Mark Richards – Theme Writing 2: Meaningful Melodies in Film Style

Write melodies that mean what you want them to mean.

Write melodies that mean what you want them to mean. Melodies in tonal music tend to conform to underlying linear patterns that have different emotional meanings when they are elaborated in different ways. By analyzing many of Hollywood’s best-known themes, you’ll learn these basic shapes and how the elaborating techniques can create expressions that are perfectly suited to a theme’s association.

The course comes with a substantial set of exercises (with answers) that is included in MIDI format for DAWs, MusicXML for notation software, and PDF and MP3 for pencil and paper.

What You’ll Learn In Theme Writing 2: Meaningful Melodies in Film Style

The Main Line

• A First Example
• Overview
• Main-Line Features
• Characterizing Main Lines with Inner Voices and Dissonant Notes
• Strong Expressions with 6-5 Motion

Comfort, Tradition, Heroes, Sadness and Mystery – Descending Main Lines

• Overview and Lines with Interrupted Goals
• Expression with Descending 3-Lines
• Expression with Descending 5-Lines

Uplifting or Lifting Up – Ascending Main Lines

• Expression with Ascending 5-Lines
• Expression with Ascending 1-Lines

Detailed Expression with Main-Line Elaborations

• Setting the Mood – The Opening Ascent
• Intensifying – Breaking Through
• Striving – Reaching Over
• Climax and Exuberance – Octave Boost
• Love, Mystery, Sadness – Submerging Melody at Cadences
• Revelation and Amazement – Emerging Melody at Cadences
• Mystery, Evil, Love, and Rousing Themes – Altered Main-Line Notes

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