Brilliant as both a conductor and composer, Bernard Herrmann is arguably the most innovative film

composer of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. He provided background music for 47 feature films released

between 1941 and 1976, including such cinema classics as Citizen Kane, Psycho, and Taxi Driver and is

especially recognised for his work with Alfred Hitchcock.

Herrmann rejected the term ‘film composer’; rather, he thought of himself as a composer who worked on

films. He admired Vaughan Williams, Walton and Prokofiev who were able to compose great works for

films as well as for the concert hall. These musical influences resulted in his own scores challenging the

way film scores were viewed, taking them from a late addition to an art.

Often cited as the greatest movie ever made, Citizen Kane was Herrmann’s first film score. Much has

been made of Orson Welle’s influence over cinema history but Bernard Herrmann’s score plays no small

part in the film’s incredible success and earned him a nomination for Academy Award for best dramatic

score. Film noir, Hangover Square is based on Patrick Hamilton’s novel of the same name. This dark

movie has a similarly dark score that was influenced by Richard Addinsell’s success with ‘Warsaw

Concerto’. The final scene sees the character, Bone mesmerizingly playing his great piano concerto, as

flames consume all around him. Stephen Sondheim has referred to Herrmann’s score as a major

influence on his musical Sweeney Todd.

Bernard Herrmann sits perfectly amongst the Chandos Movies series, conducted by Rumon Gamba and is

sure to be a must for nostalgic film music lovers.