FSF-080 Happy Birthday Maria! (06/09/07)

This week on Film Score Focus I'm honoring an extremely special person in my life. On June 11th, my wife Maria will be celebrating her birthday and to hallmark the occasion I've offered her the reins of selecting a smattering of her favorite film music for us to enjoy. She graciously accepted and meticulously programed each piece of music for this week's show from films that are very near and dear to her heart.

Maria is a music teacher at Walnut Creek Elementary and a singer (a soprano, in fact) so we are both bound by our love and devotion to music. However, our specific vocations within this realm could not be more polar opposite. She can't imagine doing what I do and likewise I can't envision doing what she does. It's this diversity within a commonality that I think has helped make us an enduring pair.

When Maria and I first met my love of film music was already firmly ensconced. She would be the first to admit that her knowledge and interest in film scores directly corresponds to the fact that she's married to a film composer and a bona fide film music geek. Over the years she's adopted a "passion by association," so to speak, and has developed her own affections and opinions toward the art form. In fact, when I compose for films I usually seek her counsel before formally presenting any piece of music to the film's director.

Maria's programmed a fantastic show and I'm anxious to share it with you.

Here is the lineup for FSF-080 Happy Birthday Maria!



When I get the opportunity to speak with fans of film music I often ask what a person's favorite score is. It is not uncommon to hear THE MISSION (1986) by Ennio Morricone leap from the lips of fans as their favorite. Being a singer herself, Maria is very attracted to film music that features the voice either in a solo or choir setting and has a particular affinity for beautiful children's voices. THE MISSION is an exemplary piece of music utilizing the voice as well as THE TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE (2003), GLORY (1989), and THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003).

When Maria and I were dating back in college, she called me one night complaining of a terrible migraine headache she was suffering from. Being the caring, dutiful boyfriend that I was, I grabbed a particular CD from my shelf and headed over to her apartment. I had her lie down, I dimmed the lights, and then I softly played for her TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY (1996) by James Horner on a continual loop for several hours. This is one of the most soothing, relaxing film scores I have ever encountered and it went a long way to help ease her suffering that torturous night.

FINDING NEVERLAND (2004) rounds out the first of several dramtic selections chosen to open the show. This is a film that she and I completely fell in love with in a darkened theater one night in 2004. I am willing to bet money that when this selection plays during the show it will make her weep. I'd further be willing to bet half my winnings on the previous wager that I will too...but just a little bit.

Maria also enjoys fun and quirky movies and the scores that accompany them. The next several selections fall under this category. PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE (1986) remains one of the most watched DVDs in our collection but our son is making sure that MONSTERS, INC. (2001) will soon take that crown. We're both going to crack up when the yodeling masterpiece RAISING ARIZONA (1987) by Carter Burwell hits the airwaves.

"...I don't know. Maybe it was Utah."

The show concludes with two extraordinarily powerful scores once again utilizing the voice. James Horner's GLORY features the angelic tones of the Harlem Boys Choir and THE RETURN OF THE KING showcases the sinfully sultry voice of Annie Lennox in the epic finale "Into the West" composed by Howard Shore.

There is a lot of music used in this week's program and all of it is currently still available on CD and should be fairly easy to acquire. As usual, I'm including the links below for your convenience.

Happy Birthday Maria!