Music can, of course, be extremely effective in telling stories.

Composers throughout history have been writing evocative and poignant music, navigating a variety of emotions and taking their listener's on musical journeys.

The top film composers in particular, are masters at weaving stories together, through music that accompanies visuals.

One of the hardest tasks for a film composer is finding a collection of notes that form a melody, which can then be used and morphed to fit a variety of emotions.

One of my favourite melodies, which encompasses a variety of different emotions is the cue 'Married Life', a montage from the Pixar Movie 'Up', composed by Michael Giacchino.

For over 4 minutes, with just music and the visual animation, Giacchino uses a 16 bar melody which repeats a total of 8 times, (along with a contrasting B Section, which is heard twice). This 16 bar melody takes us on an emotional roller coaster, experiencing a lifetime of emotions, as we watch the protagonist or main character Carl, marry Ellie, before then navigating the ups and downs of life, before then Ellie's untimely passing.

Interestingly, Giacchino mostly only uses Instrumentation & Orchestration, along with tempo variations, as the main devices for the musical variation and development.

Here's a quick breakdown of the cue, with time stamps (corresponding to the link above) for your convenience:

1st A Section - 0:11 - 0:30 

Here the main melody is presented to us for the first time as we see Carl and Ellie as newly-weds, moving into their first home. The music has an upbeat and optimistic feel, with a fast waltz feel (3/4 time). Giacchino uses the Instrumentation of muted Trumpets for the melody, with the accompaniment featuring Trombones, Clarinets and Piano, creating a nostalgic sound, much like Big Band music from the 1930's-1940's, presumably when this part of the movie is set.

2nd A Section - 0:30 - 0:44

For the 2nd time through the main melody, as Carl and Ellie are outside looking up at the sky and dreaming of their future life, Giacchino switches to a solo Violin for the melody, accompanied by Piano, pizzicato Strings, some Glockenspiel and a light brush-based drum groove.

Again, the music has a carefree and light-hearted feel, full of energy with the fast waltz tempo.

B Section (1st time) - 0:44 - 1:00

Having previously heard the main melody twice, what I am interpreting as a B Section, is heard. The visuals continue to show Carl and Ellie, this time as we see Carl in his day job, selling balloons. Here the chords as well as melody are varied (compared to the original A Section). Instrumentation wise, what sounds like a muted Trombone is now playing the melody, with a similar accompaniment to the previous A Section.

3rd A Section - 1:00 - 1:24

The main melody returns, this time as Carl and Ellie turn their attention to dreaming about starting a family. As they lay in the grass, looking up at 'baby' clouds, the instrumentation moves to being much more playful and child-like in nature, with the Melody being played on the Glockenspiel, Piano and then later on the Vibraphone, with high Woodwind flourishes in the background. Again, the tempo still has an energetic waltz feel, helping to portray the two characters dancing through life together.

4th A Section - 1:24 - 1:57

As the mood between Carl and Ellie transitions from hope and optimism, to heartache and pain, so does the music. Firstly, the bright waltz tempo slows down dramatically, mimicking their day to day life slowing down temporarily, as they navigate this sad time. Giacchino then strips back the Instrumentation to just a Piano, perhaps reflecting the loneliness Carl and Ellie feel as they find out they can't have children.

Towards the end of the section, as they come out of the other side, instruments such as a Flute and Strings gradually come back in, along with a gradual accelerando in the tempo, as they get back into life's day to day rhythm.

5th A Section - 1:57 - 2:15

As Carl and Ellie's mood returns, predictably, so too does the original tone of the music, with the familiar muted brass once again playing the melody, with acoustic Guitar, pizzicato Strings and Drums accompanying. Even as we see them experience life's mishaps, such as a punctured car tyre, or a broken leg, the upbeat music and waltz tempo continue.

At this point, just over half way through the cue, Giaccino has played the main melody 5 times and to me, has sustained our interest, primarily by the changes in Instrumentation during each A Section.

B Section (2nd Time) 2:15 - 2:33

Having presented the main melody 5 times in just over two minutes, it probably makes sense for some contrasting material, again in the form of a B Section. Similar in musical feel and content to the previous B Section, a playful solo Violin returns, before a solo Clarinet as the scenes jumps from Carl and Ellie in middle age to older age.

6th A Section 2:33 - 2:51

The warm and nostalgic sound of a Vibraphone (melody) and Strings (accompaniment), together with the continued fast waltz feel, help lead us into the later years of their time together (as we see them dancing a waltz together).

C Section - 2:51 - 3:11

To further break up the (now 6) repetitions of the main A Section, some new material, which I am referring to as a 'C Section' is briefly heard. It occurs at a point in the scene where, in older age, Carl remembers the adventure of wanting to move their house to a cliff above 'Paradise Falls'. The energetic pulse in tempo that has been present, pauses, with a solo Clarinet and long Strings heard.

7th A Section - 3:11 - 3:28

As the realisation that they have one last big adventure in them dawns, the previous upbeat feel of the music returns, although reflecting their older age, with a slightly wistful tone. A solo Clarinet now plays the main melody, with agile, playful strings accompanying. However as Ellie's health fails, and with the realisation that their last adventure is but a dream, so to does the tempo and overall tone of the music, slowing to a crawling pace.

8th A Section - 3:28- 4:15

This last time through the melody is by far the most poignant rendition - as Ellie passes away and as we see Carl at her funeral, the solo Piano returns. Again, helping to portray loneliness, this section is a beautiful illustration of how the melody, once upbeat and playful sounding, is now transformed into a sad and sombre tone, simply by a change in tempo and instrumentation.

So in total, Giacchino presents the main 16 bar melody a total of 8 times (see below for my analysis in diagram form), mostly using the devices of Instrumentation & Orchestration, along with changing of tempo, to portray a multitude of emotions.

I feel the scene is a great testament to the power of melody - and how much mileage you can achieve with the right melody.

Michael Giacchino went on to win an Oscar for the score to 'Up' - I suspect 'Married Life' was a key moment in the film that helped him to secure the Academy Award!

Analysing these pieces is a great way to improve your writing and I highly recommend this method of learning to help you with your own composing.