 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My first book of the 4-book 2nd Edition of Musique Fantastique debuts on Sept 1st at the Fans of Film Music event in L.A.- pre-orders are now being taken for mail order.
see: http://www.creaturefeatures.com/products/books/musique-fantastique/
Details:
Creature Features announces the publication of a wholly rewritten, revised, and expanded 2nd Edition of Musique Fantastique: 100 Years of Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror Film Music by noted film music writer, Randall D. Larson. The first (of four) separate books that make up the book series will be released in September as a limited edition trade paperback and an e-book, with the succeeding three books to appear shortly.
When it was published in 1985 by Scarecrow Press, Randall D. Larson’s Musique Fantastique: A Survey of Film Music in the Fantastic Cinema was the first book-length analytical commentary of these genres of film music. Out of print, elusive, and sought after for many years, Musique Fantastique has been regarded as a unique and important reference work for students and enthusiasts of both film music and fantastic films. The first extensive analysis of music in science fiction, fantasy, and horror films, Larson’s exhaustive commentary covered the use and techniques of music in these genre films from the silent era and the groundbreaking Golden Age of the ’30s and ’40s through the rise of electronics and the resurgence of symphonic film music in the late ‘70s and early ’80s. Taking the approach that film music has an especially unique responsibility in these genre films and has achieved significant advances in musical style and form in these genres, Larson examined in detail how music has been used to intensify the filmgoing experience in these types of movies.
“Creature Features is pleased to announce the publication of Musique Fantastique, 2nd Edition, said publisher Taylor White. “Intricately detailed and wide-ranging in its scope, Randall has significantly expanded his in-depth coverage of the subject, from the silent era through the summer blockbusters of 2012.” Featuring a new introduction by film composer Christopher Young, Musique Fantastique, 2nd Edition, is a massive, four-book comprehensive examination of music for fantasy, sci-fi, and horror films and television worldwide.
“Music for science fiction, fantasy, and horror films has always been a particularly unique area of film scoring,” said Larson. “Just as fantasy has allowed the minds of writ¬ers and filmmakers to flow into new and unexplored regions, so has it allowed the imaginations of film composers to create much of the finest music composed for motion pictures.”
The original 1985 edition has been thoroughly rewritten to include new research, interviews, and access to films, scores, and reference data not available when the first book was written. “The explosion in genre product in cinema and television over the last two decades has demanded an extension of my original discussion to see where film music in these genres has gone since 1985,” Larson said. “I’ve also got a much better opportunity to write about these films, having written about film music for more than a quarter century. I’m not a musicologist and you won’t find a lot of discussion about musical theory and technique in Musique Fantastique II. What you will find is analysis about music’s dramatic function and purpose and what has been and remains unique about music for sci-fi, fantasy, and horror films. The 2nd Edition gives me an opportunity to revisit the old movies and analyze new ones, from the biggest Hollywood blockbusters to the cheesiest low-budget independent films from the farthest corners of the world, exploring what film music does to enhance these imaginative genres, and to get inside the heads of these music makers and discern their thoughts and perceptions.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I picked up the first edition ohhh about a decade ago at a film fair for about £20. I'd love to purchase the second edition but I don't have the funds and don't do e-books (would it be cheaper) - I'm a real book person! Guess I'll have to resign myself to going without 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have also confirmed with the publisher that books from the first 100 orders received will be autographed by the author!
-rdl
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'll be ordering three copies myself. One for myself and two for some friends. If you enjoy genre pictures (along with their wonderful scores) this is a must read.
Back in the late 80's a friend lent me his copy which I promptly read on the long, long bus drive back to Montreal. It was so engrossing that I had to be reminded that we had reached our destination by the driver. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Can't wait to get a copy at this Fans of Film Music, whatever that is...
Randall is one hell of a great author so this should be a great read.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why MUSIQUE FANTASTIQUE and not Fantastic music ?, sounds better in French?
|
|
|
|
|
|
The title was used for the original 1985 edition, published by Scarecrow Press. It was inspired primarily by the term used as the title for Cinefantastique magazine, which at that time was the major periodical covering sf, fantasy, and horror films, and the only one regularly also covering genre film music in its pages (and coincidentally I would write the regular "The Score" feature for them in the later 80s and 90s). While there was no affiliation between CFQ and my book, I liked the tone of the title as I was covering in film music much as how CFQ was covering fantastic films in their in-depth coverage. Thus the title seemed cool and appropriate. I naturally kept it, although with a new subtitle, for the 2nd Edition.
- rdl
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mazeltov Fantastique on the new edition(s), Mr. Larson! The original has always held a proud place on my book shelf.
Of course, it looks like now I'll have to build some more book shelves...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why MUSIQUE FANTASTIQUE and not Fantastic music ?, sounds better in French?
Sounds better than 'Freedom Fries'! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forgive me if this has already been explained, but is this ONE work being subdivided into 4 volumes and was originally published as a single book?
-Rick O.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is fantastic news! I first came across the original version in my college library and pored over it for weeks. Eventually I tracked down my own copy, which sits proudly on my shelf along with my other film music tomes. I look forward to reading the reflections and analyses how the genre has developed over the past few decades.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
