JFM/Modular Structures in Film Music: The Answer to Synchronization Problems?

Over the course of film music history film composers have been forced to seek and create ways of tackling the issue of mapping the musical score to the film structure and adjustments to the music as a consequence of editing. A number of solutions to this problem have been proposed, ranging from simple ones such as opting for less precise synchronization, to more sophisticated methods based on new musical resources and technology. One such solution has been the application of modular components for the construction of flexible musical structures. The present paper is an overview of selected modular approaches used by composers and indicates potential benefits of modularity that are not limited to the synchronization process.