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Re: More Musical Sleuthing... :)

Leonard, don't worry if you have mentioned any of this information before! As I have told my students, "Repetition is the mother of learning!"

Take care, and thank you, once again, for your contributions on this topic. FUN, and INTERESTING indeed!

Sincerely,
Rush

Re: More Musical Sleuthing... :)

Leonard,

10,000 thanks for your insights. This is what we've suspected is the case. We both (MnR) would have LOVED to spend a year with one of these music people putting together music for multiple "B" movies.

If anyone knows of a memoir or biography (autobiography?) from these "film music people," please let us know.

For musicians, this is a fascinating topic. Imagine waking up, having your morning coffee and figuring out where you're going to find music to modify into the accompaniment to some random Charlie Chan--or Mr. Moto--or Secret Agent X9 flick...because you have a deadline and rent to pay.

Mike: "What was that spy bit in the last Chan movie? Maybe I can swipe that for my Secret Agent movie gig."

Rachel: "We gotta eat, sweetie...try looking in the Monogram library. You'll find something to use. In the meantime, have another muffin. And we need to mail the rent next week."

:)

Re: More Musical Sleuthing... :)

Some of the information I've gotten comes from this great book:

Musique Fantastique, Second Edition
100 Years of Fantasy, Science Fiction & Horror Film Music
A Historical Appreciation & Overview
By Randall D. Larson

It features miniature biographies of some of the "big guns" of film composers who specialized - or are best known for - horror, mystery, adventure films of "Hollywood's Golden Age": Max Steiner, Frank Skinner, Hans Salter, etc. This is one book you CAN judge by it's cover - the Boris Karloff version of The Frankenstein Monster as an orchestra conductor. Great research and good insights - not enough on the "B-Movie" composers like Edward Kay, etc. - but worth getting for film music scholars and fans!