Sound Genre Research & Analysis:

Musical Theatre & Contemporary Dance

As a Sound Designer, there are many things that must be considered and taken into account when designing for events and shows. I have chosen to research and analyse Musical Theatre and

Contemporary Dance; two very different genres in which sound design is incredibly important in setting specific atmospheres.

Most sound designers have come from being

composersDesign, install and

operate

Working extremely closely with the directors and

choreographers

Evoke emotion, underscore the action

and create mood & atmosphere

Sourcing the sound/music

Edit the sound

Diegetic and non diegetic

soundsWhat equipment is needed and where?

Reading/analysing the script and adding

cues

THE SOUND DESIGNER

• Time• Place• Season• Era

• Mood & atmosphere• Society/class• Culture

• Geographical location

ANALYSIS OF SOUND

Musical theatre is a form of theatre that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The story and emotional content of the piece are communicated

through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the performance.

MUSICAL THEATRE

Conventional approach

Often a traditional score is used

Motif & motif

developmentLive

orchestra

Sound effects

Spoon fed to the audience

Diegetic & non diegetic

Often uses direct

correlation http://

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KA6R1DMb-Z8#t=325

Contemporary Dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres

including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid

dance movements.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Original scores used

Can work in direct correlation or be

completely disassociated

Can provide structural devices

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0IH_rrpj0CU#t=6

Place, mood, time

Experimental approach – no

rules

Motifs

Similarities Differences

COMPARISON

• Both genres create a specific

atmosphere through sound

design• Both genres

CAN BE narrative

• Contemporary dance expresses emotion through

movement• Musical theatre

always follows a storyline

• Musical theatre is spoon fed – the

audience is never left wondering why

something happened

• Contemporary dance is open to the

audience’s own interpretation