Coming in 2025 - The Expanded 10th Edition!

The 9th edition of A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC is now available.

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 Flm Score and Song                                         

XIII.  +Articles and Reviews             

XIV.  +Autographs of Film Composers and Songwriters                                     

XV. +Interviews with Two Album Producers: James Fitzpatrick, David Schecter        

XVI. 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 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 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 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 one 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 reasonable fee, write to him at -- film music webinar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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