Music in Classic Hollywood Cinema: A Journey Through the Golden Era
MUS4-5b-Tue3
James Heazlewood-Dale
This course will take place in person at 60 Turner Street. The room will be equipped with a HEPA air purifier.
October 15 - November 12
This five-week course explores the enchanting world of music in classic Hollywood cinema. Students will embark on a captivating exploration of the golden era of American filmmaking. Delving into the rich tapestry of film scores from the 1930s to the 1950s, participants will uncover the profound influence of composers such as Max Steiner, Alfred Newman, and Erich Wolfgang Korngold on the cinematic landscape. Each week will unveil a new facet of classic Hollywood music, beginning with an introduction to the historical context and the pivotal role of music in storytelling. Students will then traverse the rise of the film score as a narrative and emotional tool, examining its evolution alongside the development of cinematic language.
The course focuses on the golden age of Hollywood film music, exploring the thematic development, leitmotif, and signature styles of renowned composers like Bernard Herrmann and Miklós Rózsa. Through immersive screenings and insightful discussions, participants will dissect iconic film scores, including those from "King Kong," "The Adventures of Robin Hood," and "All About Eve." As the journey progresses, students will uncover the musical innovations and experimentation that characterized this era, from the integration of jazz and popular music to the pioneering approaches of composers like Alfred Newman. Finally, participants will reflect on the enduring influence of classic Hollywood film scores on contemporary cinema, cementing their appreciation for the cultural significance of this timeless art form.
A background in music is not required, as the study group leader will explain any musical theory in the class.
More lecture than facilitated discussion.
The study group leader will distribute all course materials: films, readings, and recordings.
1 hour
James Heazlewood-Dale, scholar, performer, and Grammy-nominated bassist, emerged from Sydney's dynamic music scene. He pursued jazz double bass studies at Berklee and New England Conservatory, before performing with Jacob Collier and Maria Schneider. He is Grace Kelly's musical director. James, a Provost Research Award recipient at Brandeis, explores the intersection of jazz and video game music. He presented ludomusicological findings at the American Musicological Society and Jazz Education Network, publishing in Jazz and Culture and Adaptation, Rearrangement, and Music Across Screen Media. James authored liner notes for Callisto Protocol's soundtrack (Decca) and appeared on Adam Neely's "The Nintendo-fication of Jazz".