Musical filmMusical film

What is a musical What is a musical film?film?

musical (noun): a stage, television or film production utilizing popular-style songs (dialogue optional) to either tell a story (book musicals) or showcase the talents of the writers and/or performers (revue)

the songs are meant to advance the plot and/or the characters

Book Book musicamusica

lslscomic operas

operettas

extravaganzas

musical comedy

RevuesRevues

vaudeville

music halls

minstrel shows

Three essential Three essential qualitiesqualities

Brains

intelligence and style

Heart

genuine and believable emotion

Courage

the guts to do something creative and exciting

Song typesSong types

charm songs

comedy numbers

musical scenes

“I am” songs

“I want” songs

“new” songs

Charm songsCharm songs

let a character beguile an audience

Getting to know youGetting to know you((The king and IThe king and I))

beguile (verb) - to charm or divert

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Comedy numbersComedy numbers

aim for laughs

POPularPOPular((wickedwicked))

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Musical scenesMusical scenes

seamlessly blend dialogue and song, usually with two or more characters

Summer NightsSummer Nights((GreaseGrease))

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““I am” songsI am” songs

any song that explains a character, a group of characters, or a situation

Defying gravityDefying gravity((wickedwicked))

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TroubleTrouble((music manmusic man))

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““I want” songsI want” songs

these tell us what characters desire, what motivates them

most love songs fit into this category

MariaMaria((west side storywest side story))

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““new” songsnew” songs

any number that does not fit the other categories

usually they serve special dramatic needs

gee, officer krupkegee, officer krupke((West side storyWest side story))

This song lets the Jets express their frustrations and gives the audience a breather from the tragic story line.

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Hello, Dolly!Hello, Dolly!

Dolly Levi comes down the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens restaurant

The waiter could have looked at her fondly and said “It’s good to have you back, Madam”

This would not result in the dramatic impact needed for the audience

Where words are not sufficient, the music and dance take over, bringing the show and its audiences to greater dramatic heights

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song placementsong placement

Types of song Types of song placementplacement

Opening Number

The Main “I Want” Song

The Eleven O’clock Number

The Finale

Reprise

Opening NumberOpening Number

sets the tone for the rest of the show

it is not unusual for this song to be written after the rest of a show is in place

What time is itWhat time is it((high school musical 2high school musical 2))

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Rock islandRock island((music manmusic man))

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Main “I Want” SongMain “I Want” Song

comes early in the first act, with one or more of the main characters singing about the key motivating desire that will propel everyone (including the audience) through the remainder of the show

castle on a cloudcastle on a cloud((les miserablesles miserables))

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Eleven O’clock Eleven O’clock NumberNumber

takes place about midway through Act Two

it can be a ballad, charm song, or comedy showpiece

it does not have to mark a climatic moment in the plot, but it must be strong enough to energize the audience for the final scenes

Note - since curtain times are earlier than in years past, this number now takes place around 10:00 p.m.

Tale as old as timeTale as old as time((beauty and the beastbeauty and the beast))

11 o’clock - ballad11 o’clock - ballad

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Hello, DollyHello, Dolly((Hello, dolly!Hello, dolly!))

11 o’clock - charm song11 o’clock - charm song

oklahomaoklahoma((oklahomaoklahoma))

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FinaleFinale

Traditional Approach

should carry an emotional wallop, leaving audiences with a powerful last impression

this is usually done by reprising one of the score’s most emotion-packed numbers

Alternative Approach

is to introduce a rousing new song

circle of lifecircle of life((lion kinglion king))

finale - traditional approachfinale - traditional approach

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You can’t stop the beatYou can’t stop the beat((hairsprayhairspray))

finale - alternative approachfinale - alternative approach

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RepriseReprise

all or part of a song is repeated to make a dramatic point and (usually) to energize the end of a scene

BelleBelle((beauty and the beastbeauty and the beast))

Original SongOriginal Song

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bellebelle((beauty and the beastbeauty and the beast))

RepriseReprise

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SatireSatire

making fun of something else

films often poke fun at themselves by imitating other films/scenes in the same genre

That’s how you knowThat’s how you know((enchantedenchanted))

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