Moi was curious about a supposed coffee table book that would simultaneously
contain interesting interviews and appear esthetically pleasing as a display, so I ordered it.
(I admit to having a new family room, a naked new coffee table, and to
sinking into a tad bit of “ditzy dame lameo” concern about the book’s
cover color..Would it match my decor? Intellectually embarrassed!)
Mostly, I ordered it thinking it might make great gifts for other film score
aficionados, and when entertaining friends, I hoped they might peruse it
and ask me about my rather unique interest.
(Then I could bore them to death. )

How would I rate it? Well, I need a thumbs up AND thumbs
down icon. Here are some things you might want to know about this book.

1. It contains a fine CD with a music cue from each interviewed composer.

2. It is about 190 pages chock full to brimming over with movie pictures.
(Some pretty graphic pictures.)

3. Interviews include Bernstein, Jarre, Goldsmith, Barry, Schifrin, Shore,
Elfman, and some composers we don’t read much about including Nyman,
Yared, Glass, Preisner, and Sakamoto. Also, one chapter is devoted to Herrmann.
Movie pictures are selected to go along with whatever scores composers
discuss. (I.E. Pictures from movies for Goldsmith are POTA, Chinatown, and
Alien.) Also includes some pictures of composers’ sheet music and notations.

4.Interviews are easy to read without tons of musical jargon.
I’m not sure the information presented is really new to well-read film music
lovers, but the interviews are fairly insightful. I, for instance, did not know
that Jarre had little experience with movie music when Lean talked to him
about Lawrence of Arabia. He was asked to score ONLY 10% of that
film. Lean wanted Khatchaturian to write Arabic music and Britten to write
the British music. They didn’t work out in scheduling, so Lean wanted Richard
Rogers. Lean didn’t like Rogers’ themes, so a novice Jarre, who played his
main theme for Lean, was handed the whole movie.
What a score for a “newbie.” I also found Preisner’s explanation for his color
trilogy music quite interesting.

5. Page one acknowledges FSM’s monthly magazine for following composers’
work.

6.Here’s the RUB! I like it, I display it, and it does engender discussions from
company. However, for almost FIFTY dollars, I expected a hard back table
book. Nope! BIG PAPERBACK BOOK. #&%#$^****^#
(Even though I’m livid that it isn’t hardback. I must say that it would
make a nice gift; however, what must one pay for a hardback cover?)

NP George Delerue Compilation

quote:

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Originally posted by dgoldwas:
Yeah - the book would have been a tad nicer if it were hardcover.

That book, and others, are reviewed in my article here

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WOW Dan;it seems to me that you are having a pretty busy life!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Kyriacos S:
WOW Dan;it seems to me that you are having a pretty busy life!!

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Heh. yeah, that's one way to put it! I do more than just argue with PeterK on things! (Whodathunkit?)

Dan