This is a subject I
truly feel qualified to write about. Having performed
professionally, taught sixty years and operated a retail
music business, I can vouch for the "magic of music."
When I lived in Los Angeles, around the movie industry,
and knew of the high salaries paid their musicians, I
was impressed. They were the "cream of the crop"
and actually earned more per hour than their counterparts
in the performing end of the industry.
What magic influence did music have on the movies? All
one has to do is listen for the romantic theme and know
that a love scene will soon be seen. Also, when danger
is near, the music provides the appropriate background.
Music plays a big role in setting moods. Whether it is
nostalgic, stirring, haunting, or romantic, music embellishes
it wonderfully.
When
I was retailing sheet music, the single most popular
piece of sheet music I ever sold was the theme song
of the movie, "Dr. Zhivago." No matter how
many we ordered, in a few days it was sold out. The
haunting love song from that production is still beautiful
and in demand these many years later.
A
stirring march was from the movie, "Bridge on
the River Kwai." One cannot hear this without
remembering the bedraggled troops marching along valiantly
to its beat.
To
me, the most heavenly music in the world is that furnished
by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Directing a choir
was also my favorite church job. When one directs
singing, it is like painting a beautiful picture.
The human voice is still the prime musical instrument.
Different instruments create different sounds. Arrangers
are aware of this when they write the scores to their
productions. Percussions are stirring, strings are romantic
and horns are attention-getters. Harmonicas, accordions
and reed instruments sound happy.
When one contemplates on the fact there are only seven
notes involved, it is simply amazing: they can be lowered
or raised, played quickly or sustained, but basically
there are only: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Think of the thousands
of songs that have been composed out of only these seven
notes!
