Bernard Herrmann
(Masters of Film Music Series)
Known primarily for his decade-long collaboration with the great film director Alfred Hitchcock, Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975) had a long and distinguished Hollywood career dating back to his association with Orson Welles. His first film score, written for Welles’ masterpiece “Citizen Kane," put “Benny,” as he was affectionately called by his fellow composers, on the fast track to fame. He proceeded to spend the next 15 years composing classic scores for films such as “The Magnificent Ambersons," “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," “Portrait of Jennie," and “The Day the Earth Stood Still." But it was Herrmann’s compositions for such Hitchcock classics as “Vertigo." “North by Northwest," and “Psycho” that has truly endeared him to generations of film goers who appreciate the importance of music in getting audiences emotionally invested in the cinematic experience.
We will have an opportunity during this program to revisit many of the mood-setting scores Herrmann created right through his final work on Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver." Additionally we will examine the circumstances leading to his creative differences with Hitchcock which terminated their professional relationship.
We will have an opportunity during this program to revisit many of the mood-setting scores Herrmann created right through his final work on Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver." Additionally we will examine the circumstances leading to his creative differences with Hitchcock which terminated their professional relationship.
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