Non-diegetic music
What Non-diegetic music means in Music A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Non-diegetic music
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Reference: AQA
Music within a soundtrack that is not part of the scene, used alongside diegetic music to establish setting, era, or character identity.
Underscore added externally to enhance the mood, tension or emotion for the audience, which the characters cannot hear.
Underscore that is added for the audience's emotional benefit rather than originating within the narrative world.
Topics that use Non-diegetic music
- Area of study 3: Music for media - Musical elements (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- 9th, 11th, and 13th chords
- Action and drive
- added 6th
- Character development
- Chord extensions
- Chord nomenclature
- Cross-cultural orchestration
- Cross-rhythm
Using Non-diegetic music in the exam
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