Music from the Movies

Why are so many of us attracted to film music? The answer is surely ‘association’. Melodies are easily assimilated, and are inclined to be indelible – we can’t shake them off. Hearing the music reminds us of the emotions we felt when first experiencing the music and the associated film or scene from a film. It’s interesting that music often retains a strong association with a film even when its original purpose was entirely different.

The William Tell Overture by Rossini and The Lone Ranger is one such association; Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 and Elvira Madigan is another. The evening’s full-length concert is for adults, although children will be welcome as well. Among the sampled films will be The Magnificent Seven, El Cid, Out of Africa, Lawrence of Arabia, Romeo and Juliet, and Gladiator. And who wrote this wonderful music? The ubiquitous John Williams is there, of course, but what of Newman, Rozsa, Shore, Giacchino, Waxman, Rota, Zimmer and Morricone? Hardly household names, but their music is certainly the stuff of the ear worm or Ohrwurm as they call it in Germany, where the word was coined. It’s a tune that rattles around your head and won’t go away.

Ticket Information

Admission: £18, £16 (concessions), £8 (students), £5 (under 14)