editing A question on music

[peacemaker]

Composer Georges Delerue , in one of his interviews said, in Jules and Jim (1962), he limited nearly the whole score to melodies in 3/4 meter.

What is 3/4 meter means?

Thanks.

 

[Alcove Audio]

Most "pop" music is in 4/4 time - four beats per measure. The emphasis can be on the two and four beat;

1 - 2 - 3 - 4


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs

Or the emphasis can be on the third beat.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3VCM9CGzkg


3/4 time is three beats per measure. In a waltz the emphasis is on the 1st beat.

1 - 2 - 3


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CTYymbbEL4


In "pop" music the emphasis can be on the 1st beat of every other measure.


1 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFQMk6WWcoM

 

[peacemaker]

Thank you.

 

[flashman2708]

Speaking as a composer Im wondering why he would do that? Actually the answer might be that sometimes the music needs something much more subtle than a theme or motif to give it cohesiveness and the lilt and lightness of a 3/4 time signature might do that. So it's about scoring the sense of the film and the underlying narrative arc and character rather than scoring exactly what you see on the screen which is actually a very modern idea.