what is dissonance?
Dissonance is when two or more notes disagree in harmony with each other, this causes a clash between the two or more notes. This clashing sound can evoke emotions such as fear and panic through music, dissonance can be seen in many horror movie soundtracks such as physco, insidious and many more movies. Dissonance is often described as an awful and unpleasant sound this is because the frequencies of the clashing notes overlap in terms of soundwaves causing a vibrating tone when the notes clash. This effect can be used to create powerful and emotional musical pieces and the disturbance of the notes can often refer to emotions of sadness, disturbance and fear.
Examples Of Dissonance
One famous example of dissonance in horror music is through the shower scene in Physco (1960). In this composition the music uses a note made up of many clashing frequencies causing disturbing and harsh harmonies between the notes. In the case of this example this causes an aggressive and sharp theme in the harmony of the music, this was made to resemble the action of a knife stabbing someone. Another example of dissonance used in horror movies can be seen in the main theme for the horror movie ‘insidious’ . This theme uses dissonance to create a terrifying and haunting soundscape within the music, this is works in the context of the films plot as it is about a haunted house. These are just two famous examples of dissonance used to create scary musical soundscapes however dissonance has been used in uncountable numbers of compositions for the same and different creative intentions.
The devils interval
The devils interval is a tritone that was believed to summon the devil in the medieval ages, this chord was avoided as people said music was made to serve the majesty of God. This rule was heavily reinforced with the leadership of the church in the medieval era. However once the countries where free from the leadership of the church musicians were allowed express any emotion through their music including fear. The devils interval was ideal for creating disturbing and scary music due to it’s clashing dark harmonies. The devils interval is made up of the root note of the chord and a flattened fifth. Playing this will create a dissonant and evil tone to the chord. Some famous example of the tritone or devils interval in music can be seen in songs and music such as: Walkin (Miles Davis), Even Flow (Pearl Jam) and Danse Macabre.
Nonlinear noise
what is nonlinear noise?
Nonlinear noise is created when an instrument or vocal chord reaches a frequency that exceeds the comfort of the instrument or vocal chord. Nonlinear noise can be seen in animal distress calls, screams, children crying and sudden frequency changes in acoustic instruments. These distressing noises can evoke human emotion such as fear or sadness/empathy. Nonlinear noises sometimes mimic sounds of emotional whaling in music to create emotional and distressing sounds which may cause the listener to feel empathetic. However in horror movies nonlinear noise can be frightening with the use of sharp and loud nonlinear noise which may seem aggressive and cause shock to the listener. In film dramas and horror films tend to increase nonlinear noise use to increase emotion, while other genres of TV tend to use less nonlinear noise the movies however it is still used on occasion.
Examples of Nonlinear noise in movies?
An example of nonlinear noise being used in this way can be seen in Alfred Hitchcocks ‘Physco’ in the shower scene. During this scene the high pitch strained strings along with the discordant notes resemble the frequency pattern of animal distress calls, this would reflect on the fear in the victims mind as she is being stabbed. Another example of nonlinear noise used in horror movies can be seen in the scene ‘Heres Johnny’ in The Shining, the screechy and distressing create an uneasy and sickening tone within the music engulfing the audience in horror and fear for the characters in danger.
Reading List
Encyclopedia Britannica. n.d. Appoggiatura | music. [online] Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/art/appoggiatura> [Accessed 12 June 2021].
KOGAN, J., 2017. NPR Cookie Consent and Choices. [online] Npr.org. Available at: <https://www.npr.org/2017/10/31/560843189/the-unsettling-sound-of-tritones-the-devils-interval?t=1623504174993> [Accessed 12 June 2021].
Nevada Film Office. 2018. Production Notes: Non-Linear Sounds. [online] Available at: <https://nevadafilm.com/production-notes-non-linear-sounds/> [Accessed 13 June 2021].