The Importance Of Sound Essay Research Paper

The Importance Of Sound Essay, Research Paper

The Importance of Sound

Theater is an extremely involved and complex production. It encompasses play writing, directing, acting, costume, makeup, scenery, lighting properties, theater architecture, machinery, special effects, management, audiences, and criticism (Brockett-b xi). What this statement fails to include is the element of sound design as a major theatrical consideration. The aspect of sound in the past and present entails so many technical aspects, that it must not be over-looked in any production. This is reinforced by analyzing the need for music and sound, how these where used in the past, and finally what to consider for modern sound design.

Music and sound is essential for enhancing any production. Its presence serves two crucial functions. First, it establishes mood. All people have certain reactions to sounds, especially music. For example, upbeat rythmatic tempos have the ability to release adrenaline in a persons body. Slower tempos can tend to depress people. In theater, the use of sound and music is geared towards the extremes. The sound designer=s purpose is to create a moody atmosphere. For example, most moods created relate comedy to gaiety and tragedy to somberness (Brockett 402). Heavy beating of drums and deep horns bring a sense of hostility and aggression which are typical feelings of war that can be suggested in a tragedy.

The second function sound serves is exposition. Exposition refers to realistic sound effects. Things such as gunshots, breaking glass, doorbells, and telephones are most commonly used in theater. The most important task of exposition is to alert the audience to off-stage occurrences or to prepare them for up-coming events on stage. Also, these sounds are presented to give the audience a knee-jerking reaction.

These two things are the most important objectives to be considered for any sound designer; however, there are other benefits to incorporated sound. First, it has the potential to relay a great deal of information to the audience related to time and place (Wilson 107). The understanding of the local and period of the play is needed information. There are several genres of music which indicate time period and regional areas of the world. The mandolin is typical of the Renaissance which thrived throughout Europe. Bagpipes are exclusively associated with Scottish tradition. Effective use of sound makes it undoubtedly clear as to the time and place.

A second benefit of sound is textual reference (Walne 39). This involves the sounds referred to or reacted to by characters. It could actually be a type of trademark sound that alerts the audience to focus on a certain character. Also, textual reference could associate a certain feeling intended by the playwright with the audience. The Jaws theme is a very effective textual reference that establishes an upcoming threat or terror.

The third important benefit of sound is its ability to provide cues for the actors to respond to (Walne 39). This is because a sound that is part of the play provides a non-visible cue. Typical cues involve telephone rings, doorbells, and door knocks. They usually denote a shift of attention within a scene or even an introduction of a character or scenario.

As far as music is concerned, this aspect can open up an entirely new world to any production (Walne 41). This is especially true when it involves a live band or orchestra. Most people prefer live music to that which is recorded and can only add an extra degree of appreciation by the audience. Many theaters include orchestral pits for this reason; the pit provides the needed space for the musicians and the presence of live music which will attract more audiences. Further, music leaves ample room for the sound designer to be very artistic. A lot of music exists and the composition of an excellent musical score can be very diverse and difficult to achieve. However, when it is done right, it is an element that is never missed or unappreciated by the audience.

Basically, it has been established that there are two types of sound concerning a play; music and sound effects. Throughout history, even the first plays used these two things in order to enhance the production. The Greeks are credited to be the first to develop theater. Music was an integral part of Greek Drama as it accompanied recitative passages. It was used to capture the exclusive attention of the audience which was essential to understanding the prose that was spoken.

Most accompaniment for Greek drama was done with a single flute. The trumpet and forms of percussion where also used. Usually there was only one musician and there is little known as to his means. It is known, however, that the Greeks associated certain music to ethical qualities, emotions, and ideas, thus, it could be discerned that the musician had to be very diverse and talented (Brockett-b 26).

The Romans used music even more extensively than the Greeks. In some plays of Plautus, up to two-thirds of his lines were accompanied by music. Music was presented so conventionally that the audience could predict what types of characters would appear just simply by listening to the textual reference of the music.

The musicians presence was an essential part of Roman Drama. The musician was actually part of the play as he would walk amongst