Bernard Herrmann - Mountain Top/Sunrise

Herrmann's score for "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" (1959) This piece in particular inspired Danny Elfman to write his famous Batman theme.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bernard
• Herrmann

[2112Halloween]

no if u want a blatant rip-off, listen to the score from Re-Animator. And then tell me what you think/

[fayansiarz]

Good example. Actually, Bernard himself also used his 'Psycho' theme in 'The 3 Worlds of Gulliver' score. You can hear in the track called The Tightrope, it's rather delicate and cheerful rearrangement.

[queenmcsleaze]

how does this kind of thing work normally> it is pretty blatant that batman theme soudns JUST like this one, right? isnt that plagiarism? or can uget away with it? how does that work

[fayansiarz]

I wonder myself. Elfman often mentioned Bernard Herrmann as one of his biggest inspirations in film music, always made it clear. The score for 'Mars Attacks!' is direct homage to Herrmann's 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' (which is stated as the begining of Elfman's love for film music). Hence him scoring the infamous 'Psycho' remake too. In 'Mars Attacks!' we have just the "technique" copied though. But since Elfman never hid such matters maybe in the case of 'Batman' it saves him in a way.

[navet1953]

Every potential virtuoso derives his cues from former masters......

[svaz11]

Just one example of why Bernard Herrmann was the greatest film score artist of all time...

[kidtexaus1]

@aprobstayahoo And speaking of nuanced for 1951, listen to the sound of the flying saucer as it approaches Washington, there's a slight musical note mixed in with the engine sounds; very subtle, and very scary.

[funzi159]

Just think of John Williams, he has taken many elements from Tchaikovsky, sometimes you can hear a piece of his music and saying "My, this is "The Nutcracker" and nobody would say John Williams lacks of originality, because he has created a lot of masterpieces of movie music like "Superman" or "Jaws"!! It's just part of the elaboration of music, you start from something to get beyond that!! Danny Elfman wrote an incredible soundtrack for "Batman"!!!

[funzi159]

I don't think we can talk about copying, because it's a clear inspiration for the beginning of the theme, but the rest is definitely different! As a musician I can say that sometimes you take a "piece of music" from someone else just to start and then go over with your idea, and this what Danny did. It started similar, but then it was something completely different!

[Cinema320]

"Here's to the Prof of Geology,

Master of all natural history,

Rare boy he,

And rare boys we,

To know such a big curiosity!"

[wdgarraway]

@mugabesunny Hermann died in 1975. Would be difficult to pay him now

[aprobstayahoo]

FM DJ goofs one night & this was intro’d as title cut from "Day the Earth Stood Still" (DTESS). I was amazed a H’wood composer of any caliber in 1951 would’ve created such nuanced music for a space pic. I pictured the trumpets accompanying a fade-in on majestic cloudscapes filmed from a plane. As woodwinds begin, camera tilts up and we dissolve to starscapes. As rippling harps begin, spaceship emerges from the depths of space heading for Earth. -NOT! But the piece will always remind me of DTESS.

[aprobstayahoo]

FM DJ goofs one night & this was intro’d as title cut from "Day the Earth Stood Still" (DTESS). I was amazed a H’wood composer of any caliber in 1951 would’ve created such nuanced music for a space pic. I pictured the trumpets accompanying fade-in on majestic cloudscapes filmed from a plane. As woodwinds begin, camera tilts up and we dissolve to starscapes. As rippling harps begin, spaceship emerges from the depths of space heading for Earth. -NOT! But the piece will always remind me of DTESS.

[peppersax]

@mugabesunny So So True! Take a listen to the classic Richard Strauss' composition called, "Death and Transfiguration". You will hear a note for note (with the same orchestration mine you) of the "Superman" love theme ,by John Williams. Strauss wrote his piece in the 1800's. Speaking of Gustav Holst, "The Planets". let's not leave Hans Zimmer out of the picture. he ripped off Holst's planets when he scored the 'battle' scene in "Gladiator". It goes on and on and on..........

[elninoheroe]

This is the Batman theme. Awesome!!!