The Movie Music of Bernard Herrmann

Bernard Herrmann’s first assignment as a film composer was as big as they get—Citizen Kane—and he went on to write music for some of the great films to come, including Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, North By Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, and Marnie. He also provided the music for Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and The Seven Voyages of Sinbad, and Fahrenheit 451. He also wrote for directors Brian de Palma, and Martin Scorsese in addition to providing music for many of radio’s outstanding productions. Author and composer Raymond Benson takes us through Herrmann’s career and provides excerpts from the music that made Bernard Herrmann one of the most sought-after composers in Hollywood.