Underscoring

Underscoring, also descriptive technique, in addition to the mood and theme of the technique one of the three compositional techniques of film music. Here, the music is continuously on events, movements and feelings depicted in the film synchronously and paraphrasing one. The technique of underscoring was particularly common in classical Hollywood cinema. As a typical representative of Max Steiner is often called. Today, the underscoring is in contrast to the Mood technique rarely use, mostly in animated films or comedies.

Characterization

Through an imitation or stylization of sounds and of movement, the image elements act to be implemented synchronously in musical form. Underscoring is used to accentuate the characters shown, the pace, the action or the mood and trigger emotions in the audience. To achieve this effect, a klangnachahmende soundcolouring or composition, it is often sought. This is partially the use of certain sound cliché, for example to produce references to locales:

An extreme form of underscoring the Mickey Mousing. The music is no longer a supplement but a characterization of the movements: upward movements ( climbing stairs ) are converted according to high, rising pitch, horizontal processes (running) learn rhythmic accompaniments.