Characteristics of film music functions in the works of Ukrainian composers of the second half of the 20th century

Abstract

This article investigates the characteristics of music functions in films from the perspective of their impacts on the development of the cultural and social spaces of the modern world. It highlights the main tasks of film music in the second half of the 20th century, as well as the directions and trends that shaped its evolution. It is argued that these processes were particularly noticeable during this period and stimulated the attention of not only practitioners but also theorists — researchers of screen arts, to explore the functions of film music, its stylistic and genre-specific features, and principles of application in films. The latest trends are examined based on individual examples — works of Ukrainian composers, whose activities were associated with the development of cinema in Ukraine in the second half of the 20th century, which, in our view, has been insufficiently studied. As a result of the research, it has been established that the dominant function of both off-screen and on-screen music in the cinema of Ukraine during the second half of the 20th century is to complement the video sequence and sound, as well as to enhance the emotional component of the visual image. Among the important principles of using music in this context are consistency in unveiling the main idea of the screen work, the thoughtfulness in intensifying conflict, and harmonizing the overall plot line. The fundamental principles of composer’s creativity, aimed at the appropriate implementation of the music function in the cinema of Ukraine in the second half of the 20th century, have been substantiated. The main functions of music in Ukrainian cinema of the second half of the 20th century, revealed in the activities of composers from this period, have been summarized, allowing us to trace the practical implementation of models for the interaction of music and imagery in films.