What term is used for the music or score used in film to evoke emotions?

The term that describes the music or score used in film to evoke emotions is non-diegetic sound. This kind of sound is characterized by being part of the film's audio that the characters within the film cannot hear; instead, it is meant for the audience to enhance the emotional experience of a scene.

Non-diegetic sound includes musical scores and sound effects that help to convey mood, build tension, or signify feelings, ultimately guiding the audience’s emotional reaction without being a part of the film's narrative world. For instance, a crescendo of music during a climactic moment can intensify the viewer's feelings of suspense or excitement.

In contrast, diegetic sound involves elements that the characters can hear and are part of the film’s universe, such as dialogue and sound effects that originate from actions in the scene. Meanwhile, the soundtrack generally refers to the collection of all music featured in a film, which can include both diegetic and non-diegetic elements. Ambient sounds are a specific subset of diegetic sound that create the atmosphere of a scene but do not necessarily evoke emotional responses like a musical score would. Hence, non-diegetic sound is the most accurate term for music intended to evoke emotions in