MUSIC IN FILM A brief history of soundtrack
MUTE CINEMA
From its birth, cinema has been accompanied by music like an element that takes part in the action. The first films of silent cinema were shown in a hall and musical accompaniment was generally played by a pianist or by a small string orchestra. In these first shows, the musical background was not created specifically for each film, so existing compositions were performed. This music hid the annoyed noise of the cinema projectors and attracted more public. The first composers for cinema were Milhaud, Satie, Honegger, Hindemith
From the decade of 1920s, original compositions were written for each film. So, each musical piece is connected with a kind of scene; thus, the same fragment serves to set in different movies passages of terror, war, love, sadness, intrigue… There is a compilation (assembles) of these compositions called: “Atmospheres for pianists and organists: a collection of chosen and adapted pieces for fifty two moods and situations” (1924).
THE FIRST SONOROUS FILM
In 1927, “The Jazz Singers” had its premiere, the first sonorous movie, using a gramophone synchronized with the images projector. It included popular and cult music. Although during a few years silent cinema lived together with sonorous movies, these last ones became established in the decade of 1930s. The musical director was in charge of the credits music (at the beginning and at the end) and the musical lends (throughout the film).