Analysis of Thriller Music and Construction of a Thriller Song

Today we decided to analyse the music used in thriller films and produce a basic song for our own.


The first song we analysed was Hans Zimmer's Dream is Collapsing from the Inception soundrack.

This particular song utilises a simple melody to begin with on top of a deep walking bass line. The first melody then becomes a secondary melody with strings and brass taking over the majority of the melody with each addition becoming louder. The piece then slows to become a more meaty, lumbering seemingly dangerous thing that when used in the film definitely creates an atmosphere of discord and worry. The piece abruptly stops to end this atmosphere but creates a cliffhanger effect in doing so, in the film this would most likely lead onto a quieter more mysterious piece.

Musical devices and terms this piece uses:

• Crescendo - Becoming steadily louder
• Recurring bass line and melody sections
• Starts quietly
• Ends abruptly 

The Second song we analysed was another of Hans Zimmer's. this one being Gotham's Reckoning from The Dark Knight Rises.

Although this song is from the same composer it utilises vastly different musical devices and instruments, clearly showing how different music in Thriller films can be to put certain stress onto a scene or character. This song begins quietly but with only a chilling string section and a simple melody played from a quiet instrument that could be a piano. The piece then loses the string section and melody in exchange for a constant drumbeat and a deep brass 'voice' which gives the effect of 'a calm before the storm'. It then explodes into a fast paced string section and brass to show that something large is coming which is evident when all the sections seem to come together for a final flash of sound. The piece uses this recurring theme of getting louder and faster then slower and quieter to keep the suspense in the film flowing while increasing it throughout.

Musical devices and terms this piece uses:

• Crescendo
• Big brass melodies and bass lines
• Fast paced string melody
• Strong, repetitive vocal melody

After listening to these two examples of a song on a thriller soundtrack i noted that thriller soundtracks utilise a number of musical features that add to the pieces tonality and effect.
They often begin quietly to suggest a 'calm before the storm' notion, this works well in a thriller film as it builds on the tension that is needed to keep the viewers interest in the film. They then have a crescendo which massively impacts on the pieces tension levels. The pieces will often then crash into a loud, explosive melody that goes along with a sudden change in the atmosphere of the film.
Common instruments used:

• Double Bass (Provides the deep bass)
• Violins (Either playing a simple melody or a recurring theme)
• Brass Instruments (Normally playing a simple tune to the speed of the double bass)
• 
  

After listening and analysing these two i decided to try and come up with a basic song which i intend to post soon.