The first movement of the Bach Brandenburg Concerto #3 is the first selection in a program of

“Classical Music in Film and Music Written For Film”.

Definition: What is a Classic?

“Classic” means something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality… serving as a standard of excellence: of recognized value.
Derivation: French or Latin; French classique, from Latin classicus– of the highest class, of the first rank.  (Wikkipedia)

Art forms survive best with other art. 

A Motion Picture combines many art forms: Literature, Costume Design, Set Design, Cinematography, and yes Music to name just a few, to set the scene and tell a story. 

So it is natural that Film directors and producers would choose established Classical music to add meaning to scenes in their films to “better tell a story”. These art forms come together and each influencing the other create something new. 

This is a perfect example of Aristotle’s “the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.”

In his work Metaphysics the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle used this idea to explain that a structured whole (like a living organism or a organized team) has a value or synergy that exceeds the mere addition of its individual parts.

See:  Aristotle’s Metaphysics – Stanford University Encyclopedia of Philosophy 

Additional sources: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Bach Brandenberg #3 First Movement

This iconic Baroque composition has been featured many films including: 

• Die Hard (1988): Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Reginald VelJohnson The first movement (Allegro Moderato) underscores the Christmas party scene.

 

• Hannibal Hannibal is a 2001 American horror film co-produced and directed by Englishman Ridley Scott & performed by Englishman Anthony Hopkins. This composition is used to establish a sophisticated, high-culture atmosphere that contrasts the sinister nature of the title character, Hannibal “a Cannibal”.

 

Elegant Music Quartet performs a chamber music program:

“Classical Music in Film and Music Written For Film”

Here is the program for this concert which occurred earlier this spring at Friendly Valley in Santa Clarita, CA.

Classical Music in Film:

• Bach Brandenberg #3
• Blue Danube Waltz, Johann Strauss 
• Por una Cabeza, Carlos Gardel and Alfredo Le Pera
• The Garland Waltz, from the ballet Sleeping Beauty, Tchaikovsky
• Libiamo ne’ lieti calici, The Drinking Song, Giuseppe Verdi

 

Music Written for Film:

• Shakespeare In Love, Stephen Warbeck
• Love Affair, Ennio Morricone
• Gabriel‘s Oboe, Ennio Morricone 
• Motion Picture Medley:  John Barry, Henry Mancini, James Horner
• Somewhere / Tonight from Westside Story, Leonard Bernstein 
• The Throne Room from StarWars, John Williams

I will release a series of videos of this interesting program performed by the Elegant Music Quartet.

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

• Pianist

• Bandleader

• DJ

• Master of Ceremonies

• Host of Wedding & Event Podcast

Elegant Music 323-270-3650