Classical Music Articles: Classical Music vs. Film Music

Is Film Music the New Classical Music?

VS.

Some people know what a symphony orchestra is because they went to the movies and watched Star Wars or Lord of the Rings or some other major movie, and after the movie they googled how this amazing music was made. Then, they find out that it was recorded by a symphony orchestra! In our minds we make the connection (symphony orchestra-classical music) unconsciously, because we've seen so many ads and promotional signs were they are announcing a classical music concert with the picture of a symphony orchestra. General people (non-musicians) are more likely to hear a symphony sound in the theater than in a concert halls. This is why professional orchestras are taking the initiative to have pop concerts and program some film music in their season. They will reach more audiences and at the same time promote the classical concerts.

Valery Gergiev, Russian Conductor

I believe that film music is an art, like classical music. It is just a different process of thinking the music. A film composer writes his music with the picture in mind trying to serve the moving images, while the classical composer can work more with inspiration and doesn't have any "limitations". They use the same compositional techniques, they have to know all about orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, music forms, and other significant details to achieve the same goal. The creation of music.

"The job of a composer, whether in film or the classical genre, is to create music which fulfills its function....these functions can be and have been synonymous and interchangeable."

-Anonymous

"If Richard Wagner had lived in this century, he would have been the number one film composer."

- Max Steiner