Thursday, July 22, 2004

Jerry Goldsmith

Legendary film composer Jerry Goldsmith died in his sleep Wednesday night.

Goldsmith, 75, had composed some of the most memorable film scores in modern cinema.  The music he created for films like "Planet of the Apes," "Alien," "First Blood," and "L.A. Confidential," did just as much to define those movies as classics as any of the actors, directors or screen writers did.

Another one of his themes, television's "Star Trek: The Next Generation (which was based on his music from the ST motion pictures), is possibly one of the most identifiable pieces of music ever.

His scores were exciting, experimental, and unique, and Goldsmith always found the right instrument, no matter how odd it "sounded" on paper, to add to the orchestra in order to lock in with the films "voice."  My favorite of his is "L.A. Confidential," (which is available as an isolated track on the DVD) a jazzy, brass driven score that helped this viewer gain a better understanding of what 1950s Los Angeles must have sounded like.

Jerry Goldsmith provided the sonic foundation for over 300 film and television projects, and his contributions will never be forgotten.

Thanks for all of the great sounds, Jerry, and rest in peace.

1 comment:

Guy Hutchinson said...

Very sad news about Jerry Goldsmith. My favorite Jerry Goldsmith moments are his cameos in the 2 Gremilins films. If you have the DVD, the cameos are pointed out during the commentaries (thats how I noticed them, I couldn't tell Jerry Goldsmith from Jerry Sinfeld otherwise. Well, I guess I could since I would just say "that's Sinefeld, so that must be Goldsmith."