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"In California, they like to pigeonhole you. From the time I began working for Hitchcock, they decided I was a big suspense man. On other occasions, I've had fantasies of bittersweet romantic stories. I think I'd enjoy writing a good comedy score, but I've never had the luck to be offered such films. Mancini gets the cheerful ones".
"It is almost impossible to make a movie without music. Movies need the cement of music. I've never seen a movie better without it. Music is just as important as the photography".
Bernard Herrmann
"Benny would have been delighted, though perhaps not surprised, at the growing amount of attention attracted by his music in recent years. There has been interest from a whole new generation who were not even born during his lifetime".
Norma Herrmann - February 2006
"Bernard Herrmann deserved to be taken as seriously as any other 20th century composer. And yet throughout his life he was tormented with the reality that he was sidelined and ignored in the very circles where he most sought recognition - the classical elite. This made him sad, resentful and paranoid, fuelling the many professional bust ups that were to cost his career dearly".
Howard Goodall, "20th Century Greats" TV documentary, 2004
The man whose name is for many synonymous with film music was born prematurely to Abraham and Ida Herrmann on June 29 1911. Abraham, an optometrist, came from an intellectual family, while Ida was highly religious; the family's handsome brownstone was the scene of frequent arguments. At the age of five Herrmann began to suffer from Sydenham's syndrome, a neurological disorder that can affect personality development. A calm environment is needed for recovery, but Herrmann did not enjoy one. He grew up to be a nervous and aggressively touchy person who tended to alienate friends and associates.
There is much more to be known about the great man. Click here to swot up on this often overlooked master.
I had to pray to Benny. I had a musical deadline and it was going down hill and I wanted to give up. He never lets me down though. I squeezed by. Not my best work but I got it done. Pheeww! I celebrated with a "Vertigo" LP listening party and glass of wine.
Without a doubt, the Main Titles music for the film 'North by Northwest' is one of the most brilliant creations Mr. Herrmann ever came up with. Bravo! Best, HANS KARL www. hanskarlmusic. com
I love the quote another composer said about how Benny wanted to "Smite the world with Trombones!" I say, "smite on!" I think you should smite the spamming comments as well.
To me, what made Benny Herrmann so great was his ability to create deceptively simple sounding pattern-like motives. Once he would create these musical patterns and shapes, he would them orchestrate those same various melodic and harmonic gestures among the "groups" of instruments within the orchestra. I was listening today to his score for 'THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY.' What a brilliant, simple and WONDERFULLY orchestrated score this is! CHEERS! HANS KARL - Film and Instrumental composer WWW. HANSKARLMUSIC. COM
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