Number 28

[As this is the 5th anniversary of Jerry Goldsmith's passing, I decided to reprint a slightly edited earlier blog done for his 80th birthday. Please forgive the repetition, but I just thought it was appropriate.]

On this day, which marks 5 years since Jerry Goldsmith's passing, we stop to celebrate a master of film music that is no longer with us. I know that I still mourn his passing and selfishly miss the anticipation of his next new score. This man has meant so much to so many of us that we felt as if we knew him through his music, interviews and stories from his friends and colleagues. Whether we actually knew him or not, we celebrate the man and his music.

Although he has left this Earth, he leaves behind a legacy of music that is just staggering. As with any artist of standing, they live on in their work, so he's not really gone is he? In fact he continues to live on in new releases of his music all the time. Some of the keepers of the flame are FSM, Varese Sarabande, Prometheus, Intrada, La-La Land and Silva Screen. Thanks to them, we still get a chance to wait in anticipation for Jerry's next "new" album.

So much could be said about this man's contributions to the art of film scoring and it's probably been said better by others multiple times before me. Therefore, I'll just say the man had a supremely special talent, a unique voice and will always be greatly missed by the film music community, his fans, friends and family.

Below is a short e-mail I wrote to Robert Townson in response to a letter he published on the Varese Sarabande web site shortly after Jerry's death, followed by his response. His response greatly reflects what people thought of Jerry Goldsmith, then as well as now, and seems perfectly fitting in celebrating his life.

Dear Robert Townson and the Varese Sarabande family,

I, like you, am very broken up by Jerry Goldsmith's death. Although I did not know him personally like many of you, I still mourn the death of this great man. He will be missed by his fans everywhere and I for one do not think his likes will grace the film score world ever again. His was a singular talent that shown brightly for so many years.

Thank you all for doing so much to make sure his music is available to the world. I bowed my head in silence along with you.

Sincerely,

Mark Ford

Dear Mark,

Thank you so much for writing and for your very thoughtful words.
 
It is the outpouring of love and respect for Jerry that has come from all corners of the world that has brought my heart some peace these last few days.
 
There are no words to sum up my feelings for Jerry but I will certainly be expressing some thoughts in the coming days.
 
You can be assured that I will continue to devote great effort to preserving Jerry's music. I have so many happy memories of my friend that will be with me for the rest of my life ... and we all have the music.
 
Warmest regards,
 
Robert Townson
Varese Sarabande Records

No Epilogue this week meant as a moment of remeberance...