American History X Scene

This is a piece I am working on for a university project.

The brief is to create a 3 minute piece to go with a clip from a film of our choice. I choose this scene from American History X, I'm sure most of you have seen the film but if you haven't, the general mood of the scene is very sad and sorrowful/regretful. The piece wasn't written especially for this clip, I just thought it seemed to work quite well so I modified it slightly.

I'm not completely convinced that the piano in the first half works that well, maybe it does, I'm not sure. Let me know what you think!

MST Project 1- American History X - eSnips, share anything

Hey man, the music I like, I've seen the movie and I understand where you got the idea that the movie/ scene is sad, but i'm not sure if thats all it is. To me I think the scene is more reflective in nature, Ed Norton is thinking about everything that has passed, and for some reason the music doesn't quite get to that point until almost the last thirty seconds. I think if you were going to put this particular scene to music, I'd maybe think about some of the imagery that is being used in it, particularly the shower/beach water theme thats used, maybe think about ways you could incorporate that aurally. I'm not sure what the specs were for the comp, but for it to be about something sad and sorrowful it starts really fast, not tempo wise, but energy and dynamically. possibly consider toning down the intro piano riff a little bit. also don't forget about the power of silence, from time wise on the video clip 1:15-1:49ish its the same riff until you bring in the horn lick (which i like a lot) i kind of felt like it would've been nice to just have the music stop when ed norton (can't remember the characters name) turns off the shower, and work it back up when to the horn cue when he touches his tattoo. I really like how the music orchestration wise, fits very well with the entire movie as well as the clip. Good job overall, hope to hear more soon.

^ I agree with everything.

You should consider backing away from that piano riff for sometime, and reintroducing it when the horn comes in like JazzyKendall said up there. It needs more melody too, which I would place in the piano as well, perhaps in the places where you take out the riff.