Halloween Music
As the leaves rustle and the nights grow longer, a familiar chill creeps through the air- the unmistakable sign that Halloween is upon us. While costumes, decorations, and trick-or-treating are quintessential to the spooky season, one element that truly sets the eerie ambiance is Halloween music. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the enchanting world of Halloween music and the tunes that make Halloween a musical celebration like no other. No season is complete without a perfectly curated playlist to accompany the festivities!
When thinking of Halloween music, tracks such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Bobby Pickett’s “Monster Mash” immediately come to mind. These songs have become timeless anthems that set the stage for the season. These two classics feature catchy beats and playful lyrics, and have become synonymous with Halloween festivities, creating a sense of nostalgia for both young and old. But this playlist doesn’t stop there. Side stepping into the world of cinema we find some very fitting works. Halloween owes much of its cinematic charm to the spine-tingling soundtracks that accompany horror films. From the eerie piano notes of John Carpenter’s Halloween theme to the haunting orchestral arrangements in Danny Elfman’s work for Tim Burton, compositions such as these add a layer of suspense and excitement to the holiday. Close your eyes, and you might just find yourself in the midst of a thrilling horror movie.
So, what makes Halloween music “spooky”? Analyzing all Halloween music could be a lengthy process but here are a few ideas that seem to be common threads. Compositionally speaking, focusing on minor keys and minor chords is a good starting point. Creating tension with half-step motion and chromaticism, as well as octaves will also put you in the right direction. As far as the sound is concerned, using eerie synth sounds and special sound effects can really take a composition to the next level. Lyrically, referencing scary things such as monsters will bring about great imagery in the imagination. Finally changes in dynamics can really be useful for building tension and creating surprising “stabbing” effects, such as brass hits or synth stabs.
Whether you’re dancing to the classics, immersing yourself in cinematic soundtracks, exploring other haunting hits, or writing your own music, Halloween music adds a magical touch to the season. So, dim the lights, crank up the volume, and let the spectral symphony and haunting harmonies of Halloween music cast its enchanting spell on you.
Halloween: Origins and Traditions | HISTORY
Written by Tyler G.
