NPR special series What Makes it Great

82nd Annual Academy Awards, held in 2010: Oscar-Nominated Film Scores

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday

Date: November 11, 2004

Film music composer Dmitri Tiomkin (1894-1979) died on this day in 1979. This radio program explains how he found a home in Hollywood (and London) . . .  (2:09)

Music critic Milo Miles reviews new collections of Bollywood film music: Bollywood for Beginners, The Best of Bollywood, 15 Classic Hits from the Indian Cinema, and The Very Best of Bollywood Songs II.  (6:01)

Day to Day producer Rob Sachs profiles musician Charlie Clouser, who scored the soundtrack for the horror film Saw. Clouser has a history of writing provocative music as a former member of the band Nine Inch Nails.  (5:48)

Critic at large John Powers reviews The Battle of Algiers about the Algerian struggle for independence from the French in the '50s and '60s. The film was made nearly 40 years ago, and has a score by Ennio Morricone. It's just come out on DVD.  (4:47)

Jon Brion helps shape the careers of music industry pioneers. He composes music for some of Hollywood's most creative directors, and performs in a Los Angeles club every Friday night in front a sellout crowd. Hear NPR's Elizabeth Blair.  (6:51)

We hear it playing while a cop chases a hood on a vintage TV show. Or as mood music for a commercial. It has supplied the soundtrack for many a B-movie. In the future we'll hear even more of it on video games, or cell-phone ring tones, or musical dolls.

The label "library music" describes the pre-recorded tracks that were first used in the 1930s and began to thrive in the 1960s as musicians' union fees in the United States made it more expensive to commission original soundtracks. Producers turned to music made in Europe, mostly by unknown session musicians, that had been created long before it was associated with any particular creative project. (7:22)

He's best known for his 11 James Bond scores, including Goldfinger, and Thunderball. Barry has won five Oscars, for the song and score of Born Free, and for scores for Lion in Winter, Out of Africa, and Dances with Wolves. (Rebroadcast from March 23, 1999.)  (21:19)

The original movie soundtrack for the 1933 classic film, scored by Max Steiner, has been reissued on CD. Film Historian Rudy Behlmer, who wrote the liner notes for the new CD, talks about the making of King Kong. (Rebroadcast From Dec. 13, 1999.)  (19:39)

Date: August 22, 2004

Last week Elmer Bernstein, who had composed music for a wide array of movies and television programs in a career that lasted over six decades, died at the age of 82. His movie themes are instantly recognizable: The Magnificent Seven, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Man With The Golden Arm. Weekend Edition's film music commentator Andy Trudeau offers a remembrance and tells NPR's Liane Hansen that Bernstein was one of several composers who gave jazz a prominent role in film music. (10:38)

Date: August 20, 2004

Elmer Bernstein died Wednesday at the age of 82. He was nominated for 14 Academy Awards, but won only one -- for his music for the film Thoroughly Modern Millie. His best known film score was for The Magnificent Seven (which was later used for a Marlboro cigarette commercial). His other film scores include The Man With the Golden Arm, To Kill a Mockingbird, Great Escape, Sweet Smell of Success, and The Ten Commandments. (Originally broadcast on Jan. 10, 1991.)  (18:50)

Date: August 19, 2004

Prolific Hollywood composer Elmer Bernstein, who wrote the scores for such films as The Ten Commandments, The Magnificent Seven and To Kill a Mockingbird, died Wednesday at age 82. Nominated for an Oscar 14 times, Bernstein won once for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Pat Dowell has an appreciation.  (3:57)

Also included is an Extended Version of Pat Dowell's Appreciation of Bernstein, which originally aired April 4, 1997, to mark Bernstein's 75th birthday.  (7:29)

Tom Dowd had the mind of a rocket scientist, but the ears of a musician. When he died in 2002 at age 77, he left a legacy of recordings that trace the recent history of American popular music and the evolution of modern technology. If you listen to the discography of the Atlantic Records label -- from John Coltrane through Eric Clapton -- you are hearing Dowd at work, too. Now, a documentary film -- Tom Dowd & The Language of Music -- has opened in select theaters around the country, giving even casual music lovers a chance to appreciate the work of an anonymous master. Later this month, a DVD with bonus features will be released. The film's director and producer, Mark Moorman, spoke recently with NPR's Liane Hansen.  (11:30)

Morning Edition, August 13, 2004 · Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews Tom Dowd & the Language of Music, a new documentary about a musician that he says did not receive recognition during his lifetime. (3:45)

Weekend Edition film music commentator Andy Trudeau speaks with host Liane Hansen about the life's work of enigmatic composer Jerry Goldsmith, who died this past Wednesday at the age of 75. Creator of hundreds of film scores and winner of an Academy Award, Goldsmith never achieved the fame of some of his peers. Andy plays excerpts from a number of his films, including Planet of the Apes, A Patch of Blue, Hoosiers, Chinatown, Stagecoach, Patton, and "Under Fire. (14:13)

Date: July 22, 2004

He died July 21 at the age of 75. Since the 1950s he had composed scores for film and TV. He won an Academy Award in 1976 for his music for The Omen. His film scores include: Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Sand Pebbles, Chinatown, and A Patch of Blue. His TV credits include The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Dr. Kildare, The Waltons, and Barnaby Jones. The CD collection of his music is The Film Music of Jerry Goldsmith (Rebroadcast from Jan. 7, 2002.)  (8:21)

Film composer Jerry Goldsmith died Wednesday night at his Beverly Hills home. He was 75. Among his many compositions, Goldsmith wrote memorable scores for Patton, Chinatown, The Omen, and L.A. Confidential. NPR's Jeffrey Freymann-Weyr has a remembrance.  (3:52)

In the 1950s, Benny Golson emerged as one of the best around on the tenor saxophone. His powerful approach helped define hard-bop jazz when he played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
Shortly after his arrival in New York, Golson was one of 57 jazz greats asked to pose at a mass photo shoot for an Esquire magazine feature. The famous Art Kane photo from 1958, known as "Great Day in Harlem" or simply "Harlem 1958," places Golson alongside Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Thelonius Monk and a host of other musicians.
Now that historic photo and Benny Golson both are getting renewed attention, due to their roles in the Steven Spielberg movie The Terminal. The film's subplot includes Tom Hanks' character's autograph hunt for all who were in the photo -- including Golson, who makes a brief appearance on screen.
On the heels of a new CD, Terminal 1, Golson talks with NPR's Tavis Smiley about that 1958 day in Harlem, his current projects and working with Spielberg.  (10:48)

The Music of Around the World in 80 Days

Date: June 8, 2004

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews Victor Young's music composed for the 1956 film Around the World in 80 Days which is now on DVD (Warner).  (7:02)

Film Music Review: The Triplets of Belleville

Date: June 1, 2004

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews music from the film The Triplets of Belleville, now on DVD.  (4:48)

Monica Mancini on Henry Mancini

Date: April 17, 2004

Host Scott Simon talks with Monica Mancini, the daughter of film score composer Henry Mancini and singer in her own right, about her father's music, his legacy . . . and his new US postage stamp.  (8:15)

Composer Henry Mancini

Date: April 2, 2004

TV and movie score composer Mancini created the title theme to the The Pink Panther movies. A new special DVD 40th anniversary collection of Pink Panther films is available April 6. There's also a tribute CD, "Pink Panther's Penthouse Party." His other film scores included Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Glenn Miller Story, and The Days of Wine and Roses. He also wrote the theme for the TV show Peter Gunn. (from 1987)  (14:22)

The Alloy Orchestra: Silent Movie Scores

Date: March 16, 2004

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews some silent musical scores by the Alloy Orchestra. They write and perform new music for silent films. Schwartz looks at their scores for the Buster Keaton films, The General and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (on DVD, Image Entertainment).  (5:36)

Date: February 29, 2004

Music is often a critical, final factor in making a film a success. For nearly a decade, Weekend Edition Sunday listeners have turned an ear to the subtleties of Oscar-nominated movie scores with the help of Andy Trudeau, NPR's resident film music buff. In part two of this series, Trudeau dissects the film scores of Finding Nemo and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. (17:45)

Date: February 29, 2004

Listen to NPR coverage of the songs and film scores nominated for an Oscar at the 76th Annual Academy Awards ceremony. (16 broadcasts: various timings)

Date: February 27, 2004

The much anticipated Academy Award ceremony is on Sunday. One movie in particular is expected to have a field day -- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. It's up for Best Picture and Best Director, along with nine other nominations, including Best Original Score.  NPR's Fred Child spoke with composer Howard Shore about the music he wrote for the film. When Shore talks about it the setting of this movie, it almost seems as if he's talking about a real culture, a real place, that just happened to exist a long time ago. (14:45)

Date: February 22, 2004

Music is often a critical, final factor in making a film a success. For nearly a decade, Weekend Edition Sunday listeners have turned an ear to the subtleties of Oscar-nominated movie scores with the help of Weekend Edition film music expert Andy Trudeau, NPR's resident film music buff. In the first part of our annual conversation on Oscar-nominated original scores, NPR's Liane Hansen talks with Andy about three of the nominees. They are Gabriel Yared's Cold Mountain, Danny Elfman's Big Fish, and James Horner's House of Sand and Fog. (17:45)

Date: February 21, 2004

With all the attention heaped on the animated blockbuster Finding Nemo, you may have missed The Triplets of Belleville. The quirky Franco-Canadian-Belgian feature is drawing raves from critics and is up for two Oscars, one for best animation and one for best original song.  (7:39)

Date: February 20, 2004

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks with music critic and historian Ken Hunt about Indian film singer Lata Mangeshkar. Known as the "Queen of Bollywood Music," Mangeshkar is an international pop icon, and some of her most famous songs are featured on a new CD.  (6:05)

Date: January 13, 2004

Anthony Minghella is the Academy Award-winning director and screenwriter for several films, including The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley. His most recent film, Cold Mountain, has been nominated for eight Golden Globe awards and there's considerable Oscar buzz as the Academy Awards ceremony nears.
(Two audio segments - 5:34 and Web Extra - 17:09)

Related NPR Story - December 25, 2003: T Bone Burnett's Cold Mountain Music. Producer T Bone Burnett is the man behind the music in the new movie Cold Mountain. Burnett's soundtrack weaves original music with traditional folk songs for the Civil War saga, which opens Thursday. He speaks with NPR's Bob Edwards. (5:08)

African-American Film Composers

Date: November 28, 2003

A small number of African American composers have showcased their musical talent in film and television scores -- producer Roy Hurst takes a look at three composers: Quincy Jones, Terrence Blanchard, and hip-hop artist RZA (AKA Robert Diggs). (12:37)

Date: October 22, 2003

The Harder They Come, the 1973 Jamaican movie starring Jimmy Cliff, was a cult hit when it was released 30 years ago. But along with Bob Marley, the film and its soundtrack helped introduce reggae music to America and the rest of the world. Ashley Kahn reports on the film's continuing influence. (7:20)

Singer Elliott Smith Dead in Apparent Suicide:
Musician Nominated for Oscar for Song "Miss Misery" in Good Will Hunting

NPR All Things Considered

Date: October 22, 2003

His song "Miss Misery," used in the soundtrack to the film Good Will Hunting, was nominated for an Oscar. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports on the musician's life, his large cult following and his untimely death.  (4:10)
Related NPR Story - March 13, 1998: Linda Wertheimer speaks with musician Elliot Smith about songs for the movie Good Will Hunting. Smith received an Oscar nomination in the original song category for "Miss Misery." Smith also talks about the songs from his current album "Either/Or," many of which also are on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. (8:14)

Date: October 13, 2003

Barbra Streisand dropped singing lessons at an early age and never learned to read music. But that didn't stop her from being one of the best-selling female singers in history. In an interview with NPR's Susan Stamberg, the Oscar-Tony-Emmy-Grammy award-winning singer and actress discusses her love of music and the release of her 60th album, The Movie Album, a collection of songs from the big screen. (Two audio segments - 8:57 and Web Extra - 11:44)

The RZA, Soundtrack Wizard

Date: October 6, 2003

Hip-hop producer the RZA continues his soundtrack work with Quentin Tarentino's martial-arts homage Kill Bill: Volume One. The Wu-Tang Clan, the RZA's rap group, drew inspiration from the kung-fu movies of the 1970s. Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, who has also used the RZA, calls his music "dreamlike." NPR's Neda Ulaby reports. (8:16)

Red Violin to Debut in Baltimore

Date: September 18, 2003

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plans to perform American composer John Corigliano's The Red Violin -- a concerto for violin and orchestra -- Thursday. The debut will feature one of the leading violinists in classical music, Joshua Bell. The concerto uses themes from Corigliano's Academy Award-winning score for the film of the same name. NPR's Lisa Simeone has a profile.  (7:18)

From My Bloody Valentine to Lost in Translation:

Guitarist Kevin Shields Resurfaces with Songs for Coppola Film

Date: September 15, 2003

Irish guitarist and songwriter Kevin Shields and his group My Bloody Valentine made an indelible mark on alternative rock music in the early 1990s. The band inspired countless other rock bands with a dense, ethereal post-punk sound.
But My Bloody Valentine stopped recording in 1997, and Kevin Shields went into near-seclusion. He's only had a few side projects over the last several years with other bands, most notably for Primal Scream. He still plays and tours with that band.
Now Shields has re-emerged with several new songs -- and one old one -- on the soundtrack for Sofia Coppola's new film Lost in Translation.
Shields recently spoke with NPR's Alex Chadwick about what he's been up to since My Bloody Valentine stopped recording, and how he got involved in writing music for films. (12:02 - if click on "Web Extra" icon for extended version)

Date: June 25, 2003

Seventy-two years ago, the very first Indian "talkie" premiered, featuring seven songs. Ever since, music and movies have been woven tightly together in Bollywood, India's prolific film industry. The CD The Best of Bollywood collects some of the biggest film-soundtrack hits from the past 30 years. Chris Nickson has a review. (4:21)

Date: May 27, 2003

NPR's Michele Norris profiles Hollywood music supervisor Chris Douridas. Douridas has picked music for American Beauty, Shrek, Sex and the City, and Down with Love, and is responsible for the "shagadelic" sound of the first Austin Powers movie. (8:16)

Date: April 28, 2003

Critic Milo Miles reviews the new documentary and soundtrack Amandla! about protest music in black communities of South Africa during the Apartheid years.   (5:57)

A Mighty Wind Spoofs Early-'60s Folk Singers

Date: April 11, 2003

The new film A Mighty Wind -- from the comic talent behind Spinal Tap -- spoofs the folk music era of the early 1960s. The original songs were filmed as live performances. Eugene Levy, Michael McKean and Christopher Guest are among the stars. They talk with NPR's Melissa Block.

Date: March 23, 2003

NPR's coverage of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 2002 Oscar awards -- film music critic Andy Trudeau talks with the composers of Oscar-nominated film scores, and dissects how music can make a good film great.

Date: March 20, 2003

2002 Academy Awards -- Oscar-nominated film scores: Film critic Royal Brown rounds up the five nominees for Best Original Film Score:

        Royal's Oscar Round-Up -- Part 1 -- Frida, Road To Perdition, and Catch Me If You Can   (7:41)

        Royal's Oscar Round-Up -- Part 2 -- The Hours and Far From Heaven  (6:25)

Date: March 19, 2003

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz considers the original Hollywood movie score from the Silent era to the present, including the music of German composer Richard Wagner, Austrian composer Johann Strauss, Aaron Copland, and Elmer Bernstein, among others. (6:11)

Masakela on Amandla

Date: February 20, 2003

The film Amandla, which opened in New York this week, traces the battle against white rule in South Africa in a unique way; song by song. NPR's Michele Norris talks with South African jazz musician Hugh Masakela, who was exhiled from his homeland during apartheid, and about the role music played in his nation's struggle. (8:20)

Date: January 26, 2003

This past week, composer John Williams joined National Symphony Orchestra conductor Leonard Slatkin at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to open a multi-concert festival/series "Soundtracks: Music and Film." NPR's Liane Hansen visited with the two musicians. Involves brief mentions of Star Wars, Schindler’s List, Close Encounters, and Jaws, and includes film music functions and history. Also includes Williams and Spielberg's partnership.  (17:45)

Date: January 4, 2003

The popularity of Chicago could herald the return of the movie musical. The once-popular form never entirely disappeared, but fell victim to a more cynical period in film. Moulin Rouge helped the musical re-emerge. Hear from NPR's Scott Simon and critic Elvis Mitchell.   (8:37)

Date: December 9, 2002

NPR's Don Lee looks behind the scenes of the 1967 film The Graduate, which contains one of the first compilation musical soundtracks. As part of NPR's "Present at the Creation" series on the origins of cultural icons, he tells the story of how some unlikely ingredients were mixed together to make a movie that changed American cinema.

Listen to Don Lee's report, watch video clips from The Graduate, and hear four Simon & Garfunkel song clips from The Graduate Original Soundtrack (Columbia). Includes extensive reading material about the film.   (8:51)

Review the liner notes from the soundtrack.

Date: December 4, 2002

From Stagecoach to The Graduate, movies have helped to shape our world. Nick Clooney, former host of cable's American Movie Classics, joins NPR's Bob Edwards to talk about his new book, The Movies That Changed Us: Reflections on the Screen.

Clooney -- brother of the late singer/actress Rosemary Clooney and father of television and movie star George Clooney -- tells Edwards that movies and other forms of art can indeed change people. (8:40)

Date: October 13, 2002

Naqoyqatsi, which opens this week, is the long-awaited final film in a trilogy that began in 1983. Director Godfrey Reggio and composer Philip Glass talk to reporter Pat Dowell about putting together images and music that comment on human fate in a world of technology. (8:14)

Date: September 4, 2002

Ennio Morricone was first recognized nearly 40 years ago for the Spaghetti Western soundtracks he wrote for Sergio Leone. Today he's considered one of the most important and prolific composers of the 20th century. His soundtrack for the film, Cinema Paradiso is one of his most popular.  (3:33)

Date: September 2, 2002

Today Charlie Barnett is a composer who scores films for a living. But back in the summer of '74, he was just one of a legion of hippie hitchhikers making his way across country. In this end-of-summer tale, Barnett tells us -- in words and original music -- about a memorable character he met on that trip, and how meeting him changed the way Barnett looks at life. (22:18)

       Date: August 16, 2002    (52:00)

Date: June 12, 2002

Date: March 24, 2002

NPR's coverage of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 2001 Oscar awards -- film music critic Andy Trudeau talks with the composers of Oscar-nominated film scores, and dissects how music can make a good film great.

Bottom of page includes Performance Today Expanded Coverage:

Royal Brown on the Oscars:
Critic Royal Brown gives his input on who deserves this year's award for best film score at the 2001 Academy Awards. (March 24, 2002)   (13:48)

James Horner, A Beautiful Mind:
Composer James Horner's inspiration for his Oscar-nominated film score is much more abstract than you might think. (March 21, 2002)   (11:02)

Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings:
Composer Howard Shore's Oscar-winning film score to the first installment of Tolkien's trilogy brings to life the sounds of Middle Earth. (March 18, 2002)  (10:14)

Date: March 18, 2002

Date: March 10, 2002

Guest host Lynn Neary speaks with our movie-music guide Andy Trudeau about this year's Oscar-nominated scores. This edition: James Horner's A Beautiful Mind (Decca Records 440 016 191-2) and John Williams A.I. Artificial Intelligence.   (17:05)

Date: March 1, 2002

Date: February 28, 2002

Music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the CD of the soundtrack from the film Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman. The film features original music and songs from the 1920s and 1930s. (8:02)

Date: November 5, 2001

He celebrated his 70th birthday on March 14, 2003. He wrote the theme songs for the TV shows Sanford & Son and Ironside, and music for the films In Cold Blood, For the Love of Ivy, and The Pawnbroker. (38:19)

Date: August 12, 2001

Before composer Thomas Newman wrote the spooky music for HBO's Six Feet Under, he provided the music for dozens of films, including The Shawshank Redemption, The Horse Whisperer, and Erin Brockovich. Host Lisa Simeone talks with the composer about what comes first when writing for film and where he goes for inspiration.   (12:32)

Date: June 2, 2001

Scott talks with the members of the band Spinal Tap about their early work in the 1960s, their trouble retaining a drummer, and their current Back from the Dead tour. The boys from Squatney play Carnegie Hall Monday night. (10:26)

Date: May 20, 2001

Two new films set in the distant past use modern music to tell their stories. NPR's film critic, Bob Mondello, reflects on A Knights Tale and Moulin Rouge and their strange music choices. (4:00)

Date: April 1, 2001

Breaking his long-running streak, Weekend Edition Sunday's movie music maven Andy Trudeau finally picked the winning score from the crop of Academy Award nominees: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He and Liane Hansen deconstruct the decision and look ahead to soundtrack prospects for the coming year. (2:57)

Date: March 25, 2001

OSCAR BEST SCORE - Liane speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau for his annual review of the musical nominees for Best Score. In the third and final part of the series, Andy and Liane discuss the most nominated living Oscar contender John Williams. The creator of scores for Jaws and Star Wars is nominated this year for The Patriot. Also, Andy selects his choice for who should win Best Score.   (12:38)

        Date: March 23, 2001

Pat Dowell reports on Elmer Bernstein who, after composing scores for more than 200 movies, is moving to writing concert music. Bernstein regrets the state of film music today -- which he says lacks emotion, and is included primarily to create an atmosphere, rather than impart a grand musical theme.  (8:57)

Date: March 18, 2001

NPR's Andy Trudeau and his annual review of the musical nominees for Best Score. In the second of three parts, he and Liane listen to Rachel Portman's music for Chocolat and Ennio Morricone's score for Malena.   (12:41)

Date: March 13, 2001

Seattle has become one of the busiest places outside of Los Angeles for recording film scores. Session recordings made by some of the musicians from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra are cutting into a business once dominated by L.A. session musicians. The main reason is money -- film producers want to save money, and groups like the Seattle musicians help cut costs. Marcie Sillman of member station KUOW reports that musicians, some of whom are members of the Seattle Symphony recorded 100 soundtracks last year. In February 2001, they played 26 soundtrack jobs. (7:30)

Date: March 11, 2001

It's Oscar time and NPR's Andy Trudeau has his annual sounding of the musical nominees for Best Score. In the first of three parts, he tells Liane about Tan Dun's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Gladiator with music by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard.  (12:04)

Throughout the year 2000, NPR presented the stories behind 100 of the most important American musical works of the 20th century. These special features cover music from a wide variety of genres -- classical, jazz, rock'n'roll, country, R&B, musical theatre and film scores.

Featuring music from Platoon, The Elephant Man, Gone with the Wind,
Psycho, Singin' in the Rain, Shaft, and The Wizard of Oz.

Choose a piece below and click on the "Listen" icon.

Adagio for Strings
March 13, 2000 -- Samuel Barber wrote this classical piece for string quartet, and it was first
performed in 1938. Now a standard short piece for orchestra, Adagio for Strings
endures in part due to its appearance in two well-known film soundtracks -- Platoon and
The Elephant Man. All Things Considered host Noah Adams talks with the directors
of both films, Oliver Stone and David Lynch, about why they
chose Barber's music for their movies.
Listen to a 9-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

As Time Goes By

March 15 -- Susan Stamberg reports on this unforgettable ballad, written by a 26-year-old Tin Pan Alley writer named Herman Hupfeld in 1931, and made famous by its central role in the 1942 film Casablanca. Stamberg speaks to songwriter Gerald Marx, an associate of Hupfeld's, and with Murray Burnette, writer of the unproduced play Everybody Comes to Rick's, which eventually
became the basis for Casablanca.

  Listen to a 14-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

Gone with the Wind (Film Score)
December 17 -- The music from one of the most popular American films of all time had a tremendous impact on movie scores in the decades following its 1939 release. Max Steiner's work is instantly recognized today and is emblematic of both musical scoring and the cinema itself. NPR's Andy Trudeau guides us through a
masterpiece of composition.
Listen to a 10-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

Psycho (Film Score)
October 30 -- In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho created an entertainment sensation: no one could be seated after the film began, the star of the movie was killed ten minutes into the story, and the stark black-and-white images served to heighten the film's chilling plot. Using only strings due to a tight production budget, composer Bernard Hermann created a soundtrack to accompany the horror on screen that was equally terrifying. NPR's All Things Considered host
Robert Siegel talks with critics, composers, and Hermann's biographer
about the musician and his unforgettable score.
Listen to a 12-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

Singin' in the Rain

July 16 -- Here at NPR, we're certain that Metro Goldwyn Mayer's signature song, Singin' in the Rain, deserves to be on the NPR 100 list. The song appeared in a total of seven MGM musicals, including an Academy Award-winner and a movie in which it was the title song. The question that remains, however, is one about the song's origins, which are shrouded in folklore. When the song was actually written, and for what purpose, remains unknown, even though it is sometimes called Hollywood's finest work. The only definite information is about the composer and lyricist, both of whom are long dead. Surrounded by myth, mystery, and long-forgotten memories, Tony Sarabia of member station WBEZ in Chicago investigates the origins of this American classic.
Listen to a 10-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

Theme from Shaft (soundtrack theme)
December 18 -- In 1969, Isaac Hayes was the top songwriter for soul label Stax Records in Memphis when an opportunity came to audition for the lead role in a new movie about a tough black police detective. At first, he patiently waited for a call-back, but finally telephoned the production's casting agent who kindly told him the bad news -- Richard Roundtree had been chosen for the part. The good news was that Gordon Parks wanted Hayes to score the film, resulting
in his number one hit. NPR's Karen Michel has the story.
Listen to a 9-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

The Wizard of Oz (Film Score)

December 18 -- NPR's Noah Adams talks with John Fricke, author of several books on
The Wizard of Oz, about the film's songs, written by Harold Arlen and lyrics were by
Yip Harburg, and the score, written by Herbert Stothart. Fricke reveals inside details
about the material, including the fact that Over the Rainbow was almost taken out of
the film after several test screenings.
Listen to a 13-minute, informative segment about this film music:  

Date: December 29, 2000

James Sullivan reviews the soundtrack to the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou, a film from Joel and Ethan Coen. Sullivan says even if you don't see the movie - check out the soundtrack. It is full of wonderful examples of old time music. (Mercury records). (4:16)

Date: December 10, 2000

At 38 years old, trumpeter Terence Blanchard is following in the footsteps of jazz masters Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones and Miles Davis. He composes music for film. Blanchard talks to host Lisa Simeone about the art of scoring music for some of today's most popular films. (14:30)

Date: November 3, 2000

Robert Moog is the inventor of the Moog synthesizer, an electronic keyboard which makes unworldly sounding electronic music. He invented it in 1965. Moog didn't invent, but he does manufacture, the Theremin, the first electronic instrument. It was invented 70 years ago by a Russian, It has been used on many science-fiction films because of it's eerie, wavering tones. Moog wrote the forward for the new book Theremin: Ether Music and Espionage (Universitiy of Illinois Press) by Albert Glinsky. (13:33)

Date: September 26, 2000

A note on the life of Lee Erwin, a silent film organist who composed music for Charlie Chaplin, and classic films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Erwin died last week at the age of 92. (4:14)

Date: September 15, 2000

The mock rock documentary This Is Spïnal Tap is being re-released in theatres and new special editions are being released on DVD and VHS. We feature interviews with co-writer and co-star Christopher Guest. (interviews are rebroadcast)  (8:29)

Date: April 16, 2000

Liane reads letters from listeners. Today's mailbag is stuffed with comments about Andy Trudeau's three-part series (March 12, 19, and 26) on the music of the Oscars.  (3:28)

Date: March 26, 2000

In the final installment of our series on Oscar-nominated music scores, Liane Hansen speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau about composer John Corigliano's music from The Red Violin (Sony Classical SK 63010) and Andy presents his pick for 1999's Best Original Score.  (16:54)

Date: March 19, 2000

Our annual series on this year's Academy Award nominees for best original film score continues as NPR's Andy Trudeau joins Liane to listen to excerpts from John Williams' score to Angela's Ashes (Sony Classical SK 890009) and Thomas Newman's music for American Beauty (Dreamworks 0044-50233-2).  (17:30)

Date: March 12, 2000

We begin our annual series on this year's Academy Award nominees for best original film score. NPR's Andy Trudeau once again joins Liane to discuss this year's field. Today, they listen to excerpts from Gabriel Yared's score to The Talented Mr. Ripley (Sony Classical SK 51337) and Rachel Portman's score to The Cider House Rules (Sony Classical SK 89031).  (17:33)

Date: January 13, 2000

NPR's Neal Carruth profiles composer Michael Kamen. Kamen, known for his film scores including Die Hard and Mr. Holland's Opus, has also worked with rockers David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and Metallica. Kamen's first symphony will be premiered tonight at the Kennedy Center, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra.  (6:10)

Date: December 23, 1999

Dan Aulier talks about Hitchcock's Notebooks. Josh Waletzky talks about Bernard Herrmann, the man behind the Hitchcock movie music. And Camille Paglia discusses the classic The Birds.  (approximately 52 minutes - second half of program)

NPR All Things Considered

Date: October 29, 1999

After 68 years, the movie Dracula at last has a musical score. When the now classic horror film, Dracula terrified audiences in 1931, it did so without a musical soundtrack. Universal Pictures has now released the film on home video with a score written by composer Phillip Glass and performed by the Kronos Quartet. Glass and the Quartet are performing the new Dracula soundtrack in a limited tour. Noah Adams spoke to Glass before earlier this week before a performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. (8:00)

Music heard before, during and after this piece was from the soundtrack Dracula by Phillip Glass and the Kronos Quartet, on the Nonesuch label.  (7:58)

Date: April 6, 1999

In the 1980's Danny Elfman was most recognized as the frontman for the eccentric music group Oingo Boingo, but today he's widely known as one of Hollywood's top film composers. Elfman changes style to fit his subject, and his versatility is reflected in his scores, ranging from The Simpsons to Batman to Good Will Hunting. He has twice been nominated for an Academy Award. Join Ray Suarez for a conversation with composer-songwriter Danny Elfman about his craft for composing movie scores.  (first 6 minutes is news, then the remaining 40 minutes is the interview with Elfman)

Date: March 27, 1999

Scott Simon interviews Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin. He's composed the soundtrack for movies such as Cool Hand Luke, Dirty Harry, and The Cincinnati Kid, and of course, his famous tune, the theme song from the TV show Mission Impossible. His most recent work is the score for the movie Tango.  (11:27)

Date: March 21, 1999

Liane concludes her conversations with NPR's Andy Trudeau about this year's Academy Award nominees for best dramatic film score. Today, they talk about David Hirschfelder's score to Elizabeth (London 289 460 796-2). In comparing this score to other costume drama scores, Andy plays excerpts from George Delerue's Anne of the Thousand Days (Decca DL 79174), Erich Korngold's Elizabeth and Essex (RCA 0185-2-RG) and John Barry's Mary, Queen of Scots (Decaa DL 79186). The other nominees are recapped: Nicola Piovani's Life is Beautiful (Virgin 7243 8 46428 2 2), Randy Newman's Pleasantville (Varese Sarabande VSD-5988), Hans Zimmer's Thin Red Line (RCA 09026-63382-2), and John Williams' Saving Private Ryan (Dreamworks DRMD-50046).  (16:54)

Date: March 14, 1999

Liane and NPR's Andy Trudeau continue their discussion of this year's Oscar-nominated dramatic film scores. Today they cover two war film scores, Hans Zimmer's Thin Red Line (RCA 09026-63382-2) and John Williams' Saving Private Ryan (DREAMWORKS DRMD-50046). We also hear a little taste of Franz Waxman's score to Objective Burma (RCA RCD1-7017).  (16:46)

Date: March 7, 1999

The first installment of our annual look at the Oscar-nominated film scores. This morning, Liane and NPR's Andy Trudeau discuss Nicola Piovanni's score for Life is Beautiful, and Randy's Newman's score for Pleasantville. The Oscars will be presented on . . .

Date: December 3, 1998

Commentator John McDonough recalls an interview he had with the late film composer Bernard Herrmann some years ago. He's prompted to this remembrance on the eve of the opening of a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. The new movie follows the first very closely, including the use of Herrmann's score. At the time of the original Psycho, critics were not impressed by the music -- no soundtrack album was released. Today, though, Herrmann's work stands out.  (4:36)

Date: March 29, 1998

Listeners respond/react to last week's film score discussion with NPR's Andy Trudeau, who panned the Titanic soundtrack. We also hear a short interview with James Horner, where he discusses the Oscar Awards. Horner won the Oscar for best dramatic film score for Titanic.  (5:01)

Date: March 22, 1998

The last in our series examining Oscar-nominated dramatic film scores. Today, Liane and NPR's Andy Trudeau listen to cuts from James Horner's score to Titanic (Sony Classical SK 63213). The soundtrack has been selling phenomenally, reaching number one on the Billboard charts two months ago. They also recap the other nominated scores: John Williams' Amistad (DreamWorks DRMD-50035), Danny Elfman's Good Will Hunting (Capitol CDP 7243 8 23338 2 1), Philip Glass' Kundun (Nonesuch 79460-2), and Jerry Goldsmith's L.A. Confidential (Varese Sarabande VSD-5885 and Restless 01877-72946-2).  (17:47)

Date: March 15, 1998

Continuing our series on this year''s Oscar-nominated dramatic film scores, Liane speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau about composer Jerry Goldsmith. One of film music's most repsected veterans, Goldsmith has been nominated 16 times, including this year's nomination for his score to L.A. Confidential (Varese Sarabande VSD-5885, and Restless 01877-72946-2). We also hear excerpts from some of his earlier scores, including Planet of the Apes, Patton, and Star Trek.

Date: March 8, 1998

Silent movies were never really silent. Jacki talks with composer and conductor Gillian Anderson who is researching and rewriting old film scores. She claims that to see a silent film without its music is to only see half the film.

Date: March 8, 1998

Liane speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau about two composers nominated for best dramatic film score this year. Philip Glass, the master of minimalism, was nominated for his score to Kundun (Nonesuch 79460-2). Danny Elfman, known primarily for his television work, was nominated for his score to Good Will Hunting (Capitol CDP 7243 8 23338 2 1).

Date: March 1, 1998

Liane is joined by Andy Trudeau for Weekend Edition's annual discussion of the film scores nominated for the Academy Awards. This week they discuss John Williams' score for the movie Amistad. The l998 Academy Awards will be given out later this month.

Date: February 17, 1998

Host Chris Douridas interviews Academy Award-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith about his prolific music career and his 1998 Academy Award-nominated film score for L.A. Confidential. (52:00).

Date: December 28, 1997

Liane speaks with prolific film composer James Horner about his score for the blockbuster movie Titanic. Working closely with director James Cameron, Horner wanted to create something that would evoke 1912 without sounding too dated, so incorporated synthesizers and a wordless choir into the orchestral music. Horner has composed over 80 scores for films, including Braveheart, Apollo 13, Glory, and Aliens. The score for Titanic was released on CD a full month before the film premiered (Sony Classical/Sony Music Soundtrax SK 63213).

Date: April 4, 1997

Today is Elmer Bernstein's 75th birthday. The composer of some of the world's best-known film music, including, The Magnificent Seven and The Ten Commandments, has two more movies due in theaters this summer.  (6:36)

Date: March 30, 1997

Liane speaks for a final time to NPR's Andy Trudeau about this year's Academy Award-nominated dramatic film scores. At the Oscars last Monday, Gabriel Yared's score to The English Patient (FANTASY FCD-16001-2) won the award. In this installment, Andy presents some 1996 film music he thinks was overlooked by the Oscars, including Randy Edelman's score to Diabolique (edel 0022552MCM), George Fenton's score to Mary Reilly (Sony Classical SK 62259), and two different scores to the film Last Man Standing. The score that wound up in that film was composed by Ry Cooder (Verve 314 533 415-2), but an earlier score that was rejected was composed by one of the legends of contemporary film music, Elmer Bernstein (Varese Sarabande VSD-5755). Finally, we end with music composed by David Arnold for what turned out to be the biggest grossing film of 1996, Independence Day (BMG 09026-68564-2).

Date: March 23, 1997

Liane speaks once again with NPR's Andy Trudeau about this year's nominees for best dramatic film score. Today's focus is on John Williams, perhaps best known for his music to Star Wars (Fox 07822-11012-2). This year he is nominated for his score to Sleepers (Philips 454-88-2). Andy finds part of the score evocative of Aaron Copland's Quiet City (DG 419-170-2). They also recap the previously-discussed nominees, including Patrick Doyle's music for Hamlet (Sony SK 62857), Elliot Goldenthal's score for Michael Collins (Atlantic Classics 82960-2), David Hirschfelder's score to Shine (Philips 454-710-2), and Gabriel Yared's score to The English Patient (Fantasy FCD-16001-2). Finally, Andy gives his pick for the best score.

Date: March 16, 1997

Liane speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau about 2 different Oscar-nominated film scores: Gabriel Yared's music to The English Patient (Fantasy FCD 16001 2) and David Hirschfelder's score to Shine (Phillips 452-710-2). Also heard is a snippet from . . .

Date: March 9, 1997

ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL: In the second of our series about Oscar-nominated film scores, Liane speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau about Elliot Goldenthal, composer of the score for the film Michael Collins. A classically-trained composer, Goldenthal's film . . .

Date: March 2, 1997

PATRICK DOYLE: We begin a new series looking at and listening to the five Oscar nominees for best dramatic film score. Today, NPR's Andy Trudeau speaks with Liane about Patrick Doyle, nominated this year for his score to Kenneth Brannagh's Hamlet . . .

Date: March 24, 1996

Liane Hansen and NPR's Andy Trudeau conclude their series of discussions on Oscar-nominated dramatic film scores. Today, Andy presents a number of 1995's overlooked scores - those that didn't get an Oscar nomination. Excerpts are presented from First Knight (Epic EK 67270), The Scarlet Letter (Epic EK 67431), Goldeneye (Virgin 7243 8 41048 25), How to Make an American Quilt (MCA MCAD-11373), Waterworld (MCA MCAD-11282) and Alexander Nevsky (BMG 09026-61926-2). They also re-cap the five nominees: John Williams for Nixon (Illusion/Hollywood HI-62043-2), Patrick Doyle for Sense and Sensibility (Sony SK-62258), Luis Bacalov for Il Postino (Miramix/Hollywood H-62029-2), and James Horner for both Apollo 13 (MCA MCAD3P-3432) and Braveheart (London 448-295-2).

Date: March 17, 1996

Liane Hansen speaks with NPR's Andy Trudeau in the third installment of our Oscar-nominated film music series. James Horner has two nominations - for Apollo 13 (MCA Records-MCA3P-3432) and Braveheart (London Records - 448 295-2).

Horner is one of the most prolific of Hollywood composers.

Date: March 10, 1996

Liane Hansen continues her conversation with NPR's Andy Trudeau about this year's Oscar nominees for best dramatic score. Patrick Doyle, Scotsman, was nominated for "Sense and Sensibility" (SONY SK 62258), and Luis Bacalov (BAH-cuh-luv), an Argentinian, was nominated for his score to Il Postino (EEL-pohs-TEE-noh) (Miramax/Hollywood Records MH-62029-2).

Date: March 3, 1996?

Liane Hansen begins her yearly conversation with NPR's Andy Trudeau about this year's Oscar nominees for best dramatic score. Andy starts with the film score for Nixon by John Williams (Illusion/Hollywood HI-62043-2).