Music

As with my animatic, the music I will use within Once upon a Time in Leningrad will consist of music by the Russian composer Pytor Ilich Tchaikovsky. I chose to use music by Tchaikovsky for a number of reasons. I have always been drawn to both animation and live action films that incorporate classical music into their scores in interesting and dynamic ways. I think that these pieces of music can be seen within a new light when applied to something that is unexpected, and brings a further appreciation to them, as well as supporting the visuals on display. Stanley Kubrick often incorporated classical music into his film scores, and as he is one of my favourite directors, I draw inspiration from him. Walt Disney's Fantasia is a prime example for the blending of classical music and animation, and reimagines some of the most famous pieces of classical music in interesting, if not always totally successful ways. Both Kubrick and Fantasia have led to my use of classical music here. Fantasia particularly uses little to no foley sound effects, and instead focusses purely upon the music used. This is another element I shall be replicating, with no foley sounds used at all within my film. 

Perhaps most importantly, I am an admirer of Tchaikovsky's music, and wanted to use it within my film. As the film is set in 1920s Russia, I felt that his music would fit perfectly. I will be using music from The Nutcracker, one of Tchaikovsky's most famous ballets. By taking this music and adding it to a different setting, I hope to invoke a similar response to other films that have successfully achieved this.

The copies of Tchaikovsky's music that I have used in my film were taken from musopen.org; a royalty free classical music archive.

Examples of Classical Music in Film

"2001: A Space Odyssey" - Stanley Kubrick

"Fantasia" - Multiple Directors