An Analysis of the Musical Aspects and Functions

             In 1960 two creative talents combined and crafted a masterpiece horror film. The film, of course was Psycho and the talents were director, Alfred Hitchcock and the score composer, Bernard Herrmann. This collaboration was extremely effective and it had first begun when they worked together on Hitchcock's The Trouble With Harry in 1955. Hitchcock's imaginative and ingenious style in directing and Herrmann's chilling music makes this film, a classic film. My analysis of Herrmann's film score will consider the musical aspects of themes and form, instrumentation, motives, harmony and counterpoint, and unity and variety. This analysis will also discuss the functions of the music, the codes and how well it plays the drama.
             The first musical aspects of Herrmann's score for Psycho are the themes. In Psycho there are perhaps four main themes to discuss, with most of the other music being variations of these themes.
             The first theme is the main title (cue #1), which sets the scene for the film. This hard-driving theme reoccurs firstly, when Marion Crane is leaving Phoenix, right after seeing her boss (cue #5). It then occurs after the questioning by a traffic officer and continues when the officer follows her in her car (cue #6). This theme then occurs in the scene where Marion is driving in her newly purchased car to her unknowable fate (cue #9). (Appendix: cue sheet)
             The next theme is the music that begins in the 'Marion and Sam' scene (cue #2), this almost romantic music continues for forty-six seconds. This theme then reoccurs in the next cue, during the dialogue of Marion where she says "I'll lick the stamps".
             Another major theme is begun in cue #4; here Marion is packing her stuff with the package of money obviously displayed, hence this cue being called 'temptation'. This reoccurs firstly when Marion is in the car sales bathroom with the stolen money (cue #8). This theme occurs again when Marion is finding a place to hide th...

More Essays:

APA     MLA     Chicago
An Analysis of the Musical Aspects and Functions . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 15:53, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/63902.html