The recently posted article on experimental scores got me thinking about this and I wanted to see what everyone here thought on the subject.
I figure there needs to be some kind of parameters to help focus the discussion. Feel free to add to this as necessary.
What are the most notable experimental scores, defined as:
1) a score that uses the orchestra in an unusual/experimental way 2) a score that uses non-traditional instruments either alone or in tandem with the orchestra 3) any combination of the above two that has exerted influence on subsequent film scores
What are you talking about? FORBIDDEN PLANET is among several reputable lists of all time greatest film scores. It was groundbreaking and is to this day one of the best scores ever produced for a motion picture.
I'm sure I would've preferred a lush 1950s orchestral score, but I like the way "Forbidden Planet" currently sounds. It was certainly the first title that popped in my head when thinking of "experimental" scores.
Also BIRDMAN by Antonio Sánchez and THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST by Peter Gabriel. I consider them "experimental" since they "experimented" with what film music can be and do. Birdman is an all percussion score, while Last Temptation uses various musicians and techniques from all over the world. Bernard Herrmann was very experimental per se, and PSYCHO was certainly an "experiment" (among some others). Leonard Rosenman's COBWEB experimented with 12-tone technique at a time when no one else incorporated that in film music, so that's another one. KOYAANISQATSI is another one, thought the entire movie was an experiment, so I would not necessarily limit it to the score.
Goldsmith's PLANET OF THE APES. John Williams' IMAGES. Mica Levi's UNDER THE SKIN.
yes! also yes: FORBIDDEN PLANET, KOYAANISQATSI.
would also add john corigliano's ALTERED STATES.
would maybe consider giorgio moroder's MIDNIGHT EXPRESS and vangelis's BLADE RUNNER. is kubrick's 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY/THE SHINING or friedkin's EXORCIST in the running since they used existing experimental music to such influential cinematic effect?
