05-08-2015, 05:39
HITCHCOCK and MUSIC
Jack Sullivan is director of American Studies and professor of English at Rider University, New Jersey, USA. He has written[SUP]1[/SUP] a long overdue tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's musical perspicacity. Sullivan demonstrates Hitchcockâs uncanny ability to manipulate audiences not only with his striking, frightening images but also his adroit use of music, of all kinds, to heighten suspense, atmosphere and drama. He also knew when to employ silences or musical rests to maximum effect. Some of his most distinguished composers, such as Arthur Benjamin, credited him with being far more serious about music than any other director.
Hitchcock was a cultured man. He had no formal music training yet was a fervent music-lover and keen concertgoer. Hitchcock came into my life, perhaps as early as 1954 with Dial âMâ For Murder, and about the same time as the Baha'i Faith also came into my family's life when I was in my late childhood.-Ron Price with thanks to [SUP]1[/SUP]Ian Laceâs review at Music Web International of Hitchcock's music, Jack Sullivan, Yale University Press, 2006.
Youâd been going strong, Alfred,
for thirty years before you came
into my life with Dial âMâ For
Murder, with Psycho and The
Birds, their gripping music &
their memorable sounds, now
lost in my memory bank from
my childhood and teens when
the winter of my own life was
setting in early & new values[SUP]1[/SUP]
had begun to capture my mind
& imagination long ago, Alfred.
Over your long career[SUP]2[/SUP] you presided
over more musical styles than any
directors in history; ultimately you
changed how we thought about film
music, any film music--oh so clever.
And thanks, Jack, for your discussion
of Hitchcockâs music to influence the
atmosphere, characterization and even
storylines of his films.......Hitchcockâs
relationships with composers: Bernard
Herrmann, Dimitri Tiomkin, Maurice
Jarr and Franz Waxman--achievement,
a sign of genius; they changed the way
we watched-listened to movies-yessiree.
[SUP]1[/SUP] The Bahá'à Faith
[SUP]2 [/SUP] From his work on a film in 1921, The Lodger, to his last in 1976, Family Plot
Ron Price
14/8/'09 to 18/1/'15
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end of document
Jack Sullivan is director of American Studies and professor of English at Rider University, New Jersey, USA. He has written[SUP]1[/SUP] a long overdue tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's musical perspicacity. Sullivan demonstrates Hitchcockâs uncanny ability to manipulate audiences not only with his striking, frightening images but also his adroit use of music, of all kinds, to heighten suspense, atmosphere and drama. He also knew when to employ silences or musical rests to maximum effect. Some of his most distinguished composers, such as Arthur Benjamin, credited him with being far more serious about music than any other director.
Hitchcock was a cultured man. He had no formal music training yet was a fervent music-lover and keen concertgoer. Hitchcock came into my life, perhaps as early as 1954 with Dial âMâ For Murder, and about the same time as the Baha'i Faith also came into my family's life when I was in my late childhood.-Ron Price with thanks to [SUP]1[/SUP]Ian Laceâs review at Music Web International of Hitchcock's music, Jack Sullivan, Yale University Press, 2006.
Youâd been going strong, Alfred,
for thirty years before you came
into my life with Dial âMâ For
Murder, with Psycho and The
Birds, their gripping music &
their memorable sounds, now
lost in my memory bank from
my childhood and teens when
the winter of my own life was
setting in early & new values[SUP]1[/SUP]
had begun to capture my mind
& imagination long ago, Alfred.
Over your long career[SUP]2[/SUP] you presided
over more musical styles than any
directors in history; ultimately you
changed how we thought about film
music, any film music--oh so clever.
And thanks, Jack, for your discussion
of Hitchcockâs music to influence the
atmosphere, characterization and even
storylines of his films.......Hitchcockâs
relationships with composers: Bernard
Herrmann, Dimitri Tiomkin, Maurice
Jarr and Franz Waxman--achievement,
a sign of genius; they changed the way
we watched-listened to movies-yessiree.
[SUP]1[/SUP] The Bahá'à Faith
[SUP]2 [/SUP] From his work on a film in 1921, The Lodger, to his last in 1976, Family Plot
Ron Price
14/8/'09 to 18/1/'15
---------------------------------------
end of document
married for 47 years, a teacher for 32, a student for 18, a writer and editor for 15, and a Baha'i for 55(in 2014)