Bernard Herrmann (1911–1975) was a pivotal figure in the annals of film music, renowned for his profound ability to evoke emotion through his compositions. Herrmann's career was a journey dotted with illustrious collaborations and timeless scores that have ingrained themselves in the very fabric of cinematic history. He was born in New York City and displayed a precocious musical talent. Herrmann attended the Juilliard School and began his professional career writing music for CBS radio, before catching the attention of Orson Welles, for whom he scored the infamous radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds" and later Welles's film debut, "Citizen Kane."

Perhaps best known for his long-term collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock, Herrmann's masterful partnership with the auteur yielded unforgettable soundtracks for films such as "Psycho," whose screeching strings in the shower scene became one of the most iconic soundscapes in film history, and "North by Northwest." His ability to amplify the psychological intensity and underlying themes of a scene through his music was Herrmann's trademark. Not only limited to Hitchcock's narratives, Herrmann also left his indelible mark on other classics, including "The Day the Earth Stood Still" with its pioneering use of electronic instruments, "Cape Fear," and "Taxi Driver," which was his final score before his death. Beyond the silver screen, Herrmann conveyed depth and complexity in concert pieces such as his "Symphony" and serenaded the small screen with a haunting theme for "The Twilight Zone." Herrmann's compositions have become synonymous with the golden era of filmmaking, and his legacy as a purveyor of musical mood and atmosphere endures.

Genres

Classic Soundtrack

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Latest Release

Symphonic Cinema

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart•

Antonio Vivaldi•

Bernard Herrmann•

Camille Saint-Saëns•

Dmitri Shostakovich•

Ennio Morricone•

Francis Lai•

George Frideric Handel•

Georges Delerue•

Giuseppe Verdi•

Gustav Holst•

Gustav Mahler•

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Isaac Albéniz•

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John Williams•

Josef Mysliveček•

Leonard Bernstein•

Maurice Jarre•

Michael Giacchino•

Michel Legrand•

Nino Rota•

Paul Dukas•

Philippe Sarde•

Pietro Mascagni•

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky•

Richard Strauss•

Richard Wagner•

Samuel Barber•

Sergei Rachmaninoff•

Edward Elgar•

Vincenzo Bellini

Album - 82 Tracks - Released November 22, 2024