 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jul 8, 2020 - 3:32 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Zooba
(Member)
|
With the recent passing of Maestro Morricone I was of course saddened and started thinking about all the film composers we here in the FSM Community have loved, admired and respected in our mutual hobby. Just thinking about people's passing in general and how we are affected.
Which film composer or composers passing's have personally affected you the most?
For me, Jerry Goldsmith who died a year after my father passed away was a big loss. His music and career had truly been at the forefront of my love for Film and TV music since I can remember, probably starting when I was 12 and my early teens. He had just been such a favorite for so long. I was also lucky to have met him in 1986 and in further years was able to speak to him from time through my friendship with his assistant Lois and seeing him at various live concerts. He was always pleasant to me and friendly, so that personal connection made it even more powerful.
The second would be James Horner. I was also lucky to have met him in 1996 at CBS Radford Studios, Todd-AO Scoring Stage when he was recording THE SPITFIRE GRILL. I happened to be working on the lot and whenever I was there, would always drop by Todd-Ao to see who was recording that day. And so one day I got lucky and it was James Horner. I've shared that experience I'm sure at least a few times here on the board. Anyway, it was a thrill and a pleasure to have been able to shake his hand and tell him how much his music had truly touched me. He was indeed one of the most soft spoken and "gentle" and appreciative persons I have met in my life. What an unexpected honor and surprise that he "invited me in for a listen" as he put it. How thoughtful and kind he was to invite me, a complete stranger.
So those two would be the ones that truly affected me when they passed.
If you are inclined, please share which composer(s) affected you the most when they died and any stories you may have if you had met them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream in 2015.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actually I have to say Ennio Morricone. As a kid I got into both Bernard Herrmann and Morricone but didn't have access to any film music material other than the records, and I would be 14 years old when Herrmann died so I wasn't affected by it because I didn't even know.
As much as I loved what John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith were doing in my early film music enthusiasm days, not to mention being very aware of John Barry, I wouldn't say I'm all that touched by their passing (or will be when the time comes for JW) in the same way I was quite shocked, and saddened by the news on Monday morning. And this despite his great age.
Don't ask me why, but though only knowing mainly his western scores I feel like I somehow invested more in him as a fan. Only been to a handful of film music concerts in my life, but his appearance at the Barbican twenty years ago was a dream come true that I thought would never happen. His passing affected me in a similar way to when I heard about the death John Lennon. I was surprised by Elvis' death, but Lennon's really got to me because I felt somehow 'closer' to him (grew up with The Beatles). And this feeling applies to the Italian Maestro.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry Goldsmith was difficult -- he was my favorite musician in my youth, I was US rep of the Goldsmith Society for a number of years when younger, and made some very good friends through the society (I also wrote liner notes for a number of Goldsmith CDs).
I admit my passion for Goldsmith's music cooled over the years -- I still love a number of his scores -- but when he passed away I was no longer the "zealous fanatic" I had been in my greener days. Still, his work was such an important part of my youth, and connected to some significant events (and friendships) in my formative years, it was like a part of me died with him.
James Horner's passing was also bitter, as he was still fairly young, and had so much potential great work ahead of him.
Georges Delerue also left me with a sense of loss. I was only just beginning to discover his music when he died. My tastes were changing and my interest in strident action scores was rapidly giving way to the romantic lyricism of Delerue's music, and I was looking forward to more new scores from him.
The worst for me though was Basil Poledouris, as he was very kind to me on more than one occasion, and a wonderful person (and only 61 years of age when he died).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Ennio Morricone.
There were others whose passing affected me, such as John Barry, Maurice Jarre, Michael Kamen, Basil Poledouris, and every time I felt it was a loss, I lost a part of my life, of my childhood even, but Goldsmith, Horner, and now Morricone all closed whole chapters in my life for various reasons.
I was also deeply disturbed by the death of Terry Plumeri, with whom I had some loose contact and whose death was senseless and sudden.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jul 8, 2020 - 9:27 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Prospero
(Member)
|
I never quite understand the reaction to celebrity deaths. It's not like you've been meeting these guys for happy hour every day for the past 40 years.
That said, the saddest composer deaths involve those who died young. Komeda and Gary McFarland are the main two.
So while there is sadness, the deaths don't "effect" me like the loss of a friend or family member.
For me, it is different than 'celebrities' because I know there will be no more music from them. You kind of get to know someone through their art, and I view music emotionally. Now, when an actor passes away, I am sad, but I don't feel it as I did, say, Elmer Bernstein. My 2cents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most of the composers I grew up listening to in the 60s are dead: Barry, Goldsmith, Morricone, Jarre, Bernstein, Mancini, North, Legrand, Myers, Bennett, Herrmann, Rota, and so on.
Not just film composers: Miles Davis died the same month as Alex North. And speaking of dying to early, Frank Zappa, that powerhouse talent, at the age of 52.
Monk, Mingus, Ellington, Piazzolla.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jerry Goldsmith. I've never shed that many tears for a person I didn't know. I spent the day listening to his music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
James Horner
Mancini. Comedies, suspense, TV, he covered it all. 80+ albums, both score albums and pop.
He averaged 75 concerts worldwide per year bringing film music to a concert audience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I never quite understand the reaction to celebrity deaths. It's not like you've been meeting these guys for happy hour every day for the past 40 years.
What difference does that make? You have feelings for whatever sustains you, whether it's right next to you or not.
Simply how I feel. I can feel sadness for a life lost, but my only connection to the artist - the music - remains. I did not know the artist as a person. So the sense of loss is more abstract. YMMV.
I understand and accept this. Princess Di, and loads of other public outpourings where the strangely odd massive public reaction made me think it wasn't someone I actually knew like a friend or relative.
In this case it simply seems a tiny bit more personal. Obviously I didn't know the man. But I still had that slight yearning for wishing I'd had the opportunity to grab a quick hello (and things like autographs and photos are keepsake of this) when I last (and only time) saw him live, not to mention what his music does to me when I listen to it. Can there be a more personal exchange between composer and listener than being touched by what he's done?
I don't think it's much to ask, for folks to be touched by the death of such a favourite. Which is what the title of the thread is asking.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
