I imagine nearly every composer in film music in the 1930s, '40s and '50s at one time or another had to ape George Gershwin and write a "bustling city cue." One of the best was scored by Paramount's unsung Leith Stevens for WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE.
There's a great one in David Newman's THE PHANTOM, quite reminiscent of pieces of his father Alfred's "Street Scene", notably featured in HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE.
But I agree that all of them share parentage with the Gershwin piece.
Not Film Music, but it is great music: Aaron Copland's 'Music for a Great City'. I have it on a two disc set RCA Red Seal 60149-2-RC. I really like it. It's listed as: 5) Skyline 6) Night Thoughts 7) Subway Jam 8) Toward the Bridge
'Night Thoughts' is my favorite here, but 'Subway Jam' could be what you're seeking?
Also by Copland try 'The City' (suite) 1)Fire Engines at Lunch Hour 2)Taxi Jam 3)Sunday Traffic.
Indeed. Who could have known that bus music could be so exciting?
The opening of Rozsa's A Double Life has exciting city music too.
Probably THE BEST of this kind of sound. I'm glad to have it (the Title Music) in my collection. His score for this film was very modern, and it was requested by the studio that he change it, but the writer and director of the film told him to TOUCH NOT A SINGLE NOTE.
Check out the compilation "Music for TV Dinners, Vol. 1," consisting of library/production music from the 50s and 60s. Over half of the tracks feature that pizzacato string/frenzied consumer/bustling metropolis/housewife-using-new-appliance sound. I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. I've made my own cassette and CD compilations of this sub-sub-genre (much to the horror of my friends), but this particular CD contains more of this music than any single source I've encountered.
Check out the compilation "Music for TV Dinners, Vol. 1," consisting of library/production music from the 50s and 60s. Over half of the tracks feature that pizzacato string/frenzied consumer/bustling metropolis/housewife-using-new-appliance sound. I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff. I've made my own cassette and CD compilations of this sub-sub-genre (much to the horror of my friends), but this particular CD contains more of this music than any single source I've encountered.
Sounds good. I have a soft spot for the wordless chorus as well. Everytime my wife and I pass a mid-century modern home in our neighborhood, we both burst into our own "Holiday For Strings"-type tune.
I've also found some bustling city music in William Shatner's "Transformed Man" title track and in an episode of "Thunderbirds" which doesn't seem to be on volume one of the Silva release. Can't remember the episode...
Regardless of the island, continent, or planet being portrayed, the thriving metropolis seems to be a recurring theme in Les Baxter’s music. Some examples from his Capitol albums - and best of luck finding these - include:
“Shooting Star” and “The Commuter” (Space Escapade) “The Clown on the Eiffel Tower (Around the World) “Busy Port” (Ritual of the Savage) “Havana” (Tamboo) “Carnival” (Caribbean Moonlight) “Hong Kong Cable Car,” “Shanghai Rickshaw” and “Sidewalk Cafes of Saigon” (Ports of Pleasure)
There’s a CD of music by Roger Roger titled “GRANDS TRAVAUX” by the Metropole Orchestra on Basta Records. Roger was a French composer who wrote primarily library music. This collection was recorded in the 90s and utilizes Roger’s original charts. Several of the tracks feature the “bustle of the city” sound.
After it became fairly common to use (stylized) jazz for the soundtracks to private eye shows such as “Peter Gunn,” a number of jazzy concept albums were released which portrayed the many moods of the concrete jungle. These LPs include “New York Sweet” by Phil Moore (Mercury); “The City” by Larry Elgart (MGM); “The Soul of the City” by Manny Albam (Solid State); and “Lonelyville" (ABC) and “Penthouse Serenade” (Capitol) by Kenyon Hopkins.
