2008.

He performed a piece called “Solo for Amplified Window“, which he describes in his blog at this link:-

http://joemariglio.com/spring09/thesis/solo.html

Task Seven: Terminator 2 Foley Sounds

Terminator Two Scene

Foley sound means when a composer uses everyday sounds for film. For example using the sound of an electric toothbrush to represent a drill on screen. These sounds have best results when the source of the sound is unrecognisable to the viewer. Walter Murch, composer and sound designer uses foley sound in the majority of his works, compositions for films such as ‘On Rain People’ and ‘The Godfather Two’. http://filmsound.org/foley/murch-on-foley.htm.

For this task I have created and found these foley sound  and used them to represent the machines in this scene. In the scene I used:-

• Air Burst from a dental tool
• Bus Door Opening
• Ripping a paper bag
• a Bug Zapper
• A Door Slam shut
• A Printer
• An Electronic Toothbrush
• Hand Cuffs clicking closed
• Car Break
• A drill Starting up

I also added a atmospheric Abandoned Factory Sound for effect.

Here is my task for Terminator Two:-

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/21489514/Terminator2finishd.mov

Here is the REDONE version of Terminator Two Scene. I have added in the other machines you cannot see on screen:-

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21489514/Terminator2redone.mov

Report

My objective for this task was to create foley sound to the given scene from Terminator Two. I wanted to highlight every movement the machines did and the terminators did. I did this by synching each sound in time to the visuals for a very real effect. I adopted Walter Murch’s foley sound approach and so I used around ten different recorded and found sounds to incorporate into my given scene. These sounds consisted of an Air Burst from a dentist tool, bus door opening, a bug zapper, a door slamming shut, a printer, an electric toothbrush, hand-cuffs clicking closed, a car break and a drill starting up. For this task I did not apply any new musical or audio techniques. This task is an example of practise as research in that I am creatively exploring foley sounds and learning how to incorporate them into my given scene for this task. This is evident as I have successfully used foley sounds to represent the different actions that are happening in the scene and have also put them in time with the visuals well. I would give myself a 2.1 for this task as It has met my criteria and I believe it’s a successful task.

References

W. Murch (2011), Walter Murch on DIY Foley, FilmSound.org. Webpage found at: http://filmsound.org/foley/murch-on-foley.htm. Last accessed on 24/03/2011.

Task Six: American Beauty Percussion

Thomas Newman: American Beauty (1999) Cheerleading Scene

For this given scene I am going to change Newman’s piece called “Root Beer” to my own. I want to use the same instrumental elements he uses in his compositions for this film because I want my score to fit in with the film as a whole and not just in this particular scene. In American Beauty Newman’s instrumentation consists of:-

- marimba, xylophone, tablas, banjo, ukulele, detuned mandolin, steel guitar, ewi, and piano.

‘It has characteristics of new age world music, which effectively conveys the alienation that suburbia inflicts upon the film’s characters.’ (Filmtracks, 2008)

‘Signatures of Thomas Newman’s music are his use of tuned percussion, distinct melodies, and the use of piano in more sombre moments’. (A. Green, 2011)

Here is the my score to the given scene American Beauty:-

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21489514/task%206%20american%20beaut%20finished.mov

Here is the REDONE score to American Beauty:- (IS THis Better?? )

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21489514/american%20redone%20task%20six.mov

Report

The objective for this task was to create a score using percussion instruments to the given scene from American Beauty. I wanted to highlight the body movement of Angela when she’s slow dancing and use silence between shots from her to Lester to give off a tense yet erotic motion. I have taken Thomas Newman’s compositional approach of using tuned percussion instrumentation and adapted this to my own. I have applied these approaches by using tams, triangle, cymbal, timpani’s, bass drums, snare and a percussion kit.

( I had not applied any new audio or musical techniques in this task): I have applied XXXXXXXXXX

This task is an example of practice as research in that I am creatively exploring tuned percussion and how to adapt it effectively into my task. This is evident as the tuned percussion I used highlights different elements and creates build ups and an erotic tension between Angela and Lester well. I would give myself a 2.1 for this task as the use of tuned percussion instruments in this scene worked effectively and has given me pleasing results.

References

A. Green, 2011, Thomas Newman, the New York Times Company webpage found at: http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/classicalcomposers/p/thomasnewman.htm. Last accessed on 22/03/2011.

Filmtracks, 2008, Thomas Newman, webpage found at: http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/american_beauty.html. Last accessed on 22/03/2011.

Task Five: Dark Knight/Psycho Woodwind Score

For this task I decided to use the Dark Knight chase scene clip and add onto the score that I have previously composed because I thought the score fitted the scene well and I had ideas on how to bring in the woodwind instrumentation effectively. I used a flute, oboe, english horn, a harp and a small violin ensemble.

Task Five: Dark Knight scene with Woodwind

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21489514/task%20five%20woodwind.mov

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Redone Task Five to Psycho

By creating the woodwinds on top of my original score for The Dark Knight scene, I had found my woodwind instrumentation wasn’t as effective as I had hoped. I decided to use Hitchcock’s Psycho scene instead and compose the woodwind sections as more subtle yet effective parts. In this Psycho clip I have added subtle flute oboe and english horn into the original score I had created for task three:-

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21489514/task%20five%20woodwind%20psycho.mov

Report

My objective was to orchestrate with woodwinds to a given scene. In this scene I wanted to highlight the tense build up from when the police car reverses to park behind Marion’s car, to the scene where he is staring through her car window. I decided keep my original score for this Psycho scene, and so keeping the adaptation of compositional techniques of Bernard Herrmann. The added woodwind instrumentation adds a more layers and depth to the score which gives it more effective build ups and build of tension in the scene. For this task I had not used any new audio techniques or musical techniques, but I had learnt the ranges of the different woodwind instruments which made my score more realistic. I had also learnt that Woodwind  instruments are mainly used for more subtle sections in an orchestra rather then being the dominant instrument. My score is practice as research in that and creatively exploring woodwind instrumentation and how it is used in an orchestra. This is evident in my task as I have kept within the ranges of the different woodwind instruments, using them subtly yet effectively in my task. For this task I would give myself a 2.1 because I have adapted an original score with woodwind instruments that have given me a positive and effective outcome.

References

Woodwind Chart, 2011, Webpage found at: http://www.mti.dmu.ac.uk/~ahugill/manual/ranges/woodwind.html. Last accessed on 02/03/2011.

The Treble Rebels, 2011, Musical Instruments: Woodwind, Webpage found at: http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/instruments/woodwinds.htm. Last accessed on 02/03/2011.