Dr Dan Golding Photo: Tim O'Connor
It began as a podcast, now it's a full-blown concert.
The Art of the Score is the brainchild of three Australian musicians and movie lovers designed to demystify film music.
Andrew Pogson, Dr Dan Golding and Nicholas Buc possibly didn't expect the following their work has created, but such has been the success of the online project, the Art of the Score has become a stage production with a live orchestra.
The next stop is with the Auckland Philharmonia in the city's Aotea Centre on Friday 4 April in a show dedicated to the music of Hans Zimmer.
Golding and Pogson will be providing spoken analysis, while Buc conducts.
Hans Zimmer Photo: Ed Robinson
Speaking with RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump ahead of the gig, Golding says the show is not just about demystifying film music but classical music in general.
He says a lot of people are listening to classical music without realising it, either at the movies, or when they play video games. Composing music for games is another aspect of Golding's musical career.
Interstellar. Christopher Nolan created the image, Zimmer the music. Photo: © Paramount Pictures
He says the trio chose Zimmer as the subject for a show simply because of the impact he's had on movie music. From the scores to Pirates of the Caribbean, to Batman, to Interstellar and beyond, often in collaboration with the director Christopher Nolan.
The only serious rival in the world of motion picture music is John Williams, who did much the same with the director Steven Spielberg, says Golding.
As well as a celebration of the art of movie making, the Art of the Score is also a portal into the wider classical music world.
For example, the way Zimmer uses the sound interval of a minor third throughout his Batman scores.
"Some people say those minor thirds remind them of the finale of Bruckner's 8th Symphony, but I understand Zimmer is adamant Bruckner didn't influence him," says Crump.
Dr Golding adds that some people think Zimmer sounds like Wagner, and he downplays any influence there too.
But picking film scores apart and then putting them back together is all part of the fun with the Art of the Score - especially when it comes with a live orchestra.
Auckland Philharmonia: making the movie music. Photo: Adrian Malloch
