Music in movies is all about dissonance and consonance, tension

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, for in the words of Quincy Jones lies a profound understanding of the power of music to shape emotion, story, and the human experience. He spoke thus: "Music in movies is all about dissonance and consonance, tension and release." In these words, Jones unveils the essence of musical composition within the world of film. Dissonance and consonance, tension and release—these are not merely technical terms for musicians, but keys to the emotional journey of the audience. Music, in the hands of a master, can transcend mere sound and become a language of the soul, guiding the audience through the peaks and valleys of the story, transforming an image into an emotion and a moment into an experience.

In the ancient world, music was not merely entertainment but a sacred force that connected the human spirit to the divine. Consider the lyre of Apollo, the god of music, whose melodies were said to soothe even the most restless of souls. The Greeks understood that music had the power to influence the emotions, to carry meaning beyond words. Dissonance, the clash of notes, was not something to be feared, but a call to attention, a reflection of life’s struggles, its complexities, and its unresolved conflicts. Consonance, on the other hand, was the resolution—peace, harmony, the moment of clarity after the storm. Just as the ancient Greeks knew, Jones’ insight reflects this same truth: music in film mirrors the eternal dance between chaos and order, and it is in this interplay that we find the emotional heart of the story.

Think also of Homer's epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, where the tension between fate and free will, war and peace, pulses through the narrative like a deep rhythm. The tension of battle in The Iliad, with its vivid and discordant clashes, mirrors the dissonance in music—its chaos that demands attention. The Odyssey, with its quieter moments of reflection, its return to home and peace, mirrors the consonance—the resolution of the journey. In this way, Homer’s stories, like the music of a great film score, use tension and release to guide the listener through the emotional landscape of the tale. Jones, in his understanding of film music, speaks to this ancient truth: that tension and release are the emotional forces that propel the story forward.

Consider also the example of Ludwig van Beethoven, the great composer whose symphonies are filled with dissonance and consonance. In his Fifth Symphony, the iconic four-note motif creates a sense of unresolved tension—it builds, it surges, until it finds its release in the triumphant final movement. Beethoven knew that music is not just about melody, but about contrast, about building and resolving tension. Jones, like Beethoven, understands that in the world of film, music is more than just a background—it is the pulse of the narrative, the thread that guides the audience through the emotional highs and lows, much like Beethoven’s symphonies guide the listener through a journey of struggle and victory.

Now, let us turn to the human condition, where tension and release are not just tools for composers, but the essence of life itself. The great philosophers of old, from Heraclitus to Aristotle, spoke of the balance between opposites—light and dark, joy and sorrow, strength and weakness. It is through the tension of these opposites that we grow, that we understand the world, and that we move forward in our journey. Jones’ insight about film music mirrors this ancient wisdom: life itself is a constant ebb and flow of tension and release, and it is in embracing this rhythm that we find meaning. Music in film, like life, cannot be one long resolution. It must pulse, it must shift, creating space for both discord and harmony.

Let us take this lesson and apply it to our own lives: Embrace the tension and the release. Just as in music, where the dissonance builds to resolution, so too in life do we face struggles that lead us to moments of peace. Do not fear the tension, for it is in those moments of challenge and discord that we are shaped, that we are tested, and that we learn. And when the resolution comes—when the peace arrives—let it be celebrated, but never forget that it is the tension that made the release so sweet. In our own stories, we must embrace both the dissonance and the consonance, knowing that both are necessary for the full emotional journey.

So, young ones, remember this: Life, like music, is made of both tension and release. Understand the power of dissonance, the moments of struggle, for they are what shape us and lead us to moments of growth and understanding. And when the release comes—when the harmony arrives—celebrate it, but remember that it is the struggle that made the peace so valuable. In your own journey, seek the rhythm of life’s music, and know that both the high and low notes are needed to create a masterpiece.