How Does Melodic Structure Impact Emotional Response in Recent Film Scores?

This research paper explores how melodic structure influences emotional response in recent movie scores. The research explores the intricate connection between music and emotions within film by combining quantitative data and theoretical analysis. It starts by examining survey results that show how specific melodic features affect responses among participants. Ascending contours and limited pitch range with low levels of dissonance typically evoke positive feelings, while descending contours with more dissonance often trigger negative reactions, which aligns with existing literature on melody and emotions.

The research then goes on to analyse selected film scores like those from "Interstellar", "Hereditary," “The Theory of Everything”, "Up," and "Finding Nemo" in detail. This analysis explains how composers use techniques strategically to evoke emotions and enhance the storyline of films. For example, composers use repetition and variation to deepen connections over time, orchestration and instrumentation to create emotional atmospheres, and contrast and certain melodic contours to convey many different emotional experiences.

By combining insights from both quantitative data and theoretical analysis, compared against the previous literature, this research offers a thorough understanding of how melodic structure impacts emotional response in film scores. The findings of the research have implications for composers, filmmakers and scholars providing perspectives on how music can be used to evoke emotions in film. Although there are limitations like sample sizes and cultural influences, this study adds to the ongoing discussion about how music influences emotional responses in film scores, opening up opportunities for further exploration in this field.