SOUND THEORY
Thanks to Larry Sider and the School of Sound form which much of this material is referenced.
Attali, Jacques Noise: The Political Economy of Music (University of Minnesota Press, 1985)
Bernstein, Leonard The Joy of Music (London, Weidenfield and Nicolson, 1954) Bernstein’s passion and enthusiasm for music jumps out of the page in this remarkable work.
Cage, John Silence (Connecticut, Wesleyan University Press, 1961)
Chanan, Michael Musica Practica (London, Verso Press, 1994) A discussion of the social practice of western music from Gregorian chant to postmodernism.
Chion, Michel David Lynch (Trans. Julian, Robert, London, BFI Publishing, 1995) Analysis of Lynch’s work. Contains surprisingly little on sound.
La musique électroacoustique (Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 1982) Thoughtful study of electro-acoustic music.
Jacques Tati (Paris, Cahiers du Cinema, 1987) Criticism and interpretation of Tati’s films.
Cooke, Deryck The Language of Music (London, Oxford University Press, 1959/1989) Deconstructs music’s affective power through a study of intervals, harmony and rhythm etc.
Kelly, Owen Digital Creativity (London, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, 1996) The book looks at how digital creativity has evolved. It examines the tools available, gives examples of a range of artistic works and questions the implications of such digital creativity.
Lander, Dan & (eds.) Lexier, Micah
Sound by Artists (Art Metropole, Toronto, Walter Phillips Gallery, Banff. 1990)
Meyer, Leonard B. Emotion and Meaning in Music (Chicago University Press, 1956) Still as provocative as when it was first published.
Murch, Walter In the Blink of An Eye (Los Angeles, Silman-James Press, 1995) thought-provoking essay on film editing. The reader is taken on a journey through the aesthetics and practical issues of cutting film.
Negroponte, Nicholas Being Digital (London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1995) One of the worlds foremost experts on multimedia explores the impact of digital technology in our lives.
Rodley, Chris Lynch on Lynch (London, Faber and Faber, 1997) A survey of Lynchs career combined with his own insights into film-making and art.
Storr, Anthony Music and the Mind (London, Harper Collins, 1992) A remarkable journey through music psychology. This is a must read.
Tarkovsky, Andrey Sculpting in Time: Reflections on the Cinema (London, Faber, 1989) Contains a brief section on sound but Tarkovskys ideas on directing and film in general are fascinating regardless of your discipline.
Toop, David Ocean of Sound (London, Serpents Tail, 1995) Discusses ambient sound, contains interview with Brian Eno.
Wishart, Trevor On Sonic Art (York, Imagineering Press, 1985) Seminal work on aesthetics of electro-acoustic music.
Wollen, Peter Signs and Meaning in the Cinema (London, British Film Institute, 1970/ repr. 1992) Singin in the Rain (London, British Film Institute, 1992)
Balázs, Béla Theory of the Film: Character and Growth of a New Art (Trans. Bone, Edith, New York, Dover, 1970) Contains chapters on Sound,
Dialogue,and the Problem of the Sound Comedy,a provocative evaluation of the possibilities inherent in the sound track.
Bresson, Robert Notes on Cinematography (Trans. Griffin, Jonathan, New York, Urizen Books, 1977) A collection of brief, challenging statements on all aspects of filmmaking. Contains proverbial gems such as What is for the eye must not duplicate what is for the ear.
Burch, Noeumll On the Structural Use of Sound,in Theory of Film Practice (New York, Praeger, 1973, Chapter 6:pp90-101). Theoretical work, full of insights and suggestions on many aspects of filmmaking.
Carey, Gary The Music of Soundin Seventh Art (Vol. 1, No. 2, Spring 1963:pp6-7) Discussion of Antonionis use of music and sound
Carroll, Noël Lang, Pabst, and Soundin Cineacute-tracts (Vol. 2, No.1 , Autumn 1978:pp15-23)
Cavalcanti, Alberto Sound in Films,in Films (Vol. 1, No. 1, November 1939:pp25-39) Article that appeals for a more intelligent use of sound in film and especially encouraging the use of non-synchronous sound.
Eisenstein, Sergei M, The Film Form (New York, Harcourt Brace, 1949) Contains a detailed discussion of Meisels score for The Battleship Potemkin as well as the statement by Eisenstein, Pudovkin and Alexandrov on the sound film.
The Film Sense (London, Faber and Faber, 1986) Contains a detailed analysis of the music in Alexander Nevsky as well as illustrating Eisensteins theories about the relationship between sound and moving pictures.
Fano, Michel Vers une dialectique du film sonorein Cahiers du Cinema (No. 152, February, 1964:pp30-36)
Gorbman, Claudia Clairs Sound Hierarchy and the Creation of Auditory Space,in Purdue Film Studies Annual 1976 (West Lafayette, Purdue,1976:pp113-123)
Article on Sous les toits de Paris.
Grierson, John Introduction to a New Artin Sight and Sound (Vol. 3, No.11, Autumn 1934:pp101-104).
Jacobs, Lewis Sound as Speech, Noise, Musicin Jacobs, Lewis ed., The Movies as Medium (New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1970:pp243-260).
Kracauer, Siegfried Theory of Film: The Redemption of Physical Reality (New York, Oxford University Press, 1960) Contains analyses of various films as well as a review of existing theories on sound and film.
LaBelle, Brandon and Steve Roden Sight of Sound: of Architecture and the Ear (Los Angeles, Errant Bodies Press, 1999) A collection of intriguing and inspiring essays about sonic art, radio, and the crossover between audio experimentation and acoustics.
Manvell, Roger Essentials of Film Art: Soundin Film (London, Penguin, 1950:pp58-76).
Mast, Gerald (Recorded) Soundin Film/Cinema/Movie: A Theory of Experience (New York, Harper and Row, 1977:pp206-237).
Percheron, Daniel Sound in Cinema and its Relationship to Image and Diegesis in Yale French Studies (No. 60, 1980:pp16-23).
Pudovkin, Vsevolod Film Technique and Film Acting (New York, Grove Press, 1960) Contains sections on Sound as a means of expression,and Asynchronism as a principle of sound.Pudovkin also discusses the rhythmic problems with his first sound film.
Schaeffer, Pierre Le Contrepoint du son et de limage,in Cahiers du Cinéma (No 108, June 1960:pp7-22).
Taylor, Richard & Christie, Ian Making Sense of Early Soviet Soundin Inside the Film Factory: New Approaches to Russian and Soviet Cinema (London, Routledge, 1991, Chapter 10:pp176-192) Historical overview that gives insights into the cultural, political and industrial factors that affected early Soviet sound.
Williams, Alan Is Sound Recording Like a Languagein Yale French Studies (No. 60, 1980:pp51-66).
Williams, Martin The Audible Imagein Films in Review (No.5, August/September 1954:pp371-373).
FILM SOUND
Chion, Michel Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen (Trans. Gorbman, Claudia, New York, Columbia University Press, 1994) Excellent, thought-provoking book offering fresh perspectives on the audio-visual relationship. A seminal work. La Voix au Cinéma (Paris, Cahiers du Cinéma/Editions de LEtoile, 1982)
Crowdus, Gary (ed) Sound and Music in the Moviesin Cineaste (Vol XXI, Nos 1-2, 1995:pp46 – 80) Brilliant supplement containing articles by Elisabeth Weis, Claudia Gorbman, Rick Altman and Royal S. Brown as well as an interview with Ennio Morricone.
Comuzio, ErmannoColonna sonora: Dialoghi, musiche, rumori, dietro lo schermo (Milan, Edizioni il Formichiere, 1980) Contains technical, theoretical and aesthetic discussions on the relationship between sound/music and image.
Cousins, Mark Walter Murch: Designing Sound for Apocalypse Nowin Projections 6: Filmmakers on Film Making (London, Faber & Faber, 1996:pp149-162)
Katz, Joy Walter Murch in Conversation with Joy Katzin Parnassus: Poetry in Review – The Movie Issue (Vol. 22, Nos 1 & 2, 1997:pp124-153.)
Kozloff, Sarah Invisible Storytellers: Voice-over Narration in American Fiction Film (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1988).
Overhearing Film Dialogue (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2000)
LoBrutto, Vincent Sound-On-Film: Interviews with Creators of Film Sound (Westport, Conn., Praeger, 1994) Includes interviews with Gary Rydstrom, Tom Fleischman, Walter Murch and many more as well as detailed bibliographical references and filmographies.
Madsen, Roy Paul The Sound Designer with Walter Murchin Working Cinema – Learning from the Masters (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1990)
Merck, Mandy (ed) On the Soundtrackin Screen (Vol. 25, No.3, May-June 1984) A whole volume devoted to sound and music in films. Contains, among others, an excellent article by Simon Frith on Mood Music
and a reading of Diva by Robert Lang entitled Carnal Stereophony.
Murch, Walter Sound Design: The Dancing Shadow,in Projections 4: Filmmakers on Film Making (London, Faber & Faber, 1995:pp237-251) Thought-provoking article comparing sound with light.
Brophy, Philip (ed.) The World of Sound in Film (Sydney, AU: AFTRS, 1999)
Weis, Elisabeth The Silent Scream: Alfred Hitchcocks Sound Track (Rutherford, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1982) Thoughtful and insightful work that throws new light on Hitchcocks films. Contains good bibliography.
Weis, Elisabeth Belton, John (eds.)Film Sound: Theory and Practice (New York, Columbia University Press, 1985) Comprehensive collection of articles and extracts covering technology, history, theory, and aesthetics. Invaluable as reference.
Williams, Alan Godards Use of Sound,in Camera Obscura (Nos. 8-9-10, Autumn 1982:pp193-210)
FILM MUSIC
Atkins, Irene Kahn Source Music in Motion Pictures (Rutherford, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1983) Nicely written book contains an excellent bibliography on film sound.
Bazelon, Irwin Knowing the Score: Notes on Film Music (New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1975) Sections on the art and technique of composing for film as well as interviews with composers. Useful in places.
Brand, Neil Dramatic Notes: Foregrounding Music in the Dramatic Experience (Luton University Press, Arts Council of England, 1998) Excellent and unpretentious discussion of the affective power of music. Contains many interviews with composers e.g. George Fenton, Stephen Warbeck, Carl Davis, Judith Weir.
Brown, Royal S. Overtones and Undertones: Reading Film Music (Los Angeles, University of California Press, 1994)As good as any general survey of film music. Contains interviews with composers as well as analyses of Korngold, Roacutezsa and Godard.
Bruce, Donald Graham Bernard Herrmann: Film Music and Film Narrative (Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1985) Analyses of numerous Herrmann film scores. Thoughtful and readable.
Burnand, David & Sarnaker, Benedict The Articulation of National Identity through Film Musicin National Identities (Vol. 1, No. 1, 1999:pp7-13) Article examining the use of music in narrative film for geographical location as well as racial and ethnic characterisations.
Burt, George The Art of Film Music (Boston, Northeastern University Press, 1994) Analysis, criticism and appreciation.
Chion, Michel La musique au Cinéma (Paris, Fayard, 1995) History and criticism of film music.
Coyle, Rebecca (ed.) Screen Scores: Studies in Contemporary Australian Film Music (Sydney, AFTRS, 1997) Series of compelling articles on a number of Australian film including Shine, Young Einstein and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Darby, William & DuBois Jack American Film Music: Major Composers, Techniques, Trends 1915-1990 (Jefferson, N.C. McFarland, 1990) History, analysis, criticism and appreciation.
De La Motte-Haber, H. & Emons, Hanns Filmmusik: Eine Systematische Beschreibung (Munich, Carl Hanser Verlag, 1980) Analyses of five aesthetic models (Kracauer, Zofia Lissa, Eisenstein, Eisler, Adorno, Arnheim)
Egorova, Tatiana Soviet Film Music: An Historical Survey (London, Harwood Academic Publishers, 1997) Informative, detailed and readable history from 1917 to 1991.
Ehrenstein, David & Reed, Bill Rock on Film (New York, Delilah Books, 1982)
Eisler, Hanns & Adorno, Theodor Composing for the Films (New York, Oxford University Press, 1947/ repr. Athlone Press, 1994) Still as provocative today as when it was first published. Will yield great rewards for anyone who can see beyond its Marxist rhetoric.
Evans, Mark Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies (New York, Hopkinson & Blake, 1975/ repr. DaCapo, 1979) Anecdotal work containing historical sections and brief discussions of Hollywood film composers.
Flinn, Caryl Strains of Utopia: Gender, Nostalgia, and Hollywood Film Music (Princeton University Press, 1992) Significant because it is the first, and only, work to consider gender in film music. However, it suffers from a great lack of musical justification for it arguments.
Frith, Simon & Goodwin, Andrew On Record: Rock, Pop and the Written Word (New York, Pantheon, 1990)
Gabbard, Krin Jammin at the Margins: Jazz and the American Cinema (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1996) A provocative series of essays that shed new light on how jazz fits into American life viewed through the cinema. Detailed philosophical and historical arguments.
Gorbman, Claudia Unheard Melodies: Narrative Film Music (Indiana University Press, 1987) The seminal film music book. Contains historical and aesthetic arguments including the movement from silents to sound, Classical Hollywood practice and an analysis of Eisler/Adornos critique. Zero de Conduite, Sous les toits de Paris and Hangover Square are also discussed. This is a must read.
Hacquard, Georges La Musique et le Cinéma (Paris, Presses universitaires de France, 1959)
Hagen, Earle Scoring for Films (New York, E.D.J. Music/Criterion Music Corp., 1971) Contains detailed technical explanations including click-track charts as well as considering the legal and moral obligations of the composer. Discusses principles for scoring diegetic music and underscoring dialogue.
Hoffmann, Charles Sound for Silents (New York, Drama Book Specialists, 1970) Historical and practical account, includes musical examples, with a foreword by Lillian Gish.
Huntley, John British Film Music (London, 1947/ repr. Arno Press, 1972) Sections on history, the British documentary and music recording.
Kalinak, Kathryn Settling the Score: Music and the Classical Hollywood Film (Madison, University of Wisconsin Press, 1992)
Karlin, Fred & Wright, Rayburn On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring (New York, Schirmer Books, 1994) A detailed study and analysis of all aspects of film music. Especially useful for composers. Contains an excellent section on the dramatic effectiveness of certain types of orchestration.
Lack, Russell Twenty Four Frames Under: A Buried History of Film Music (London, Quartet books, 1997) History of film music with an examination of musics emotional impact on the film audience. Contains an interesting section on film music and politics.
Larson, Randall D. Musique Fantastique: A Survey of Music in the Fantastic Cinema (Metuchen, Scarecrow Press, 1985) Study of music for sci-fi, horror and fantasy genres. Doesnt quite have the impact it promises to deliver.
Lees, Gene & Mancini, Henry Did They Mention the Music (Chicago, Contemporary Books, 1989)
Levy, Louis Music for the Movies (London, Sampson Low, 1948) Anecdotal description of Levys own work for musicals and for scoring dramatic films. Lacking in technical and aesthetic detail.
Limbacher, James L. Film Music: From Violins to Video (Metuchen, Scarecrow Press, 1974) Contains short articles on film music by musicians and others as well as an inaccurate list of films and their composers
Lissa, Zofia Aesthetic der Filmmusik (Berlin, Henscherverlag, 1965)
London, Kurt Film Music: A Summary of the Characteristic Features of its History, Aesthetics, Techniques and its Possible Developments (London, Faber & Faber, 1936/ repr. Arno Press, 1970) An excellent historical survey dealing mainly with the move from silent to sound film. Contains a penetrating section on the aesthetics of the sound film.
Mancini, Henry Sounds and Scores: A Practical Guide to Professional Orchestration (Northridge Music, 1973) A master of orchestration shares some of his secrets.
Manvell, Roger & Huntley, John The Technique of Film Music (London, Focal Press, 1957/ repr. Hastings House, 1975) A very detailed review of film music. Contains analyses of many scores including: 2001, Henry V, The Best Years of Our Lives and The Devils as well as numerous statements by film composers about their own techniques and preferences.
Marks, Martin Miller Music and the Silent Film: Contexts and Case Studies, 1895-1924 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1997) Contains very detailed analyses of The Birth of a Nation and Entracte as well as sections on music in the American silent film and a discussion of the research materials available on film music.
Palmer, Christopher The Composer in Hollywood (London, Marion Boyars, 1990) Discussion of American film composers. History and criticism.
Dmitri Tiomkin: A Portrait (London, T.E. Books, 1984) Chronological discussion of Tiomkins work. Includes a complete filmography as well as analyses of Dial M for Murder, Strangers on a Train, and Gunfight at the OK Corral.
Porcile, FranVois Presence de la Musique a Lecran (Paris, Editions du Cerf, 1969) Critical and aesthetic study of film music. Contains filmographies and biographies for numerous composers.
Previn, André No Minor Chords (London, Doubleday, 1992) Reminiscences of Previns life and work at MGM studios.
Prendergast, Roy M. Film Music: A Neglected Art (New York, W.W. Norton, 1992) Well written general historical survey of film music. Is far too biased towards American film music and particularly the works of David Raksin, but very good nonetheless.
Romney, Jonathan & Wooton, Adrian (eds.) Celluloid Jukebox: Popular Music and the Movies Since the 50s (London, BFI Publishing, 1995) Collection of essential articles on popular music in film. Contains interviews with Quentin Tarantino, Ry Cooder and Wim Wenders among others, as well as a good filmography.
Rozsa, Miklos Double Life: The Autobiography of Miklos Rozsa (London, Midas Books, 1983)
Sabaneev, Leonid Music for the Films: A Handbook for Composers and Conductors (trans. Pring, S.W., London, Pitman, 1935) One of the earliest books published about film music. Very interesting in historical terms.
Schmidt, Hans-Christian Filmmusik, Musik Aktuell, Analysen, Beispiele, Kommentare (London, Barenreiter Kassel, 1982) History and criticism. Two sound discs with examples are included.
Skinner, Frank Underscore (New York, Criterion Music Corporation, 1960) Practical manual for composing for films. Slightly dated but good.
Smith, Jeff The Sounds of Commerce: Marketing Popular Film Music (New York, Columbia University Press, 1998) Very readable work examining the emergence and development of the soundtrack album within its economic, industrial, and historical contexts. Contains excellent chapters on the music for Goldfinger and The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
Smith, Steven C. A Heart at Fires Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann (Los Angeles, University of California Press, 1991) Excellent biography providing a real insight into the character of the man.
Takemitsu, Toru Conversation on Seeingin Confronting Silence: Selected Writings (Berkeley, Fallen Leaf Press, 1995:pp36-45) Despite the awkwardness of translation form the Japanese, the book remains original and provocative.
Thomas, Tony Music for the Movies (New York, A.S. Barnes, 1973)
Readable account that evenly balances anecdotal and analytical material. Film Score: The View From the Podium (New York, A.S. Barnes, 1979) Statements from numerous film composers about their work. Includes discography.
TECHNOLOGY
Albertini, Rosanna Technological Rituals (University of Southern California, Annenberge Centre for Communication, 1999) A series of conversations about an affair between art and technology.
Alkin, E.G.Sound with Vision: Sound Techniques for Television and Film (New York, Crane-Russak, 1972)
Amyes, Tim The Technique of Audio Post-Production in Video and Film (London, Focal Press, 1990) Contains sections on editing for film and video as well as sound recording and sound synchronisation.
Ballou, Glen M. Handbook for Sound Engineers: The New Audio Cyclopedia (London, Focal Press, 1991) 37 detailed chapters on just about everything you would need to know about audio.
Chavez, Carlos Towards a New Music: Music and Electricity (trans. Weinstock, H., New York, W.W. Norton, 1937) A serious philosophical enquiry, from the composers viewpoint, into the effects that electronic inventions have had and will have on music. Still a very provocative book.
Dolan, Robert Emmett Music in Modern Media: Techniques in Tape, Disc and Film Recording, Motion Picture and Television Scoring and Electronic Music (New York, G. Schirmer, 1967) So much more than just a technical manual and no less provocative today despite being dated. An invaluable handbook for anyone involved in producing sound for film or TV. Contains many examples, details of recording set-ups and glossary of terms.
Holman, Tomlinson Sound for Film and Television (London, Focal Press, 1997) A thorough introduction into recording sound for film and television. A good balance between practical and theoretical content is achieved. A CD of examples is included.
Honor, Paul M A Handbook of Sound Recording (South Brunswick, A.S. Barnes, 1980) General text on sound recording includes bibliographical references and index.
Lustig, Milton Music Editing for Motion Pictures (New York, Hastings House, 1980) A clear handbook for editors. Technical but not written for aliens.
Nisbett, Alec The Sound Studio (London, Focal Press, 2003) Detailed manual on film sound. Written in plain English and consequently excellent for reference. Not just technical also deals with aesthetics.
Reisz, Karel & Millar, Gavin The Technique of Film Editing (New York, Hastings House, 1968) Informed history and discussion of the techniques of film editing, Includes a section on sound and music.
Watkinson, John The Art of Digital Audio (London, Focal Press, 1994) This is a comprehensive work providing valuable technical detail.