I have always enjoyed musicals, film scores, and themes for TV shows.

For anyone who likes Fred Astaire, Astaire Dancing: the Musical Films, by John Mueller is a treasure! The music and choreography are discussed in some detail that includes sequential photos of the dances. I like to pull this book of the shelf when I watch an old Astaire movie. :-)

For more on the old musicals, there's The Melody Lingers On: the Great Songwriters and Their Movie Musicals, by Roy Heming. Each entry includes a brief biography, how the songwriter liked to work, and a listing of his (or her) works. Lots of nice photos, too.

In the past, when there was just the one high school, (and an amazing auditorium) there was a musical performed every year. It comes as no surprise then, (well, at least to me) that I got hooked. Rodgers and Hammerstein by Ethan Mordden .... the dances, the costumes, the orchestrations (Robert Russell Bennet is my favorite) .... Broadway and movie versions, playbills, rehearsal shots .... I love this book!!

George Perry did a wonderful job with The Complete Phantom of the Opera. Mostly about the musical (including the libretto) by Andrew Lloyd Webber, there are also chapters on the origin of the story, and early versions of it (including the one with Lon Chaney). There are sketches of early set designs and costumes for the Lloyd Webber production, who staged it, and how they made the chandelier fall. (Every night for thousands of performances).

For a chance to play and/or sing along, try The Big Book of TV Theme Songs: 78 of the All Time Greats (well, up to 1999). Fun, that's it, just fun!

And finally, MusicHound: Soundtracks: the Essential Album Guide to Film, Television and Stage Music, by Didier C. Deutsch. This is the guide to soundtracks of all kinds (musicals, TV shows, movie scores), books and magazines on the subject, composers and so on. There is a nice, short entry about the music, and a few photos.

One of my favorite quotes about music is from Aaron Copland, and has to do with movie music: "Film music is like a small lamp that you place below the screen to warm it."

Reading Hermit With Dog