Music for Prime Time: A History of American Television Themes and Scoring

Music composed for television had, until recently, never been taken seriously by scholars or critics. This book is the most comprehensive history of television scoring to date, with hundreds of interviews conducted over a 35-year span and more than 450 interviews with composers, orchestrators, producers, editors, and musicians active in the field. It covers every series genre, from crime to comedy, drama to westerns, action-adventure to fantasy and sci-fi, and looks at music for animated series, news and documentary programming, TV movies and miniseries, and how music for television has evolved in the era of cable and streaming options.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 28 June 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

This book, which spans 35 years and includes hundreds of interviews, is the most comprehensive history of television scoring to date. Until recently, scholars and critics have not taken music composed for television seriously, considering it less culturally significant than commercial jingles. However, notable composers such as John Williams, Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith, and Lalo Schifrin learned and honed their craft in television before achieving great success in feature films. Oscar-winning film composers like Bernard Herrmann, Franz Waxman, and Maurice Jarre wrote hours of music for television projects, and high-profile jazz figures like Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, and Quincy Jones also contributed to TV series. Concert-hall luminaries from Aaron Copland to Leonard Bernstein, and theater writers from Jerome Moross to Richard Rodgers, penned memorable scores for TV.

Music for Prime Time is the first serious, journalistic history of music for American television. It is the result of 35 years of research and over 450 interviews with composers, orchestrators, producers, editors, and musicians active in the field. Based on an earlier book by the same author, this wide-ranging narrative not only tells the backstory of every great TV theme but also examines the many neglected and frequently underrated orchestral and jazz compositions for television dating back to the late 1940s. Covering every series genre (crime, comedy, drama, westerns, action-adventure, fantasy, and sci-fi), it also looks at music for animated series, news and documentary programming, TV movies and miniseries, and how music for television has evolved in the era of cable and streaming.

In conclusion, this book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the history of music for American television, highlighting the contributions of notable composers, orchestrators, producers, editors, and musicians. It sheds light on the overlooked and underrated orchestral and jazz compositions for television, and demonstrates how music for television has evolved in the era of cable and streaming. It is a valuable resource for music enthusiasts, scholars, and anyone interested in the cultural impact of television scoring.

Weight: 1056g
Dimension: 189 x 262 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190618308