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WHAT A GREAT TOPIC!!!
My reply here also acknowledges Doug's column from last week, which was "Go on... revel your age," as my passion for music was also fired up by my fathers interest, which also included much film music. Some of my earliest and most endearing memories are of my father and I sitting listening to music. Mancini was a big player, as was John Barry. In fact, the one score that I constantly requested my father play over and over again was ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, which I could (then and now) never get enough of. About the time JAWS came out I was a rambuncious (spoiler alert!) 5 years old and would rush into the family room every time the commercial would come on and I'd here John William's music. "That's great music! Dad can we see that?" Maybe not the best of idea to bring a 5 yr old to see, as to this day sharks are the only thing that scare me (but not the music). Later on my father and I would discover STAR WARS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, SUPERMAN and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, all the time sharing in the experience of appreciating music together. When JEDI came out we would drive around in our VW camper cranking up the volume on the 5 minute title cue, "Return of the Jedi" and air conduct until we were exhausted. Then we'd do it again!!!
In 1983, my father surprised me by taking me to a recording session for the score to THE LAST STAR FIGHTER. This was almost too much for my young mind to handle, but it was an incredible experience to see the orchestra cue up the score. "WOW!!! Craig Safan? Who's that?" (I think I could still ask that question these days - where'd he go?)
Then, at the age of 14, my father died unexpectedly, which, of course was crushing for a young boy. The last soundtrack that my father bought for me was Goldsmith's TWILIGHT ZONE, which we saw in a private screening in San Francisco with Steven Speilberg and a couple other of the films directors. I was all about the music and could careless about the muck-muck of snobbery of who's who when it came to directors or other "talent" - "Um... Mr. Speilberg, you should use Jerry Goldsmith more often, it seems to work for you." (I don't remember what his reply was - drat!)
All these stories aren't about my dad, though, as my mother was also a fan of music. She was definitely more into Barry, such as BORN FREE, SOMEWHERE IN TIME and OUT OF AFRICA. But occasionally I'd find my cassettes missing and in her car. Surprisingly, THE WRATH OF KHAN was a big listen for her and she loved to watch THE JOURNEY OF NATTY GANN to also enjoy hearing the score (ALBUM REALS, PLEASE - Um... it's for my mom.)
Well, that's pretty much my story/(confessional). Now as an adult, every time a raise my arms to conduct a piece of music in the air, my father is right there next to me. Maybe some of you have stories like this?
Regards,
- Oz
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