Redford's Wonders

1M1: 9/15/99

By Jason Foster

It's a rare thing when film music fans get a glimpse into the personal life of a composer. Despite their incredible talent and our obsession with their music, film composers are obviously just regular people. Getting a look into their lives is something that almost never happens. But when the opportunity comes, film music fans will almost always take notice. An opportunity for this exists with J.A.C. Redford's book "Welcome All Wonders: A Composer's Journey."

REDFORD THE MAN

Yes, Jonathan Alfred Clawson Redford is a film composer. He's composed a number of feature film scores, including THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, BYE BYE LOVE, EXTREMITIES, and THE MIGHTY DUCKS II and III. He's also worked in television, composing scores for films like WHAT THE DEAF MAN HEARD and CONAGHER, as well as the mini-series THE KEY TO REBECCA. You may have also seen his name listed as the weekly composer on hit television shows like ST. ELSEWHERE and COACH. But film music is merely a subplot in his autobiography. And while his involvement in the industry has obviously impacted his life, the main focus of the book is on the spiritual journey Redford has experienced throughout his life, his highs and lows, and his battles with the everyday struggles that all normal people face.

The central theme in both Redford's book, and his life, is his Christian faith - and he is quite up-front about how it has changed his life for the better. But he will also tell you that being a Christian working in Hollywood presents a list of challenges. Chief among these things is the clash between the worldviews of the film industry and the principles that Christianity embodies.

"Hollywood is fueled by money, celebrity, obsessive work, the single-minded pursuit of personal goals, and the exercise of power," says Redford. "Jesus was the incarnation of unselfish love that leads to the sacrifice of one's own rights and privileges for the sake of others. These two sets of values don't mix very well to say the least."

Redford points out several occasions when he has had to turn down scoring assignments because of his spiritual convictions. But despite this, he says he doesn't feel as though he's treated differently than others.

"Those who are not Christians know my faith is part of what 'makes me tick' and respect it as such," he says. "They see the benefits it has had for me and accept it as a valid choice I've made for my own life. If I used my faith as a club or as an excuse for mediocre work, they might feel differently about it."

Having good friends in the industry is something Redford says he's very grateful for. Some of his cohorts have even read his book and offered very positive feedback.

"A number of my colleagues have read the book, and many have gone out of their way to tell me they enjoyed it," he says. "Their response has been very encouraging."

Redford says the feedback he's gotten from fans has been encouraging as well.

"The reaction to my book has been overwhelmingly positive," he says. "I particularly appreciate the personal letters, phone calls, and e-mails in which people tell me how the book has influenced or resonated with their own experience. Every writer or author or composer wants his or her work to make a difference. I love hearing that mine has."

As you will learn from his book, Redford is a lover of many types of music. In fact, he says that one might even say his book is about the influence of certain works on a human soul - namely, his.

Among film-related works, he cites VERTIGO, PSYCHO, THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, SPARTACUS, THE QUIET MAN, THE WIND AND THE LION, STAR WARS, and MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS as scores which have had an influence on him.

He also cites things from sacred medieval vocal music, to traditional music from the British Isles, to the music of Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, and several others as styles that have had a lasting impact on him.

REDFORD THE COMPOSER

J.A.C. Redford loves composing music. Whether it's for film, television, or the concert stage, he finds it all very rewarding. His approach to writing seems very philosophical. He points out in his book that writing music is like "sculpting time." In practical terms, this means making a map or outline to plot the course and trace the shape of a piece.

He says this process is different, though related, for both film and concert music. But he adds that the critical difference lies in how well the composer exploits whatever medium he or she is working in, judged on its own merits.

Redford has experience writing in many mediums. In addition to his many film and television scores, Redford has also ventured into the concert arena many times - among his works are a symphony, a ballet, a Christmas cantata, and a song cycle. He's also dabbled in musical theater and songwriting. He likes it all - and it would also appear that he likes to keep busy. Evidence of that isn't hard to find.

Redford is now in the process of composing two different concert commissions. The first is for a non-narrative, site-specific modern dance work that will premiere next spring in an abandoned tunnel that formed part of the old Los Angeles redline subway system. The second is a work for chorus and orchestra that will celebrate the crossover to the new millennium.

Redford also recently collaborated with Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman on an orchestral piece for Chapman's latest album SPEECHLESS. The two previously collaborated in 1992 on Chapman's Grammy-winning album THE GREAT ADVENTURE, for which Redford composed a rousing orchestral prologue.

In addition to those tasks, Redford is working with the Los Angeles Master Chorale on an evening of classic choral music in film.

As for his next film assignment, he's waiting to hear about that. But on the subject of composing for film, Redford shares the steadily growing opinion that film music isn't in a good place right now - an opinion that was recently voiced rather bluntly by Randy Newman, who said this is the worse period of film music he's ever seen.

Among Newman's reasons for his assessment were shortened schedules, the prevalence of synth-based writing, the rarity of distinctive instrumental style, and the ironic distancing of score and story that has become so popular these days.

To that, Redford adds his own reasons.

"I would add the micro-management of directors, producers, and executives. The preview process, and the complete ascendance of business over artistic concerns," he says. "Each of these points could be a sub-heading in an extended essay on the subject."

Even with it problems, Redford seems eager to explore new opportunities in the film music world.

"I want to do a horror movie," he says. "Not a slasher picture, but a good old-fashioned ghost story. I would also relish composing for more independent films, especially period pieces."

While composing is Redford's primary vocation, and something he finds very fulfilling, he has also orchestrated and/or conducted scores for other composers, including James Horner, Danny Elfman, Marc Shaiman, and Rachel Portman, among others. Redford says that he gets a different kind of fulfillment from orchestrating and conducting for other composers. "It's very satisfying to serve others," he says. "And good for the ego as well."

For film music fans, it's a composer's creative output that is focused on and debated. They are often seen only as names preceded by a "Music by" credit. Many times fans don't even know what a composer's face looks like. Seldom are they really ever discussed apart from what they do for a living - in other words, as people. Both Redford the man and Redford the composer have had interesting lives. "Welcome All Wonders: A Composer's Journey" offers an intimate look at both of these lives led by one J.A.C. Redford.

NOTE: For information on how to purchase J.A.C. Redford's book, visit his official website at www.jacredford.com. Recordings of his film scores and concert works can also be purchased through the site. Be sure to look for information on how to get autographed copies of these items, as well as how to receive a free copy of his promotional CD to the Disney film HEAVYWEIGHTS.

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