The importance of music in film is undoubted. In the early days of silent movie it was the only sound you would hear and of course it was very important. I’d say it’s still as important when it comes to emphasizing the mood and tempo of modern film.

I often hear from composers that good scores for film “shall be there but not be heard”. I understand what they’re addressing but you can’t really state that you “don’t hear” Ennio Morricones music in “The good, the bad and the ugly” and I bet quite a few walked out from the theatre after seeing “Star Wars” with one of John Williams themes resonating in their head. I must also mention one of my favourites: Bernard Herrmanns score when Robert de Niro, in his solitary state of mind, cruises his cab in a hectic, crazy New York City in “Taxi Driver”. I think it’s fantastic and for me it really sets the mood for the whole film. Heck, even I would look like an Oscar winning actor driving a car with that music playing along. They say film is a kind of magic and the music strongly contributes to that.

So my motto about music in film will be: “It shall be there, and yes – it may and even shall be heard, but it shall not be seen!”
What I mean by this is, if the music is “wrong” it disturbs and distorts the image and the story it’s telling. Hence, it’s being “seen”…