Correct. Although it did have a complete savaging by critics, who cited it as 'nasty' and 'disgusting'. Then, these frauds all changed their minds in the 70s and altered those reviews, hailing it now as a 'masterpiece'.
Unbelievable.. absolutely incredible I really can't believe you've put this together. I'm truly grateful good luck to all our future aspiring composers, musicians, dreamers! May we keep getting these types of series. Perhaps a Twilight Zone breakdown of the score? 😎🧠
Since I first saw the movie in the late 70s, I noticed and have always been fascinated with how Herrmann used inversion of lines. Inversion plus layering gives amazing results when done by a genius. Rachmaninoff did the same thing. Most amazing is how Herrmann could write such carefully detailed music in such a short time, plus write the individual instrument parts himself. He looked down on any composer who had someone else do the arranging and he was right because he looked at it as a complete and dedicated art form, not something to churn out for money.
Psycho was not shot for TV as the narrator suggests. Hitchcock used techniques on Psycho that he and his crews had developed on his various television programmes so that the film could be shot faster and therefore more cheaply. In its time, Psycho was one of the most shocking horror films ever made, just as Hitchcock intended. At the time it would have been unthinkable to have made such a shocker for television.
It would've been worth mentioning that actually most of the score from Psycho is re-used material from Herrmann's earlier concert work "Sinfonietta for Strings". Many cues are directly lifted from that work, and the whole harmonic language and instrumentation concept of the score is exactly the same as that piece as well. Not to diminish Herrmann's originality, but it is worth noting.
Hardly. The music was still all composed by Herrmann so your criticism is worth nothing. If he chose to insert already composed pieces into his score for 'Psycho', thus ensuring they are heard by a far greater audience then so be it. Your dismissive comment would only be warranted if Herrmann had borrowed certain themes from another's composition (like John Williams did for 'Star Wars'). As Herrmann was stealing from himself there is no cause for any sneering or snobbery and his originality remains intact as it all came from his talented mind.
@@rnw2739 dude, what is your problem being so hostile towards me for no reason? I literally say, “not to diminish his originality”. Nowhere in my comment am I at all critical or dismissive towards Herrmann for doing this. I just stated a (factual) observation worth mentioning, since not many know this. Psycho is a masterpiece and Herrmann is one of my absolute idols, but it’s simply true that he directly lifted and reused a very large amount of Psycho’s score from his own string sinfonietta.
@@brunoantony3218 yup! As of sometime late 2022, I saw it for the first time and was found that it wasn't a horror movie so much as a good suspense film. Either way, it was a pretty good movie! 👌
Pray tell, was telling the unexpected moment in the shower scene a spoiler that could not be avoided? There will always be young music lovers not necessarily familiar with the movie.
Isn't the 'Stabbing Chord' just a Bbm with a major 7? Although not in any key (except for Bb melodic and harmonic minor), it is certainly not an unusual sound. Or is it the particular voicing with the 5th in the bass to make it the 'Hitchcock Chord'?
It was not shot for television, he used his TV crew. It did not have a shaky beginning at the box office, it was an instant hit.
Correct. Although it did have a complete savaging by critics, who cited it as 'nasty' and 'disgusting'. Then, these frauds all changed their minds in the 70s and altered those reviews, hailing it now as a 'masterpiece'.
@@rnw2739it got lots of good reviews on release
Unbelievable.. absolutely incredible I really can't believe you've put this together. I'm truly grateful good luck to all our future aspiring composers, musicians, dreamers!
May we keep getting these types of series. Perhaps a Twilight Zone breakdown of the score? 😎🧠
I'm not familiar with the course this is designed for, but I really appreciate the upload and the thoughtful analysis! Thank you Rachel Leach and LSO!
With only a month left until the exam, this has been very helpful revision. Thank you!
Best of luck!
Thank you for this fascinating insight into the great film score.
I've always loved the score to Psycho, and this breakdown shows beautifully why it's so effective. Thank you so much for putting this up.
Every time I hear the "psycho theme", I see Marion's car in the rain and the windshield wipers going back and forth.
It's fascinating how music can be part of telling the story.
"Citizen Kane" and "Vertigo": two of the best films of all time, and both have scores by Herrmann.
Well this is an absolute treat. Many thanks.
Since I first saw the movie in the late 70s, I noticed and have always been fascinated with how Herrmann used inversion of lines. Inversion plus layering gives amazing results when done by a genius. Rachmaninoff did the same thing. Most amazing is how Herrmann could write such carefully detailed music in such a short time, plus write the individual instrument parts himself. He looked down on any composer who had someone else do the arranging and he was right because he looked at it as a complete and dedicated art form, not something to churn out for money.
Host has a lot of background information mixed up. Might want to correct that.
Thank you for this fascinating study about one of best composers ever existed.
Psycho was not shot for TV as the narrator suggests. Hitchcock used techniques on Psycho that he and his crews had developed on his various television programmes so that the film could be shot faster and therefore more cheaply. In its time, Psycho was one of the most shocking horror films ever made, just as Hitchcock intended. At the time it would have been unthinkable to have made such a shocker for television.
Hitchcock didn’t use TV techniques, he used his TV show crew to save money. But Psycho is 100% cinema.
Have loved this score since i was a young teen. Super cool to see this detailed analysis. Thanks for sharing!
One classic masterpiece score for a classic masterpiece film. No words.
It would've been worth mentioning that actually most of the score from Psycho is re-used material from Herrmann's earlier concert work "Sinfonietta for Strings". Many cues are directly lifted from that work, and the whole harmonic language and instrumentation concept of the score is exactly the same as that piece as well.
Not to diminish Herrmann's originality, but it is worth noting.
Hardly. The music was still all composed by Herrmann so your criticism is worth nothing. If he chose to insert already composed pieces into his score for 'Psycho', thus ensuring they are heard by a far greater audience then so be it. Your dismissive comment would only be warranted if Herrmann had borrowed certain themes from another's composition (like John Williams did for 'Star Wars').
As Herrmann was stealing from himself there is no cause for any sneering or snobbery and his originality remains intact as it all came from his talented mind.
@@rnw2739 dude, what is your problem being so hostile towards me for no reason? I literally say, “not to diminish his originality”. Nowhere in my comment am I at all critical or dismissive towards Herrmann for doing this. I just stated a (factual) observation worth mentioning, since not many know this.
Psycho is a masterpiece and Herrmann is one of my absolute idols, but it’s simply true that he directly lifted and reused a very large amount of Psycho’s score from his own string sinfonietta.
Brilliant! So interesting and useful. Thank you.
That cello is beautiful😍
also 12:29 scared my cat LOL
The fifth note with the added lower tone that sounds 'accidental' slays
Damn! This is one expensive class. Rattle and the LSO don't come cheap.
Fantastic!! Thank you!
I've always been hesitant when it comes to watching horror movies but just from hearing this score...
I just might reconsider
So? Did you watch it?
@@brunoantony3218 yup! As of sometime late 2022, I saw it for the first time and was found that it wasn't a horror movie so much as a good suspense film. Either way, it was a pretty good movie! 👌
@@jadenlee7688 trust me, it will become a horror film in your hear gradually. And you will have dreams….
There is a way to watch Psycho as a comedy, you just have to watch to see how much the director is putting you on - for fun!
Great insights, thank you
17:09 Bravo Mauceri!!
Such a hard score to get right..good sharp edged bowing and tempi
Is this part of a series on your channel? Would love to watch them all.
notes are more powerful than words😀
9:37 Give this troll a MEDAL! 🎖
Lol.
can you please do some seminars for the AQA spec?
Pray tell, was telling the unexpected moment in the shower scene a spoiler that could not be avoided?
There will always be young music lovers not necessarily familiar with the movie.
Where does this score rank in all time masterpieces of the 20th century. Top 10?
Isn't the 'Stabbing Chord' just a Bbm with a major 7? Although not in any key (except for Bb melodic and harmonic minor), it is certainly not an unusual sound. Or is it the particular voicing with the 5th in the bass to make it the 'Hitchcock Chord'?
This all happened because when he was 3 months old... Alfred Hitchcock's mother came up to him and said "BOO".
This had to be the most dissonant score ever written for a Hollywood feature to that point.
She rather got lost in your presentation. Why can't LSO play the other parts ?
Excellent doco. Well researched, presented and expertly performed. Too bad about those useless face-masks.
It was fun to watch but it’s not well researched. On edit: well researched musically yes. But her information about the film itself is off.
Absolutely brilliant!! What a treat! Thank you thank you thank you! ♥️ Do we get a lecture on Vertigo next?!!! 😃🫶