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Aaron Copland On Film Music

"It’s quite expensive to add music to a film. It would be a shame if nobody paid attention to it. The producers would have thrown their money out the window." (laughter) -- Aaron Copland
Read an interview by Roger Hall
with Aaron Copland in 1980 about his film scores
at this website:
Runmovies/Soundtrack
Commemorative CD
In honor of the 60th anniversary of
one of his best loved film scores, OUR TOWN,
Aaron
Copland was named for a
Lifetime Achievement Sammy Film Music Award.
A special commemorative CD has been prepared
including a rare television program from 1969
with Copland speaking and conducting the orchestra,
plus the 1980 interview by Roger Hall.
Order a copy of this special CD at:
American Music Recordings Archive (AMRC No. 18)

Read the review of Copland's last film score from 1961,
SOMETHING WILD
Bernard Herrmann Tribute

"Film music must apply what an actor cannot say. The music must really convey what the word cannot do. If you're dealing with an emotional subject this is the complete purpose of a film score."
-- Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975)
He is generally considered to be the most innovative
film composer from the past.
2011 marks the centennial year of Herrmann's birth.
To celebrate this occasion, there is a new multimedia DVD, compiled by film music historian and FMR Managing Editor, Roger Hall. The DVD is titled,
Film Music Master:
A Tribute To Bernard Herrmann
See the list of favorite Herrmann film scores
chosen
by Film Music Review critics at this link:
Bernard Herrmann: A Centennial Tribute

Early Bernard Herrmann
Roger Hall's popular article,
"Bernard Herrmann: The Early Years"
with a new addendum of CDs
is available at this site:
Runmovies/Soundtrack
Dimitri Tiomkin’s HIGH NOON: Score and Song

Dimitri Tiomkin was born in Ukraine on 10 May 1894; and died in London on 11 November 1979, at the age of eighty-five.
During his long film music career he received many accolades, including Oscar nominees for
LOST HORIZON (1937), MR. SMITH GOES
TO WASHINGTON (1940); Oscar-winning scores to THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY (1954) and THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA (1958); and the Grammy nominated GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961). Yet among his great film scores, there is one that Tiomkin will be especially remembered for: HIGH NOON (1952).

He was the first composer to be awarded two Oscars for the same dramatic film.Tiomkin received one Oscar for his film score and the other for the film’s song, “High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin’),” with lyrics by Ned Washington.
The song began a trend that continues today – a hit record used to promote or "sell the film."
In the case of "High Noon," there were two major hit records -- one by Frankie Laine and the other by Tex Ritter, who sang the song in the film.
Here is an excerpt from a book discussing this song and score:
The song is used throughout the film as a folk ballad about Marshall Will Kane (Gary Cooper) who asks his bride (Grace Kelly) to 'do not forsake me.' Instead of an instrumental theme for the Main Title, the song is heard in the complete version...The accompaniment is very simple, mainly guitar and drums. To illustrate how concise the film really is, the lyrics tell the whole story of the film - in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Besides being used as Main Title music, the song theme is heard at other stragetic scenes in the film. Perhaps the most effective of them all is the scene called - 'The Clock.' This is where Marshall Will Kane writes his Last Will and Testament just before the train arrives at noontime. The music starts with harp and pizzicato strings imitating the clock pendulum moving steadily back and forth. Then above that constant pendulum ticking are the brass and woodwinds playing portions of the song, as the music builds with an overpowering intensity until it stops suddenly before the train whistle is heard and Kane looks up from his writing.
-- from A Guide to Film Music by Roger L. Hall
Both the Frankie Laine and Tex Ritter (with 3 different recordings from 1952) are featured on this fascinating CD with different artists (including German and Danish) performing the movie song, such as: Robert Horton, Chet Atkins, Bill Hayes, Faron Young, Henry Mancini, and many more...

HIGH NOON - 25 Artists, One Song
There is an excellent new CD of the complete soundtrack with the title song sung by Tex Ritter now available:
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HIGH NOON CD
HIGH NOON CD Review
Tiomkin conducts the main theme from HIGH NOON on this enjoyable compilation:

MUSIC IN FILM: National Public Radio Milestones of the Millennium

CD reviews for other Tiomkin soundtracks

THE ALAMO - World Premiere of the Complete Film Score
(Prometheus - 3 CD Set)
Behind the scenes recording on
YouTube

THE ALAMO:
Dimitri Tiomkin - The Essential Film Music Collection
(Silva Screen - 4 CD Set)
See also this worthwhile online article
The Alamo - Remembered


D.O.A. (Film Score Monthly)

Tiomkin's music on YouTube

THE GREAT WALTZ (1938)
with the incredible singing of Milizia Korjus
and the beautiful music of Johann Strauss II
adapted and arranged by Dimitri Tiomkin
Hear and watch Milizia Korjus on
YouTube

LAND OF THE PHARAOHS (Film Score Monthly - 2CDs)
Suite from the film on
YouTube
See other clips about Tiomkin film scores on
YouTube


Read the DVD review of Dimitri Tionkin's monumental score for
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

A Tiomkin Tribute
"In Hollywood vernacular, I could write commercial." -- Dimitri Tiomkin
Read Roger Hall's tribute to Dimitri Tiomkin,
Hollywood's highest paid film composer of the 1950s,
reprinted with a new addendum of recordings available at
Runmovies/Soundtrack

Left to right: Dimitri Tiomkin at the piano, Tex Ritter and Ned Washington looking on
[Photo courtesy of Marc Wanamaker/
Bison Archives]
Film Composers Celebrated

Elmer Bernstein

"It's a junk culture, and people buy junk...generally speaking,
film has not advanced in terms of taste and intelligence,
and that makes it tough for music."
-- Elmer Bernstein
80th Birthday Tribute
See the special remembrance by Roger Hall at:
Elmer Bernstein - Official Site
50th anniversary
Read the interview with Bernstein
celebrating
the 50th anniversary of his film music scores at:
Runmovies/Soundtrack
Special Award
Elmer Bernstein has been named
for
the Lifetime Achievement Award
at
The Sammy Awards


"RIVER OF NO RETURN"
A Centennial Tribute to Ken Darby

George Duning
George Duning 100th Anniversary

Jerry Goldsmith

"Each assignment becomes an agonizing experience. Where shall I begin? What notes shall I play? What combinations of sounds will be at once melodic and original and
attention-grabbing that the audience will be hooked?"
-- Jerry Goldsmith
Read Steve Vertlieb's tribute at
Jerry Goldsmith:
A "FIRST KNIGHT" Celebration
See the Lifetime Achievement Award
for Jerry Goldsmith at
The Sammy Awards

Bernard Herrmann

Bernard Herrmann: A Centennial Tribute

70th anniversary of CITIZEN KANE and
Bernard Herrmann's first film score

50th anniversary of PSYCHO

50th anniversary of VERTIGO

Henry Mancini

"MOON RIVER" - Memories of Henry Mancini

Ennio Morricone

Honorary Oscar For Ennio Morricone

Miklos Rozsa

100th Birthday Tribute to Miklos Rozsa with a Web Poll

Franz Waxman

A Centennial Tribute To Franz Waxman

John Williams

John Williams--
80th Birthday Tribute
with Listener's Poll

FILM MUSIC REVIEW
Editor's Choice for 2011
by Roger Hall
January

POLTERGEIST -- music by Jerry Goldsmith
(Film Score Monthly, 2 CDs)
February

HOME ALONE - music by John Williams
Expanded Original Score (La-La Land Records)
March

CITIZEN KANE -
The Classic Film Scores of Bernard Herrmann
(RCA Red Seal)
April

LAURA, FOREVER AMBER,
THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
David Raksin Conducts His Great Film Scores
(RCA Red Seal)
May

20th CENTURY FOX
75 YEARS OF GREAT FILM MUSIC
(Varese Sarabande - 3 CD Box Set)
June


WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT - music by Burt Bacharach
and
PUSSYCAT, PUSSYCAT, I LOVE YOU - music by Lalo Shifrin
(Quartet Records)
July

TARAS BULBA - music by Franz Waxman
(Tadlow Music - 2 CDs)
August

THE EGYPTIAN -
music by Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann
(Varese Sarabande, 2 CDs)
September

LAST TRAIN FROM GUN HILL -
music by Dimitri Tiomkin
(Counterpoint CD)
October

LUCIE SVEHLOVA - The Lark Ascending
Classical and Film Music Violin Romances
(Tadlow Music)
November

SUMMER AND SMOKE
music by Elmer Bernstein
(Kritzerland CD)
December

THE SAND PEBBLES
music by Jerry Goldsmith
Editor's Choice for 2010
by Roger Hall
Best Of The Month For January:

BLACK SUNDAY
music by John Williams (Film Score Monthly CD)

Best Of The Month For February:
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ISLANDS IN THE STREAM
music by Jerry Goldsmith (Film Score Monthly CD)
Best Of The Month For March:

CITIZEN KANE and HANGOVER SQUARE
music by Bernard Herrmannn (Chandos CD)

Best Of The Month For April:

ELMER GANTRY
music by Andre Previn (Kritzerland CD)
No Best Of The Month For May

Best Of The Month For June:

Miklós Rózsa Treasury (1949-1968) (15 CD Box Set)

Best Of The Month For July:

THE ALAMO - Complete Score (Prometheus 3 CD Box Set)
music by Dimitri Tiomkin

Best Of The Month For August

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA -
Complete Score and other film music
by Maurice Jarre (Tadlow, 2 CDs)
No Best Of The Month For September
Best Of The Month For October
The Hollywood Flute of Louise DiTullio (Cambria CD)
Best Of The Month For November




Classic Film Scores - Six CDs
Best Of The Month For December

PATTON (2 CDs)
Best Film Music Releases of 2010
Best of the Month in 2009
by Roger Hall

Best of the Month for January
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON --
music by Alexandre Desplat

Best of the Month for February
THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE --
music by Max Steiner

Best of the Month for March
TIME AFTER TIME --
music by Miklos Rozsa

Best of the Month for April
A JOHNNY MANDEL TRIO
(3 CD Box Set)

Best of the Month for May
HOW TO STEAL A MILLION and
BACHELOR FLAT --
music by Johnny Williams

Best of the Month for June
TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE
music by Jerry Goldsmith

Best of the Month for July
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER --
music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Best of the Month for August
GOD'S LITTLE ACRE --
music by Elmer Bernstein

Best of the Month for September
EXODUS --
music by Ernest Gold

Best of the Month for October
THE BLACK STALLION -- music by Carmine Coppola additional music by Shirley Walker

Best of the Month for November
TARAS BULBA -- music by Franz Waxman

Best of the Month for December
CAPTAIN ABU RAED --
music by Austin Wintory
See the latest reviews and other news at:

Film Music Review
Film In Focus Series
One classic film and its music score
No. 1:
THE BEST YEARS
OF OUR LIVES

No. 2:
PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE

No. 3:
75th anniversary of KING KONG
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No. 4:
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

No. 5:
50th anniversary of VERTIGO

No 6:
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE
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No 7:
THE SONG OF BERNADETTE

No 8: 50th anniversary of SOME LIKE IT HOT

No. 9:
50th anniversary of PSYCHO

No. 10: 70th anniversary of CITIZEN KANE
Film Music On Radio and Television
Also available are three supplemental CDs from the American Music Recordings Archive with music by these distinguished film composers:

AMRC 18: Aaron Copland On Film Music (16 track - 63:51)
Featured on this disc is audio from a rare television program from the 1960s, hosted by Aaron Copland, speaking about his film scores and conducting excerpts with a symphony orchestra. This program was recorded on cassette tape and sound levels are lower than usual but still very listenable. This rare television program includes excerpts from these Copland film scores: THE CITY, OF MICE AND MEN, OUR TOWN, and SOMETHING WILD. Also on this CDR is an exclusive interview by Roger Hall with Aaron Copland discussing his film music scores.

AMRC 19: Henry Mancini On Radio (15 tracks - 67:11)
Includes a special radio tribute by Roger Hall from 1989 with some of his early music from television and movies, such as PETER GUNN and THE PINK PANTHER, plus a call-in radio program with Henry Mancini as the guest with some of his film music included.

AMRC 20: John Williams On Radio (22 tracks - 78:59)
Featuring a birthday tribute by Roger Hall to John Williams with examples from a few of his early film scores; also from "A Night at the Movies" concert, and a lengthy interview with John Williams at Tanglewood in Massachusetts.
Read the 75th birthday tribute and Listener's Poll of favorite Williams film scores here.
For additional film music, see
Remembering Radio
The Sammy Film Music Awards

23rd Annual Sammy Awards for 2010
Sammy Film Music Awards (home page)
Looking For Source Music?

Are you a filmmaker or music professional looking for vintage source music to
evoke an era for your feature film, documentary, or short film?
Would you like to discuss which vintage songs
or other music would best fit the time period of your feature film or documentary?
Write for more details toWrite for more details and fees to:
Source Music Search
Film Music Information

Film Music Review - Latest issue
Click on these links for the index for all reviews from
1998 - 2010
==========================


Best Film Music Releases of 2010




Best Film Music CDs of the Decade (2000-2009)
==========================
National Carry A Tune Week
The next Carry A Tune Week will be on
October 7 - 13, 2012
See the surveys which include many film scores and songs at
National Carry A Tune Week 2011
National Carry A Tune Week 2010
National Carry A Tune Week 2009
National Carry A Tune Week 2008
National Carry A Tune Week 2007
National Carry A Tune Week 2006
National Carry A Tune Week 2005
In Remembrance of Erich Kunzel
(1935 - 2009)

From FMR Editor, Roger Hall:
Erich Kunzel was the king of the current classical/crossover conductors. Like Arhtur Fiedler and John Williams with the Boston Pops, Kunzel was a master with a wide variety of music, especially film music.
He conducted the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for 44 years,
ith over 85 Telarc albums to his credit, many of them best-sellers. In his concerts and recordings, he made movie music more enjoyable to audiences everywhere.
He should be credited with helping to broaden the interest and appeal of movie music, both from the past and the present day.

R.I.P., maestro E.K.
Here are a few of his Telarc CDs reviewed at Film Music Review:

Masters and Commanders
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Three Choral Suites by Miklos Rozsa
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The Ultimate Movie Music Collection (4 CD Set)
Thanks to the Cinannati Symphony for information and graphics.
More information about Erich Kunzel at the
Cincinnati Symphony Website

Film music historian Roger Hall has chosen his list of the
100 Essential Film Scores of the 20th Century
Film Music Links
For a list of recommended information,
see these
Film Music Links
Please give credit to this website
If you use information from this site for another web site
or a publication,
give credit to
American Music Preservation.com
For any comments or questions, write to:
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