Why do different musical instruments evoke a certain emotion in TV / Films?

Question

For example, violins in a sad scene or a saxophone in an erotic scene. Why do we all respond to the same instrument in the same way?

In: 6

Answer 1

For one thing, they are cues that we are used to, so they get reused. Drums of War. Trumpets for heroes. Something vaguely mystical and native/natural? Pan flutes.