Alan Silvestri
Soundtrack
History
Alan Silvestri was born in Manhattan, New York on March 26, 1950. He had an early interest in music starting with the drums. He then learned to play the saxophone, clarinet, bassoon, and guitar. Alan was in many bands and began to write his own music. This love for music led him to Berklee College of Music in Boston. After he left college, he went on the road with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders playing guitar and touring America. He then moved to Hollywood and composed his first movie score in 1972 with The Doberman Gang. After he composed many scores, he became known as a television composer in 1977 with the hit series CHiPs. His talent for percussive melodies impressed director Robert Zemeckis, who helped Silvestri compose his breakthrough score in the movie Romancing the Stone in 1984. After this, they began working with each other. Throughout his career he has composed over 100 scores for many different genres like sci-fi, action, westerns, thrillers, heartfelt drama, and youthful fantasy.
Film/Show that Started His Career
The film that started his career was Romancing the Stone in 1984 with director Robert Zemeckis.
Top Films/Shows
- Forrest Gump
- The Avengers
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Croods
- The Polar Express
- Night at the Museum
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Awards
- Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music- Cosmos: The Spacetime Odyssey
- ASCAP Award for Top Box Office Films- The Polar Express
- Saturn Award for Best Music- Back to the Future Part 3
- 2 BMI Film Awards for Film Music- The Avengers and Captain America
- Grammy for Best Song Written for Motion Picture- The Polar Express
Characteristics of Soundtrack Music
- The soundtrack music can go with a theme. For example when a certain character is introduced, they will play a specific score to identify them.
- The songs usually add more emphasis and emotion to a show or movie.
- There are also scores for specific situations in films and shows. Sometimes the director will have to shoot scenes depending on the final score.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Steve Rogers wants to join the army during World War 2, but can't pass his physicals. He is then chosen for Project Rebirth, which will turn someone into a super soldier, strengthening them physically and mentally. The experiment works and Steve becomes a mascot for the war front under the name Captain America. A group of Nazis called HYDRA realizes that this super soldier could interfere on their way to power. They capture Steve's best friend and his unit. Steve must save them from HYDRA, Red Skull, Dr.Schmidt with the help of Peggy Carter and Bucky.
Captain America Soundtrack - 18 Hydra Train
HYDRA Train
S- strings, brass, woodwinds,percussion, piano
H- woodwinds,percussion, piano
M-strings, brass
R-in 4, fast
G- 3 themes- Dynamics- moderate-loud-soft-moderate-loud-moderate
- Shape-roller coaster
- Genre- soundtrack
Citations
IMDB Staff. "Biography." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2015. Web. 3 June 2015.
Savage, Mark. "Where Are the New Movie Themes?" BBC News. BBC, 28 July 2008. Web. 05 June 2015.