Movie music mania!

What makes a horror movie scary? The music.
What makes us swoon during a romantic movie? The music.
What makes a car chase so exciting? The music.

Without carefully thought-out soundtracks, movies would not make our hearts race or even keep us interested! Before actors even spoke in films there was music to set the mood.

I can’t wait for this Friday, April 8, when we play some of the most iconic pieces from movies spanning several decades. We go back to 1961 and play some Henry Mancini from his unforgettable work on Breakfast at Tiffany’s; we’ll play parts from the score to Out of Africa; then we’ll honour one of the largest-grossing movies of all time with music from Titanic.

The Academy of Motion Pictures obviously thought these pieces were worthy of its highest honour when they each won the Oscar for best score in their respective years.

What do you think? What are the qualities of a perfect movie score?

As with any music, it’s up to the listener to decide what’s great. And if the romance of the Oscar-winners noted above doesn’t do it for you, how about Raider’s March from Indiana Jones? Or the spine-tingling bass riff from the soundtrack to Jaws? We’ve got an entire collection of John Williams tunes lined up to satisfy those who crave action and adventure.

Then there’s Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission; Barber’s Adagio from Platoon; and some of Hans Zimmer’s work from Pirates of the Caribbean.

We’ll play a few other epic works throughout the evening, all paired with a montage of clips to highlight those movie memories.

I’m very much looking forward to this concert. These are some of the greatest pieces used in movies spanning the last 50 years.

If you haven’t been to a live orchestral performance, this is the perfect introduction to the world of classical music and I look forward to seeing you on Friday night. And if you’re a frequent attendee of our concerts, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!