Music

The music in this scene is a mixture of electronic and orchestral instruments. The electronic parts make a high-pitched whining noise (smilar to feedback from a mic or amplifier) which grows in volume and raises in pitch. They also make sudden, loud dissonant chords in a very low pitch. This is mixed with the violin, playing fast, staccatto notes. There are also drums that come in to emphasise the action, being of fast tempo and loud. When the scene is lacking action (like when the characters are dealing with the hostages) the percussion keeps a steady, fast beat that sounds like a ticking bomb. The combination of all this gives a sense of urgency and chaos, being both fast and unpredictable, which reflects the scene in front of us. When things get more chaotic (i.e. the banker pulls out his shotgun) the drums become prominent, and the electronic music and violin alternate in quick succession. The music also drops to a very low volume for dialogue, allowing the viewers' focus to be controlled.

This piece is quite important considering it is the Joker's theme throughout the film. It's possible to sense the Joker's prescence in a scene simply by this music, whether he has appeared yet or not. On the other hand, it is very subtle - usually only the electronic feedback plays if he has not appeared yet. This noise is ear-piercing and as it grows in volume and pitch, it raises suspense. The electronic chords are usually associated with gunshots/death, highlighting that moment of surprise when the character on-screen is killed unexpectedly. This would come after the build-up from the feedback.

The music in Christopher Nolan's film is very different from other Batman films and from typical superhero movies. When you watch a superhero movie, you expect grand, heroic music - orchestrated with powerful brass, something triumphant and bright. However, with this film we hear a lot more tension rather than triumph. The music is fast, and electronic. It's noisy and dissonant. This is reflective of the chaotic nature of the film and its characters, and the high-pitched feedback creates tension and chills the listener rather than reassures them. In comparison to older Batman films, where the music is orchestrated and campy, this is a big change. Tim Burton's Batman films featured music by composer Danny Elfman, who does music for The Simpsons, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and other family-oriented films. This is easy to hear as his works often have a 'bounce' in them - dark but humourously so. This is not the case with The Dark Knight. Its music was composed by Hans Zimmer, who composed for Inception, Sherlock Holmes, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Example of Danny Elfman's Batman score:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ydxgekFls

Example of Hans Zimmer's Dark Knight score:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QjuEWsdgEc