Incidental music

Incidental music is music in a play, television program, radio program or some other form not primarily musical. The term is less frequently applied to film music, with such music being referred to instead as the "film score" or "soundtrack".

Related Topics:
Music - Play - Television - Radio - Film - Film score

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Incidental music is often "background" music, and adds atmosphere to the action. It may also include pieces which will provide the main interest for the audience, for example overtures, or music played during scene changes. It may also be required in plays which have musicians performing on-stage.

Related Topics:
Overture - Musician

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The use of incidental music dates back at least as far as Greek drama. A number of classical composers have written incidental music for various plays, with the more famous examples including Ludwig van Beethoven's music for Egmont, Felix Mendelssohn's music for A Midsummer Night's Dream and Edvard Grieg's music for Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt. Parts of all of these are often performed in concerts outside the context of the play.

Related Topics:
Greek drama - Classical - Composer - Ludwig van Beethoven - Egmont - Felix Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Edvard Grieg - Henrik Ibsen - Peer Gynt

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More recently, incidental music has been written for computer games by the likes of Michael Giacchino (the Medal of Honor series), Richard Jacques (Headhunter), Jack Wall (Myst III) and James Hannigan (Catwoman). One of the best known incidental music composers for British television is Howard Goodall, who wrote music for The Gathering Storm, Blackadder and Red Dwarf as well as the film, Bean. One of the best known American composers of incidental music in cinema is John Williams. Without his music there would be a much different feel to movies such as Star Wars (for which he composed the scores to all 6 films), Indiana Jones (all 3), Harry Potter (first 3 films), E.T., Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park (first 2), Superman (first film), and many more.

Related Topics:
Computer game - Michael Giacchino - Medal of Honor - Richard Jacques - Headhunter - Jack Wall - Myst - James Hannigan - Catwoman - British - Howard Goodall - Blackadder - Red Dwarf - Bean - John Williams - Star Wars - Indiana Jones - Harry Potter - E.T. - Jaws - Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Jurassic Park

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