A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC: Songs and Scores (PineTree Press)

Nine editions of this book: 1997, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017. 2022, 2023

Only the 8th edition is still available and now On Sale -- here

 

 

 

 

Praise from distinguished film composers
for previous editions of A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC!

 

"Thank you for the copy of your film music book.  
Congratulations and best wishes for success
in your future contributions to the film music literature."

Yours truly,
John Williams

 

"I do feel your book is done in a most interesting way.  It affords a quick overview of what has not become a very, very broad field.  Congratulations!"
-- Elmer Bernstein, late film composer and conductor

 

(right to left) Anna Bonn, William Stromberg, John Morgan

"Your film music guide should be available to anyone interested in the Golden Age and beyond."
-- John Morgan, film composer and film score restorer

 

 

 

Praise from a longtime film music fan

 

"Your book is a masterpiece. I found something new on almost every page!" -- Howard L

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC: SONGS AND SCORES is ideal for use in classroom teaching, film discussion groups, or for any film and music lovers.

The PDF book focuses on film songs and scores mainly from the 20th century.

Back in 1997, Roger Hall was teaching a college course on film music and decided a guide was needed to help those who wish to learn more about film music from the past.

Over the years his book has been popular and he has updated the book with more information. Other editions of this book are no longer available.

The 8th edition is also available on a DVD-ROM or USB Flash Drive with added audio and video files. To order the multiimedia edition -- go here

The Sammy Film Music Awards

In 1988, Roger Hall began selecting the best film music recordings of the year in awards
named after movie lyricist, Sammy Cahn (1913-1993), who received four Oscars for his song lyrics:
"Three Coins In The Fountain"/ "All The Way"/"High Hopes"/ "Call Mr irresponsible" - all four songs recorded by Frank Sinatra.

These awards have been the longest-running awards for "Excellence" in film music recordings and many of them are listed in A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC.

Unlike some film books that focus on only a few types of film scores with very technical writing,
this book highlights a broad span of years about both movie songs and film scores and is written in language that is non-technical.

The title page of the book has a page from E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, signed by film composer, John Williams.

Other autograph illustrations in the book include: Bernard Herrmann, Alex North, Miklos Rozsa,  Max Steiner, Dimitri Tiomkin. John Williams.

There are also songwriter autographs including Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, Jay Livingston, and James Van Heusen,
also from lyricists: Ira Gershwin and Sammy Cahn - whose bold autograph is shown here:

 

 

 

The Dedication page of the book has signed photos by two music favorites of the author:

 

Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.

Book Contents:

Preface to the Eighth Edition                                                                                       

Film Music Firsts                                                                                                       

Prologue: Music Memories at the Movies                                                                   

I. Chronology: Film Songs and Scores, 1926-2001                                                      

II.  Main Titles and Themes: Listening to Film Music                                                    

III. Film Scores and Songs from Five Decades – The Top 100                                     

IV. Top 100 Film Scores of the 20th Century                                                               

V. Comments on Film Music                                                                                      
        Interviews with Aaron Copland and Virgil Thomson. 
        The Composer as Commentator: Bernard Herrmann,
             David Raksin, Dimitri Tiomkin
        The Composer as Critic: Elmer Bernstein
        The Film Lyricist and Songwriter: Sammy Cahn, Henry Mancini
        The Movie Critic and Historian: David Thomson, Tony Thomas

VI. Film Music Awards                                                                                                  
         A. The Academy Awards, 1934-2000                                                                 
         B. The Sammy Film Music Awards, 1988-2001                                            

VII.  Bibliography: Where to Find Information                                                              

VIII. Discography: Recommended Recordings on LP and CD                                    

IX.   Bellamy’s Musical Telephone - Futuristic film story with music examples                                                           

X.  Articles: Elmer Bernstein, Bernard Herrmann, Dimitri Tiomkin                               

XI.  Autographs: Film Composers and Songwriters (H. Carmichael, G. Gershwin, B. Herrmann, M. Rozsa, D. Tiomkin, J. Williams, others)                                                   

XII. End Credits: About the Author                                                                            

 

 

 

                 

 

About the author:

Roger Hall has been a music teacher and a respected film music historian and critic for many years.

Roger has taught film music courses in college and adult education programs as well as lecturing widely and has appeared on radio and cable TV.

In 1998, he began Film Music Review and has been its Managing Editor ever since then.

He was also the founder of The Sammy Film Music Awards, which began in 1988, for the best film music recordings of the year and
chosen for their "EXCELLENCE."

Also, he is a longtime member of the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA).

 

 

 

 

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