Music and the Senses

So, after discussing dissonance and tone last week, I got to thinking about the way music conveys emotion, and how that may be equated into literature.

I'll start off easy - suspense. It dangles something in front of you, then, at the right moment, strikes! A way to accomplish this often seen in movies and TV is the employment of Hitchcock strings (or Lost strings as we might as well start calling them). Hitchcock would famously use the etherial whining of violins to build suspense, then let loose with a shrill "scare chord" (think the shower scene from Psycho) A good story teller (campfire stories anyone?) can use this same technique with his voice, drawing out syllables to give that cliche' "spooooky" feeling.

Next, consider how one may express anger in music. Loud, short, stilted, phrases with sharp attacks should do the trick. Looking around the internet, this selection checks off most of the above (note the intense blasts of base drums and brass). Evidence suggests the meter that Beowulf has been passed down in employs this emphasis on the first syllable.

The easiest way to show sadness in music is to use a minor key and slow, lilting phrases. This again falls to the good story teller, who uses his own tone to get his point across. The below example is more mysterious than sad, but the same basic principle applies.

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I'll leave you on a high note. Happiness can be signified with soaring and triuphant chords, which there again can be immitated by a skilled poet. If you've ever heard the main theme to Disney's Dinosaur, then you'll know what I mean.

It should be noted that not all songs that convey these emotions use these techniques, nor do songs with these techniques necessarily need to convey these emotions (Or else Bernstein's "America" would be angry). It's just a few tricks I've picked up on.