Adult Lecture Series-Tone, Timbre, and Terror: The Role of Music in Scary Films

From Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” to the “Jaws” theme, music has played a paramount role in the horror genre.
Gil Harel will discuss the ingredients that make music so effective at conveying horror. He will analyze memorable scenes from films including “The Omen,” “Friday the 13th,” “Halloween,” and others. Through a discussion of timbre, tone, color, harmony, dissonance, and other special effects, audience members can expect to get a peek behind the curtain and understand the role of music in sending chills down one’s spine.
Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is a musicologist and music theorist whose interests include styles ranging from western classical repertoire to jazz. Previously, he has served on the faculty at CUNY Baruch College, where he was awarded the prestigious Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching. Harel was also a faculty member at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, China. Currently, he teaches at Naugatuck Valley Community College, where he has thrice been presented with the Merit Award for Exemplary Service to the College. Most recently, he was honored with the prestigious Connecticut Board of Regents Teaching Award. At NVCC, Dr. Harel conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions.