Right then... I feel that certain things said here about my knowledge and views on film music require some defending, and I happily oblige...
First off, I would like to clear an apparent misconception. I have a huge amount of respect for the skill and craft film composers can demonstrate in their works. I would agree with rob1984 that they can show flexibility and versatility (though generally not originality in this). More on this later though...
To me, the genre of film music is a slightly shoddy one. I would consider around 5% of scores to be genuinely original. Film music is music made to the dictates of the mass-markets and can be said to have crowd-pleasing as a requirement. Artistic vision is limited, and the music must not be too stimulating so as to distract from the film, rather it must support it. Furthermore, as copyright for each score is owned by the production companies, a composer must produce a score for each film that sounds completely unique.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rob1984
Film scoring is an incredibly complex process and film composers are probably the most versatile composers in the world; a good film composer can write music in almost all styles without losing their own sound. John Williams, for example, is a master of his trade; it might not be the most original music but there are few better than him at getting the atmosphere exactly right at the right moment. And technically his music is well composed. In short he knows what he's doing and that's why he's been at the top for so long.
Film scoring isn't about revolutionary music (although it can be). By comparing film scores with concert music you're comparing apples with oranges and that's not fair. They're composed for different purposes and one is not inherently worse than the other because of this.
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In order to fit with these demands, a film composer must inevitably compose in a style different from his own, borrowing from others to best fit his desires. John Williams may "get the atmosphere exactly right", but this (like other film composers) is all too often done by essentially rewriting an existing piece of music to make it sound similar, but original enough to avoid copyright (a task commercial composers are often commissioned to perform). This is completely understandable.
The fact remains that film music may be a different medium to concert music, but to me it is clearly an inferior one, and one that gives a lot less intellectual satisfaction to the listener (though it can admittedly be quite fun). Certainly, I would prefer to hear the original vision of a composer.
Despite this, it is for film music that composers choosing to write orchestral music receive the most accolades and respect from the general public. This annoys me because I feel it is being unjust to genuine concert music that is so much more so about the artistic vision and intellectual stimulation of a composer. It also annoys me because often it is giving them all the credit for music often half written by someone else, long diseased and unable to protest.
This is why, despite the respect I hold for film composers, I feel the need to nominate them here, as their music simply cannot hold up, as music, against concert music.
As a side note, I am nominating composers who write mainly film music (NOT Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev, Copland, Shostakovich, Glass, Walton, Bernstein and Arnold etc...!!! - though I've never viewed their film scores as their greatest works, far from it), because while others write film scores as necessities when they need financial support, or where they find an opportunity to genuinely follow their artistic vision, these composers actively choose to specialise in the area of film music (so I guess you can exclude Korngold from my grouping of nominees).
Quote:
Originally Posted by rob1984
Furthermore, would you not regard film scores by the likes of Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev, Copland, Shostokovich, Glass, Walton, Bernstein and Arnold as geniune compositions?
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- walkingwikipedia
P.S.
to Qccowboy...
I question the need to reply to my opinions not with rebuttal/opposing opinions but rather with statements suggesting I don't know what I'm talking about. To me this is mildly offensive and I respectfully ask for you to offer healthy debate (even briefly)/constructive comments, or stay silent.
Feb 4 2008, 7:21 AM
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