Not with a Bang . . . Silence, Noise and Musical Nihilism in Béla Tarr’s A torinói ló

Authors

  • Talya Berger Stanford University
  • Jonathan Berger Stanford University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jfm.31323

Keywords:

Béla Tarr, Mihály Vig, film theory, music analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the soundtrack of Béla Tarr’s A torinói ló from multiple perspectives. We consider each of the distinct categories of sonic elements and consider their interactions in terms of their dramatic, symbolic, and structural roles. These primary elements—repetitive sample loops of pink noise, broadband noise, and highly redundant melodic fragments, all layered and sequenced in a variety of configurations, along with the musical deployment of silence, dominate the film—interrupted only by the voice of the narrator and the occasional voices of actors.

Author Biographies

  • Talya Berger, Stanford University

    Senior Lecturer in Music 

  • Jonathan Berger, Stanford University

    The Denning Family Provostial Professor in Music

References

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Published

2019-09-09

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Berger, T., & Berger, J. (2019). Not with a Bang . . . Silence, Noise and Musical Nihilism in Béla Tarr’s A torinói ló. Journal of Film Music, 7(2), 5-20. https://doi.org/10.1558/jfm.31323