I am a high school student interested in music composition. In this composition for the scene in The Greenbook, I composed a full soundtrack that includes themes for the pianist and black workers in the field, a harmonic background, and also sound effects for the objects in the scene. Under the guidance of Professor Hans Tutschku, my creativity explored the world of film composition.

       For the instrumentation of the themes, I chose the cello for the pianist and the double bass for the workers. The cello was chosen because of its melancholic timbre and range, which share a high similarity with the human voice. This makes the cello a more emotional and moving instrument for me and communicates the sadness of the pianist. The theme of the pianist also has a descending contour, which is designed to mimic the sighing of humans, also conveys melancholy, and tries to connect and bond with the audience. It also conveys the loneliness and sorrow of the pianist, who neither belongs to the black nor the white communities. 

       As for the theme of the workers, the double bass was chosen because it is in the same instrument family as the cello, just like how the workers and the pianist are all African Americans. Another reason is the link of the double bass with the music of the black society in the U.S. Jazz. The theme emphasizes rhythm, creating a sense of determination, anger, and a small teaspoon of jealousy. The low register is like the rumbling of the workers, and it also contrasts with the high cello theme. The worker's theme also suggests the inequality most black workers face in the U.S. 

       To make the entrance of the two themes less abrupt, I integrated small but recognizable pieces of the themes in earlier sections of this composition where the characters first appeared. This should prepare the ears of the audience for the entire theme when it comes later. 

       Another essential part of this composition is the harmonic background. Similar to the cello and double bass for the themes, strings were chosen because of their emotional timbre. I included some dissonance using 7th chords to create tension and to set a sad and sorrowful mood. Even though many negative emotions could stem from the movie scene, musical dissonance was used to a limited extent because I did not want to make the music sound atonal. 

        I have had more experience writing melodies and musical themes in the past. Therefore, exploring the world of sounds made from everyday objects rather than traditional musical instruments was an entirely new experience for me. In this composition, I explored how various musical textures are created from different “noises,” giving me a new perspective on musical expression. I used to think that compositions of contemporary composers using weird sounds were abstract and not meaningful. Now I am more aware of and appreciate the sounds that occur around me because everyday objects can produce beautiful sounds.

       There are several instances in this composition where sounds were used, such as the opening car ride and the moment when the front lid of the car was closed. To create these sounds, I first explored objects around me that made interesting sounds, such as the shaking of a cookie box and the ringing of a ceramic cup. The sounds were then edited it a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), and finally arranged to align with the movie scene. This was a very new and fascinating experience for me, making me more aware of the various sounds that constitute a film soundtrack.

       Composing this soundtrack for a scene in The Greenbook was a very meaningful experience for me. I have started to explore the world of film composition and sounds, including themes and harmonic background, and gained a new perspective by looking at how sounds can be a part of music.