The revised and expanded 9th edition of A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC is now available.
It has over 50 additional pages including articles and reviews on eight Hollywood composers.
The pdf book is available here to help support FILM MUSIC REVEW (FMR),
a free web e-zine for 25 years.
A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC: Songs and Scores (PineTree Press, 9th edition, 2024)
Previous edition of this book: 1997, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017. 2022
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
"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 intended for use in classroom teaching, for film discussion groups, or for any film and music lovers.
It 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 he has updated the book with more information.
Previous editions of this book other than the 8th edition are no longer available.
The 8th edition is only available on a DVD-ROM with added audio and video files. To order the 8th multi-media edition -- go here
In 1988, Roger Hall began selecting the best film music recordings of the year for the Sammy Film Music 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."
These awards have been the longest-running awards for "Excellence" in film music recordings and many of them are listed in this book.
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 has signed photos by two favorites of the author: composer, Henry Mancini, and lyricist, Johnny Mercer.
Here are the contents of the 9th edition of the book with NEW additions:
Dedication
I. +Preface to the 9th edition
II. +Film Music Review – First edition, July 1998
III. Film Music Firsts
IV. Chronology: Film Songs and Scores, 1926-2001
V. Main Titles and Themes: Listening to Film Music
VI. Film Scores and Songs from Five Decades – The Top 100
VII. 100 Film Scores of the 20th Century
VIII. 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
IX. Film Music Awards
A. The Academy Awards, 1934-2000
B. The Sammy Film Music Awards, 1988-2017
X. Bibliography: Where to Find Information
XI. Discography: Recommended Recordings on LP and CD
XII. +CASABLANCA: The Classic film Score and Song
XIII. +Articles and Reviews: Elmer Bernstein, Bernard Herrmann, Henry Mancini, Alfred Newman,
David Raksin, Miklos Rozsa, Dimitri Tiomkin, John Williams
XIV. +Autographs of Film Composers and Songwriters
XV. +Interviews with Two Album Producers: James Fitzpatrick, David Schecter
XVI. End Credits: About the Author
+New to the 9th edition
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 soundtrack recordings of the year and
every year chosen for their "EXCELLENCE."
Also, he is a longtime member of the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA).
The new expanded 9th edition of the book
from PineTree Press
is now available
Available worldwide to help support Film Music Review!
This pdf book from PineTree press is readable on any device which can read this type of book.
In addfition to the contents listed above, it also includes many rare color and black & white illustrations
including autographs from film composers and movie songwriters.
Also included is a free bonus audio file sent by email
from the author's appearance on a public radio program
with a rare recording played on a John Williams birthday tribute.
Your book and free audio file (MP3) will be sent to you directly by email
and no additional shipping is needed.
Please note: This book is only available here and because of this special price, no refund is available.
For any questions about ordering this book, write to -- pinetreepro@aol.com
To order the pdf 9th edition of A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC, for $19.95,
click the "Add to Cart" button below
to pay through Safe and Secure PayPal.
Important!
After you have ordered the book, send your email
address
to receive the pdf book and free audio file sent by email attachment.
To send your email address -- click here
This multi-media version available separately
To order the special 8th edition on a DVD-ROM -- go here
Schedule a webinar with film music critc, Roger Hall
Key scene from CITIZEN KANE, music by Bernard Herrmann
These online webinars available about movie songs and scores:
Program No. 1: CITIZEN KANE: From Screenplay to Score
Program
No. 2: "High Hopes": Great Hollywood Movie Songs
Program No. 3: "Hooray For Hollywood": Memorable Movie Music
Program No. 4: Making KING KONG: From Story to Soundtrack
To contact Mr. Hall for possible scheduling of a program and his fee, write to him at -- film music webinar