Explain how <composer's name>'s use of instrumentation reflects the content of the extramusical work it accompanies.

This would be one aspect of one of the essay questions relating to one of the students set works, in this instance looking at one of their set works with some extra-musical content, such as a musical or a film, and aiming to unite the musical and extramusical knowledge of the student, and encouraging them to explain the interrelationship between the two. When working with a student obviously we would use the set work that they have been looking at. However for the purposes of this question, and since I recently studied it for a tutorial at university and therefore have recent knowlege from analysing it, I will use the opening theme to the BBC series Merlin as an example. The theme tune can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAAOsFoViKQ The BBC series Merlin focusses on the adventures of Merlin, Arthur, and the knights of camelot, in an interpretation of the Arthurian legend in which magic of all forms is prohibited on pain of death, and all magic practitioners are forced to carry out their sorcery in the utmost secrecy. As a result, two of the major overarching themes of the show are the heavily grandiose, proud, and somewhat militaristic themes of feudal camelot set in contrast with the mystery and secrecy of the supernatural hidden within the city's walls. These two different aspects are represented musically within the title theme. The noble and militaristic camelot is presented throughout the piece, with trumpets accompanying the sweeping string lines with fanfare interjections. Timpani also has short interjections and is accompanied by a snare drum towards the close of the piece, which further emphasises the milataristic and adventurous aspects of the show. In the middle of the piece however comes a choir of low male voices just below the strings singing wordlessly in a chant-like manner. This seems to be indicative of that supernatural element hiding beneath the pomp and ceremony of the strings and brass just as the sorcerers have to hide from the law of camelot, but still influence events from behind the scenes.