The movie begins with a nice piano medley while a child hums and giggles. This music starts the movie off portraying a childish, calm, family story but with a hint of conflict or drama. The music also sounds like a country or small town sound. A woodwind and piano plays when the children look over at Boo Radley. When they look over at his house an erry repetitive woodwind and piano medley plays. This medley is played during the film to associate with Boo. The music to transition scenes is an upbeat woodwind country tune. While the children challenge each other to go over to Boo’s house an upbeat diagetic, triumphant horn music plays. Once Scout rolls into Boo’s lawn, the music turns darker into the music associated with Boo. This music is heard again at night when the kids are creeping over to his yard. When his house is shown, the repetitive woodwind erry tune is played. This music makes the scene mysterious and frightening. The music moves with the movements of Jem as he creeps up the porch and as the shadow of Boo reaches toward Jem. The music becomes quicker when the kids start to run.
A dark woodwind and high pitch horn music is played when Atticus is visiting the black man’s family and a man comes up to the car where Jem and Scout are waiting. The music reminded me of Psycho during the murder scene with the high pitched strings. As Jem sits on the porch, scared, a dark fast woodwind sound is played making it frightening. There are creeping noises of a crow and a bench creaking. The frightening music is stopped by the innocence tune and Scout’s voice.
The film is filled with music throughout. It is used for transition, and as theme music to Boo and the children. I would describe this music as Bernstein’s.