Soundtrack
A broad screen-music umbrella: part score, part song album, and always tied to a story on screen.
Origins and context
The modern soundtrack album developed in the U.S. film industry alongside synchronized sound and later expanded through soundtrack releases tied to film, television, and video-game media.
The sound
Characteristics
- Orchestral scoring
- Leitmotifs
- Song compilations
- Electronic textures
- Choir
- Studio orchestra
History
Music written to accompany moving images long predates the modern soundtrack album. Film music has been used with cinema since at least 1892, moving from live accompaniment for silent films into the era of synchronized sound and full orchestral scoring. By the time soundtrack releases became a familiar format, the category had already widened beyond film scores to include television and video-game music, and today the tag often covers both original scores and song-based compilations tied to a screen story.
Notable artists
- JWJohn Williams
- HSHoward Shore
- HZHans Zimmer
- EMEnnio Morricone
Essential listening
- 1
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Howard Shore
- 2
- 3
Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- allmusic.com
Film music has been used with cinema since at least 1892, and the genre now includes music for films, television, video games, and other modern media.
- musicbrainz.org
A soundtrack is the musical score to a movie, TV series, stage show, video game, or other medium.
- musicbrainz.org
Soundtrack release guidance distinguishes film scores from pop soundtracks, and allows soundtrack releases for TV/film versions of musical theatre shows.
- Film Score
- Soundtrack style guide
- YouTube for Artists