FR
The nightmare before christmas
Concert Educational Guide
START
By: Marie-Claude Codsi
Games and Activities
Spotlight on Sound Effects
The Film's Soundtrack
The Role of Film Music
A Brief History of Film Music
TIMELINE
Did you know that movies were silent in the early days of cinema? Click on the timeline to learn more about 5 key moments in the history of film music!
Late 1800s
1927
1933
1908
1935
The invention of silent films
The Assassination of the Duke of Guise
The Jazz Singer
End of the transition period
1st Academy Award
The invention of silent films
Films were invented in the late 1800s. At first, films were “silent.” No soundtrack (music, sound, or dialogue) could be recorded along with the images. However, people could still hear music when they went to movie theaters.
What kind of music were they playing?
How could we follow the story?
Who did we hear?
How?
The Assassination of the Duke of Guise
(1908)
Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns
The first soundtrack composed specifically for a film was created in 1908, about 20 years before the advent of talking pictures, for the film The Assassination of the Duke of Guise. The music was composed by Camille Saint-Saëns and was intended to be performed live by an orchestra during the screening. However, since not all movie theaters had access to an orchestra, this music was not accessible to the general public. Therefore, even when a musical work was created specifically for a film, it was not heard by everyone at the time.
Information
Film
The Jazz Singer
(1927)
ComposER
Louis Silvers
Talking pictures made their debut in 1927 with the film The Jazz Singer, a film in which a small portion included sound. Unfortunately, at that time, not all movie theaters were yet equipped to play sound. A brief transitional period thus followed, during which silent films and talking pictures coexisted. The arrival of talking pictures was a major milestone in the industry, as it standardized what audiences could hear in films, including the music.
Information
Excerpt from the film
THE ROLE OF FILM MUSIC
Film music can heighten certain emotions in a movie. Listen here to two clips from Star Wars: Episode IV (1977). In this clip, Princess Leia is presenting medals. Do you think the clip feels just as heroic with or without the music?
Modified version
Original version
In the following slides, discover some of the roles that film music plays while listening to film clips.
Start
The role of film music
Film music can also mimic what we see on screen. For example, if a character is walking up the stairs, the music will rise in pitch at the same time. Take a look here at the different ways music tries to mimic what’s happening on screen.
The role of film music
Film music can sometimes help us predict what’s about to happen in the story. For example, in the movie Jaws, the soundtrack foreshadows the arrival of sharks when you hear the following theme. The faster the music gets, the closer the shark is to the people. Can you picture it?
The role of film music
Film music can set a specific mood in just a few notes. Think about the TV shows you know and love. As soon as you hear the opening notes, you feel good and ready to watch your show. It’s like a ritual. Don't you agree?
About the composer
the film's soundtrack
Danny Elfman is an American composer. He has collaborated on several of Tim Burton's films. One of his best-known pieces is the opening theme for the TV series The Simpsons.
The music for the film The Nightmare Before Christmas was composed by Danny Elfman. Click the buttons below to discover some things to look out for while watching the film.
Contrast
Jack's theme
A family in the spotlight
Did you know that orchestra conductors often conduct films with a small screen next to them that provides visual cues to help them keep the tempo? This helps them ensure that the music syncs up with the images at the right moment.
See example
Spotlight on sound effects
As a sound effects artist, you create sounds to bring a story, cartoon, or movie to life. For example, you imitate the sound of footsteps, rain, or a monster using everyday objects. This helps make the story more realistic.
Take a look at the objects used in the video... You can actually use just about anything to try to recreate a sound. Also notice how each object is used one after the other, like a dance routine.
In addition to music, an animated film needs people to create the sounds and noises you hear. These people are called sound effects artists.
Learn more
Games and activities
Sound effects activity
My soundtrack
Guided comparison (Post-concert)
Pre-concert workshop
Further exploration
My soundtrack
Now it’s your turn to see how different types of music can influence what we see. Which of the four music tracks listed do you think best matches the images shown here, and why? There are no right or wrong answers—the clip you’ve chosen is from a silent film.
*You can start and stop the music clips by clicking and re-clicking on the numbers.
Sound effects activity
Writing Write a short story (10 to 20 sentences) in which you can incorporate sound effects or music.
Sound effects Using everyday objects and/or musical instruments, bring your story to life with sound!
Let's start filming! Record your story with a narrator and various people providing sound effects.
guided comparison
Listening to a piece of music at school and watching an orchestra perform on stage are very different musical experiences. This activity will allow you to compare the two experiences.
- What emotions did you feel while listening to the music?- Can you describe the music you just heard? - Were you able to identify the instruments playing while listening to the music (without seeing them)?
2) Answer the following questions about the play you just heard.
1) Listen to the following piece with your eyes closed.
- Did you feel similar emotions while listening to the recorded music and during the concert?- Did the live version offer you something different? - Did you find one of the two versions more impressive? Why?
- What emotions did you feel during the concert?- Did you enjoy being able to watch the musicians play while you listened to the music? - Can you describe the music you heard?
3) Answer the following questions about your visit to the OSM.
4) Compare the two experiences
Further exploration
The music activity guide
visual guide
The Introductory Guide to the Orchestra
Thanks to this visual guide, get ready for a School Matinee concert, step by step, with images and sounds!
Through its interactive pages – including educational video clips, audio excerpts, games, and activities – this educational guide invites everyone to learn more about what makes up a symphony orchestra.
Listening games, an instrument chart, music quizzes, and many other fun and educational activities await you in this music activity guide!
Contrary to popular belief, some silent films were very long, lasting up to three hours. How did people follow the story? Intertitles were inserted between scenes to explain what was happening, or even to display the dialogue between the characters.
Who did we hear?
Musicians were hired to play live music right in the movie theaters. It could be anything from a solo pianist to a full orchestra, depending on the theater’s budget. So you could go see the same movie twice and have a completely different experience!
Through the soundtrack, Elfman showcases the woodwind section. Discover its secrets in this video produced by the OSM.
VS
Halloween Town
Christmas Town
Notice in the film how the music in Halloween Town differs from that in Christmas Town. Composer Danny Elfman creates a contrast between the two Towns in his music by using different instruments (orchestration) and switching between major and minor keys.
1933 - End of the transition period
The transition period between silent films and talking pictures lasted about five years. By 1933, almost all new films were talking pictures.
Several orchestras were founded during this transitional period, such as the OSM, which was established in 1934. At the time, the orchestra was known as the Société des concerts symphoniques de Montréal.
The transition to talking pictures was viewed positively by almost everyone, except for the musicians who lost their jobs.
Academy Awards
The first Academy Awards ceremony took place in 1929. The Academy Awards ceremony presents prestigious awards to recognize various aspects of American and international cinema. The first Academy Award for Best Original Score was awarded in 1935 to Louis Silvers for his score for the film One Night of Love.
Quelques idées de thématiques
- Un enfant ou une créature apprend à surmonter sa peur du noir, du tonnerre, ou d’un monstre imaginaire.
- Une aventure dans la forêt, à la ferme ou dans la mer en compagnie d'animaux.
- Le monde des humains vu par une fourmi.
- Un enfant explore un pays magique en secret pendant la nuit.
- Des toutous qui prennent vie quand personne ne regarde.
- Un enfant part sur la Lune.
- Ton premier jour à l'école.
Not only could they not record soundtracks with the films, but they also had to get creative with the special effects. Check out this compilation of stunts by Buster Keaton, a star of the era!
What were they playing?
Musicians were able to improvise. Otherwise, they played pieces from the existing repertoire. To find music quickly, people created music catalogs, where pieces were classified according to different emotions or situations. Here you can see an example of the repertoire for pianists and organists compiled by Erno Rapee in 1924. Look at the right-hand column to see how the pieces are classified.
Take a listen to the song’s melody. Jack’s theme begins around 01:12. Throughout the film, this melody returns, sounding different each time to reflect the inner conflict Jack is going through. Will you be able to recognize it?
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas
Orchestre Montréal
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Transcript
FR
The nightmare before christmas
Concert Educational Guide
START
By: Marie-Claude Codsi
Games and Activities
Spotlight on Sound Effects
The Film's Soundtrack
The Role of Film Music
A Brief History of Film Music
TIMELINE
Did you know that movies were silent in the early days of cinema? Click on the timeline to learn more about 5 key moments in the history of film music!
Late 1800s
1927
1933
1908
1935
The invention of silent films
The Assassination of the Duke of Guise
The Jazz Singer
End of the transition period
1st Academy Award
The invention of silent films
Films were invented in the late 1800s. At first, films were “silent.” No soundtrack (music, sound, or dialogue) could be recorded along with the images. However, people could still hear music when they went to movie theaters.
What kind of music were they playing?
How could we follow the story?
Who did we hear?
How?
The Assassination of the Duke of Guise
(1908)
Composer
Camille Saint-Saëns
The first soundtrack composed specifically for a film was created in 1908, about 20 years before the advent of talking pictures, for the film The Assassination of the Duke of Guise. The music was composed by Camille Saint-Saëns and was intended to be performed live by an orchestra during the screening. However, since not all movie theaters had access to an orchestra, this music was not accessible to the general public. Therefore, even when a musical work was created specifically for a film, it was not heard by everyone at the time.
Information
Film
The Jazz Singer
(1927)
ComposER
Louis Silvers
Talking pictures made their debut in 1927 with the film The Jazz Singer, a film in which a small portion included sound. Unfortunately, at that time, not all movie theaters were yet equipped to play sound. A brief transitional period thus followed, during which silent films and talking pictures coexisted. The arrival of talking pictures was a major milestone in the industry, as it standardized what audiences could hear in films, including the music.
Information
Excerpt from the film
THE ROLE OF FILM MUSIC
Film music can heighten certain emotions in a movie. Listen here to two clips from Star Wars: Episode IV (1977). In this clip, Princess Leia is presenting medals. Do you think the clip feels just as heroic with or without the music?
Modified version
Original version
In the following slides, discover some of the roles that film music plays while listening to film clips.
Start
The role of film music
Film music can also mimic what we see on screen. For example, if a character is walking up the stairs, the music will rise in pitch at the same time. Take a look here at the different ways music tries to mimic what’s happening on screen.
The role of film music
Film music can sometimes help us predict what’s about to happen in the story. For example, in the movie Jaws, the soundtrack foreshadows the arrival of sharks when you hear the following theme. The faster the music gets, the closer the shark is to the people. Can you picture it?
The role of film music
Film music can set a specific mood in just a few notes. Think about the TV shows you know and love. As soon as you hear the opening notes, you feel good and ready to watch your show. It’s like a ritual. Don't you agree?
About the composer
the film's soundtrack
Danny Elfman is an American composer. He has collaborated on several of Tim Burton's films. One of his best-known pieces is the opening theme for the TV series The Simpsons.
The music for the film The Nightmare Before Christmas was composed by Danny Elfman. Click the buttons below to discover some things to look out for while watching the film.
Contrast
Jack's theme
A family in the spotlight
Did you know that orchestra conductors often conduct films with a small screen next to them that provides visual cues to help them keep the tempo? This helps them ensure that the music syncs up with the images at the right moment.
See example
Spotlight on sound effects
As a sound effects artist, you create sounds to bring a story, cartoon, or movie to life. For example, you imitate the sound of footsteps, rain, or a monster using everyday objects. This helps make the story more realistic.
Take a look at the objects used in the video... You can actually use just about anything to try to recreate a sound. Also notice how each object is used one after the other, like a dance routine.
In addition to music, an animated film needs people to create the sounds and noises you hear. These people are called sound effects artists.
Learn more
Games and activities
Sound effects activity
My soundtrack
Guided comparison (Post-concert)
Pre-concert workshop
Further exploration
My soundtrack
Now it’s your turn to see how different types of music can influence what we see. Which of the four music tracks listed do you think best matches the images shown here, and why? There are no right or wrong answers—the clip you’ve chosen is from a silent film.
*You can start and stop the music clips by clicking and re-clicking on the numbers.
Sound effects activity
Writing Write a short story (10 to 20 sentences) in which you can incorporate sound effects or music.
Sound effects Using everyday objects and/or musical instruments, bring your story to life with sound!
Let's start filming! Record your story with a narrator and various people providing sound effects.
guided comparison
Listening to a piece of music at school and watching an orchestra perform on stage are very different musical experiences. This activity will allow you to compare the two experiences.
- What emotions did you feel while listening to the music?- Can you describe the music you just heard? - Were you able to identify the instruments playing while listening to the music (without seeing them)?
2) Answer the following questions about the play you just heard.
1) Listen to the following piece with your eyes closed.
- Did you feel similar emotions while listening to the recorded music and during the concert?- Did the live version offer you something different? - Did you find one of the two versions more impressive? Why?
- What emotions did you feel during the concert?- Did you enjoy being able to watch the musicians play while you listened to the music? - Can you describe the music you heard?
3) Answer the following questions about your visit to the OSM.
4) Compare the two experiences
Further exploration
The music activity guide
visual guide
The Introductory Guide to the Orchestra
Thanks to this visual guide, get ready for a School Matinee concert, step by step, with images and sounds!
Through its interactive pages – including educational video clips, audio excerpts, games, and activities – this educational guide invites everyone to learn more about what makes up a symphony orchestra.
Listening games, an instrument chart, music quizzes, and many other fun and educational activities await you in this music activity guide!
Contrary to popular belief, some silent films were very long, lasting up to three hours. How did people follow the story? Intertitles were inserted between scenes to explain what was happening, or even to display the dialogue between the characters.
Who did we hear?
Musicians were hired to play live music right in the movie theaters. It could be anything from a solo pianist to a full orchestra, depending on the theater’s budget. So you could go see the same movie twice and have a completely different experience!
Through the soundtrack, Elfman showcases the woodwind section. Discover its secrets in this video produced by the OSM.
VS
Halloween Town
Christmas Town
Notice in the film how the music in Halloween Town differs from that in Christmas Town. Composer Danny Elfman creates a contrast between the two Towns in his music by using different instruments (orchestration) and switching between major and minor keys.
1933 - End of the transition period
The transition period between silent films and talking pictures lasted about five years. By 1933, almost all new films were talking pictures.
Several orchestras were founded during this transitional period, such as the OSM, which was established in 1934. At the time, the orchestra was known as the Société des concerts symphoniques de Montréal.
The transition to talking pictures was viewed positively by almost everyone, except for the musicians who lost their jobs.
Academy Awards
The first Academy Awards ceremony took place in 1929. The Academy Awards ceremony presents prestigious awards to recognize various aspects of American and international cinema. The first Academy Award for Best Original Score was awarded in 1935 to Louis Silvers for his score for the film One Night of Love.
Quelques idées de thématiques
Not only could they not record soundtracks with the films, but they also had to get creative with the special effects. Check out this compilation of stunts by Buster Keaton, a star of the era!
What were they playing?
Musicians were able to improvise. Otherwise, they played pieces from the existing repertoire. To find music quickly, people created music catalogs, where pieces were classified according to different emotions or situations. Here you can see an example of the repertoire for pianists and organists compiled by Erno Rapee in 1924. Look at the right-hand column to see how the pieces are classified.
Take a listen to the song’s melody. Jack’s theme begins around 01:12. Throughout the film, this melody returns, sounding different each time to reflect the inner conflict Jack is going through. Will you be able to recognize it?