Film Music: A Neglected Art [Paperback]

Roy M. Prendergast (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 1992

"That Mr. Prendergast is unusually well-equipped to discuss both the technology and the aesthetics of film music is revealed once more in this second edition, particularly in the new section on synthesizers. And in this discussion he is disarmingly frank and perceptive. The hands-on experience he has had as one of Hollywood's leading music editors has allowed him to make comments and judgments that serve the history of film music." —William Kraft, composer, from the Foreword

In addition to the new material on the synthesizer mentioned above, the author has completely reviewed the four parts of the book and integrated new material where appropriate: History (an overview from the silent films to the present); Aesthetics (the artistic purposes film music serves and the forms it takes); Technique (how to synchronize music to picture and the special demands of television); and Contemporary Techniques and Tools (comprising video post-production, digital audio, and other innovations). A completely updated bibliography rounds out this informative study.

Product Details

• Paperback: 329 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 2nd edition (June 17, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039330874X
• ISBN-13: 978-0393308747
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Film Music Analysis for Professional Musicians, February 18, 2001

By 

Don Benham (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Film Music: A Neglected Art (Hardcover)

If you love great films, and love well crafted, magnificent film scores, this book is for you. To fully appreciate this book, you must read music, but the descriptive text is also excellent. The 3 and 4 staff musical scores clearly show how famed Hollywood composers create mood and deal with the psychology of important scenes in well known films. This is simply the best book on the analysis of film music. It describes and analyzes the drama of the film and the significance of the music in specific scences.

Hollywood, society, films, and film music were different years ago. This book covers the golden age of Hollywood and the golden age of film music. It includes excerpts of the actual scores of the best film composers who ever lived, matched with some of the best producers and directors ever.

16 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting reading for the really-wanna-knowers, February 22, 1999

By 

NILS-PETTER ANKARBLOM [e-mail] (Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Film Music: A Neglected Art (Hardcover)

This books tells you all you want to know about the filmmusic industry but in my opinion in a little too technical point of view. Many interesting chapters (especially Music for Cartoons, about a.o. Tom & Jerry) with MANY musical examples. Unfortunately the composers mentioned are a little out of date and masters like John Williams, John Barry and James Horner are not even mentioned! Catastrophally but it can be protected when we know how hard it would be to get musical examples from these composers printed in the book. You have to have a deep desire to learn about this business if this book is gonna give you anything. If you have the desire then it's absolutely great reading and a "must-have" in your library!