Music in Scorsese films
2) For Martin Scorsese, popular music in films ‘doesn’t have to serve simply as mood music or be an unimaginative device for establishing a time period.’ (Romney & Wootton, 1995: 1)Taking this as a starting point, discuss the use of popular music in either one or two films or the work of one film director.
I will be looking at the films of Martin Scorsese regarding his statement that popular music in films ‘doesn’t have to serve simply as mood music or be an unimaginative device for establishing a time period.’ ’ (Romney & Wootton, 1995: 1) I believe that believe he practices what he preaches through this statement in his work. I will be analysing aspects in his work whereby the music works on a deeper level than just as a mood prompting tool, in films such as (The Departed,2006), (Goodfellas,1990),( Taxi Driver,1976) and( Raging Bull,1980) trying to understand the directorial thought process in the choice of the music as well as the desired effect on the audience. Scorsese carries the idea that “popular music has the potential to give movies a forceful, dynamic edge” ’ (Romney & Wootton, 1995: 1) he goes on to comment how important it is to him and how it is used in his own work “when I was young , popular music formed the soundtrack of my life- rock ‘n’ roll and Neopolitan love songs would rise from the jukeboxes in the little bars of my old neighbourhood, New York’s Lower East Side, day and night. And so it was only natural that it would become such an important part of my work as a director, beginning with my first student films. Music has always been a key source of inspiration for me- it has the power to bring entire sequences to life.” I will be exploring the creative use of both scores and popular music in his films, in regard to this and elaborating further.
In the book conversations with martin Scorsese (2011, p.350) Scorsese talks to Robert Schikel about how he uses music differently to other directors and how the way in which he uses music in films
I will be looking at the films of Martin Scorsese regarding his statement that popular music in films ‘doesn’t have to serve simply as mood music or be an unimaginative device for establishing a time period.’ ’ (Romney & Wootton, 1995: 1) I believe that believe he practices what he preaches through this statement in his work. I will be analysing aspects in his work whereby the music works on a deeper level than just as a mood prompting tool, in films such as (The Departed,2006), (Goodfellas,1990),( Taxi Driver,1976) and( Raging Bull,1980) trying to understand the directorial thought process in the choice of the music as well as the desired effect on the audience. Scorsese carries the idea that “popular music has the potential to give movies a forceful, dynamic edge” ’ (Romney & Wootton, 1995: 1) he goes on to comment how important it is to him and how it is used in his own work “when I was young , popular music formed the soundtrack of my life- rock ‘n’ roll and Neopolitan love songs would rise from the jukeboxes in the little bars of my old neighbourhood, New York’s Lower East Side, day and night. And so it was only natural that it would become such an important part of my work as a director, beginning with my first student films. Music has always been a key source of inspiration for me- it has the power to bring entire sequences to life.” I will be exploring the creative use of both scores and popular music in his films, in regard to this and elaborating further.
In the book conversations with martin Scorsese (2011, p.350) Scorsese talks to Robert Schikel about how he uses music differently to other directors and how the way in which he uses music in films
Bibliography: Romney, J and Wootton, A, eds. (1995) Celluloid Jukebox: Popular Music and the Movies since the 50s. London: BFI. Marshall, B. Stillwell, R. (2000) Musicals: Hollywood and Beyond Intellect . Schickel, R (2011) Conversations with Martin Scorsese. USA : Alfred A. Knopf Publishing. Filmography Citizen kane (1941) Directed by Orson Welles [Film] The Departed (2006) Directed by Martin Scorsese [Film]. Los Angeles, California: Warner Bros Inc. Goodfellas (1990) Directed by Martin Scorsese [Film]. Los Angeles, California: Warner Bros Inc. Psycho (1960) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock [Film]. Los Angeles, California: Shameley Productions Of Mice and Men (1939) Directed by Lewis Milestone [Film] Raging Bull (1980) Directed by Martin Scorsese [Film]. Los Angeles, California: United Artists , Chartoff-Winkler productions. Taxi Driver (1976) directed by Martin Scorsese [Film]. Los Angeles, California: Columbia Pictures Corporation.