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| This is a comments thread about Blog Post: Film Score Friday 3/27/20 by Scott Bettencourt |
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The Copy to 'Heavy Metal' is the only one that still leaves something for the viewer to experience. All the rest of these posters kind of give it all away, esp DUNE.
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Even back then it amazed me they thought people deciding if they wanted to see a movie were eager to do so much reading.
The attempts at humor are the most painful, but looking at them decades later they have a faint "dad joke" charm.
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That's very exciting news about the two WAXMAN: DOCUMENTARIES, not only for the obvious joy in having two new, little-heard scores by the beloved Franz, but also because of -- dare I hope? -- the possibility it raises that there may eventually be releases of some of the outstanding TWENTIETH CENTURY scores by the great but under-appreciated George Kleinsinger, (TUBBY THE TUBA, SHINBONE ALLEY).
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I love Tubby the Tuba (two very memorable melodies in that score), so I'd be game... but I don't think Kleinsinger is enough of a "name" to sell CDs on his own. (Waxman has enough trouble selling already). So I would suggest maybe a 2-4 CD set of music from the show, with scores by other more well known composers mixed in... even well known concert hall composers as mentioned in the official description of the album: "Over the course of nine seasons, such noted composers as George Antheil, Darius Milhaud, Alan Hovhaness, Paul Creston and Ulysses Kay contributed original music."
Ulysses Kay is the only one of those I'm unfamiliar with, and the others are pretty big names in the concert hall world. The Antheil in particular might appeal to folks here. But according to IMDb's credits for the series, apart from Antheil (six episode scores supposedly!), there are also a few other well-beloved film composers who BSX didn't mention: Laurence Rosenthal (three scores!), Georges Auric, Morton Gould, and Mario Nascimbene:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050072/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
Seigmeister and Kubik too worked in film, although probably better known as concert hall composers. But I'd certainly be interested to hear their scores too. Seems like this could make a great set, and if the Waxman release sells well enough for BSX, I hope they'll consider releasing more of the series' original scoring.
Yavar
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Hi, Yavar,
Hey, I said G. K. was under-appreciated! But seriously, I'm on board with everything you say. I thought there were a lot of other fabulous composers involved in that great golden age documentary series, but I hadn't seen a list and I didn't want to be talking out of my hat. The only thing with which I'd augment your concept would be if it were maybe 2 or 3 discs, budget permitting. That composer compendium is such an embarrassment of riches.
Ulysses Kay was a highly respected composer and teacher, and in his day much of his work was recorded on LP, some of which has made it onto CD. Most recently, one of his pieces was included on a very fine Sony Classical box set of "Black Composers." The "Twentieth Century" show was not Kay's first venture into film or documentary scoring. He composed music for "The Quiet One," a short film with narration by James Agee, about a boy living in Harlem. Kay subsequently recorded a suite from that film.
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Would Kay then be considered the first black orchestral composer to work in film?
Yavar
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Yeah, I'm talking full on orchestral composer, not arranger. I know and appreciate many who have written for the concert hall (George Walker and Florence Price are favorites of mine), but unfortunately there are very few black composers who've been given the opportunity to write for film. That reminds me... I wish there were more Oliver Nelson releases (and I wish he'd had the chance to compose more for film than he did).
Yavar
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Again I'm totally on board with you, especially about Oliver Nelson. Can I assume you're interested in other work of his beside the cinematic? If so, you probably already know there's a great limited edition box set of his jazz band stuff released by Mosaic, the outfit that specializes in such syncopated collectors' items.
Incidentally, if I'd known Anthiel was involved with "The Twentieth Century" I'd have mentioned him along with Kleinsinger because he's another not-very-heralded hero of mine. (Especially for THE JUGGLER.)
In thinking back on black film composers, not only is it only a handful of names that come to mind --
Ellington, Davis, Lewis, Carter, Jones, Blanchard -- but they all seem to have come from the world of jazz. I hope there are exceptions I'm not happening to recall at this moment. Definitely a topic worth looking into.
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