When a young composer gets started the same time you have just gotten interested in film scores.... When one of your earlier album purchases is his first score, as was THE SWIMMER for me... When you follow that composer along loyally even when other "fans" start knocking him... When he wins accolades you thought he should have, like Oscars and Grammys... When you watch him enjoy his later life as a conductor and raconteur....
And then that composer dies something in you dies. Something in me has died today.
Here (in the Open University's documentary about the making of The spy who loved me) MH discusses his score to TSWLM, mainly "Nobody does it better" and "Bond 77" (interview begins at 11:02 of the first clip):
Bond 77 was the first piece of film score I ever owned, on a bond song compilation tape I bought as a little boy. I loved it then and I love it now. A very talented man. R.I.P.
I had heard how entertaining he is in concert, and I think Peter once recounted his attending a Marvin Hamlisch concert with such enjoyment that I made a mental note to be on the lookout for one of his concerts.
When the fall schedule for the New York Philharmonic arrived a couple of weeks ago, I scanned all of the concert dates and noticed two things: No John Williams. But Marvin Hamlisch was going to conduct the New Year's Eve concert this year. I was definitely interested. But I wasn't quite sure if Manhattan was the place I would like to be on New Year's Eve trying to use public transportation to get back home to New Jersey. Forget taking a car. Now that chance is gone with his passing. I do envy those of you lucky to have seen this genuinely terrific composer lead an orchestra and entertain the audience.
Way back in the misty dawn of CDs,t he old Southern Cross release of SOPHIE'S CHOICE was one of the first soundtrack CDs that I ever edited for playing in my office waiting room.
I am surprised nobody has mention a theme song that has always touched my heart and i am sure many people=life is what you make it-70- from Kotch-a fine movie and a heart melting meaningful song.
This is so sad. Always seemed a great guy in interviews.
First time I actually saw him was when he appeared in the movie How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. I wasn't into film music back then and had no idea who he was.
That man happened to be the one who wrote, I think, my favorite film song of all time. The Way We Were. I have about 5 different arrangements of it, and play it constantly on the piano.
I own The Informant!, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Sophie's Choice, The Swimmer and The Way We Were. I should get more of his music asap.
Timmer mentions THE SWIMMER. Lest we forget, one of Lukas's countless contributions to the service of film music was to complete this score, long available only on an o.o.p. LP, and bring it out as one of the FSM titles. You could pay a lot worse tribute to Mr. Hamlisch than to buy this beautiful score, (orchestrated by Shuken and Hayes), if you haven't already.
He also composed a fine symphonic work, "Anatomy Of Peace" which was a departure from his previous work, and was actually recorded and performed by the Dallas Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Eduardo Mata. R.I.P. Marvin Hamlisch and Eduardo Mata.
Hollywood film music has a lost man that represented that particular industry segment in an iconic way.
Marvin Hamlisch, may he rest in peace.
Hamlisch on Shalom TV, L Chayim, hosted by Rabbi Mark S. Golup:
One of America's greatest composers, Marvin Hamlisch z"l ("A Chorus Line") talks about his Jewish youth, shows how he composed "The Way We Were," and reflects upon the 75th anniv. of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and its renowned conductor Zubin Mehta. A 2011 ShalomTV interview.
A radio interview:
Movie Geeks United speaks with composer Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line, The Way We Were) about his extraordinary career in stage and film, and his score to 'The Informant!'.
Cantor Alex Stein with Marvin Hamlisch:
Cantor Alex Stein, Cantor Shimon Farkas & Cantor Dov Farkas LIVE IN CONCERT with the Sydney International Orchestra...conducted by Maestro Marvin Hamlisch - Sydney Australia 2008.
Listening to SAME TIME NEXT YEAR and A CHORUS LINE.
I think what I liked most about Marvin's music was that it had such a great mixture of heartfelt sadness in it and then great exuberance and joy and just great stuff that would Rock.
68 is young in this day and age, when you consider JW is 80 and still composing, makes you wonder what Hamlisch could still have contributed. A fantastic songwriter, composer and all round entertainer.
Indeed 68 is young these days well at least it is not old nowadays, this one hit me more then most because he seem so much younger in some ways as well, although some film composers over the decades have died young, alot of the well known ones lived pretty long lives when you look at it and i guess i and others figured Marvin would go into the 80's or at least the later 70's like many do.
