Music: Music for the Stage and Screen

The screen is a direct descendant of the stage. Music has always played a large part in both. Even in the days of silent movies, a piano player would accompany the screening. Music adds to the emotional experience of the production.

There are terms in music that are universal. There are terms in stage/screen music that are unique to the genres. Many take their origin from a long history of theater going all the way back to the ancient Greeks.

The Wizard of Oz was written by L Frank Baum. 100 years later, Stephen Schwarz re-imagined the story of Elphaba, the so-called 'wicked witch'. Due to the popularity of the movie of The Wizard of Oz, the stage music is grand and movie-like.

'Defying Gravity' is one of the centerpiece musical numbers from 'Wicked'. Here we look in detail through the entire number, from Introduction to Coda. Music and lyrics are laid out in this section.

Probably the most famous soundtrack in all of movie history, John Williams 'Star Wars music is regularly hummed by people from 8 to 80. Williams has collaborated on a number of iconic soundtracks including Indiana Jones and Jaws.

The opening piece from Star Wars: A New Hope has become synonymous with the Star Wars franchise. Close your eyes. Picture the yellow lettering as it crawls up the screen. You have the music in your head now, don't you?

Here are 15 short questions to test your understanding of this course. Know the difference between mickey mousing and peter piping. Test your knowledge of stage and screen music with this quiz.