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Series in which Neil Brand celebrates the art of cinema music and soundtracks. Neil explores how changing technology has taken soundtracks in bold new directions.

In the last of three programmes in which composer Neil Brand celebrates the art of cinema music, Neil explores how changing technology has taken soundtracks in bold new directions and even altered our very idea of how a film should sound.

Neil tells the story of how the 1956 science fiction film Forbidden Planet ended up with a groundbreaking electronic score that blurred the line between music and sound effects, and explains why Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds has one of the most effective soundtracks of any of his films - despite having no music. He shows how electronic music crossed over from pop into cinema with Midnight Express and Chariots of Fire, while films like Apocalypse Now pioneered the concept of sound design - that sound effects could be used for storytelling and emotional impact.

Neil tracks down some of the key composers behind these innovations to talk about their work, such as Vangelis (Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner), Carter Burwell (Twilight, No Country for Old Men) and Clint Mansell (Requiem for a Dream, Moon).

1 hour

Last on

Sat 7 Jul 2018 23:00

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Vangelis

    Chariots of Fire

    • Chariots of Fire (soundtrack).
    • Polydor Limited.
  • Carter Burwell

    Barton Fink - Barton in Shock

    Performer: Carter Burwell.
    • Barton Fink (soundtrack).
    • Snapper Music Plc/Madfish Music.
  • Vangelis

    Bladerunner

    Performer: Vangelis.
  • Louis and Bebe Barron

    Forbidden Planet - Prelude

    Performer: Mark Ayres.
    • Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II.
    • Silva Screen Records.
  • Clint Mansell

    Moon: Welcome To Lunar Industries

    Performer: London Music Works.
    • 100 Greatest Film Themes, Take 2.
    • Silva Screen Records.
  • Clint Mansell

    Requiem For A Dream - Marion Barfs

    Performer: Clint Mansell. Performer: Kronos Quartet.
    • Requiem For A Dream (soundtrack).
    • Warner Music UK Limited.
  • Mikl贸s R贸zsa

    Spellbound, 1945

    Performer: Mikl贸s R贸zsa.
  • David Shire

    The Conversation - Main Theme

    Performer: London Music Works.
    • 100 Greatest Film Themes - Take 2.
    • Silva Screen.
  • 00:26

    Vangelis

    Chariots of Fire

  • 00:33

    Vangelis

    Blade Runner (Main Titles)

  • 00:37

    The Doors

    The End

Neil Brand talks film

Neil Brand talks film

A selection聽of interviews with film composer Neil Brand.

Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer John Das
Director John Das
Presenter Neil Brand
Executive Producer Michael Poole
Interviewed Guest Vangelis
Interviewed Guest Carter Burwell
Interviewed Guest Clint Mansell

Broadcasts

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