I feel that music on the screen can seek out and intensify the inner thoughts of the characters. It can invest a scene with terror, grandeur, gaiety, or misery. It can propel narrative switftly forward, or slow it down. It often lifts mere dialogue into the realm of poetry.

As a composer I might class myself as a Neo-Romantic, inasmuch as I have always regarded music as a highly personal and emotional form of expression.
BERNARD HERRMANN

Class Composer Highly might Personal Romantic
Although I am in sympathy with modern idioms, I abhor music which attempts nothing more than the illustration of a stylistic fad. And in using modern techniques,
BERNARD HERRMANN

Attempt Idioms Illustration Modern Nothing Technique
Your views are as narrow as your tie.
BERNARD HERRMANN

Narrow Ties Views
I feel that music on the screen can seek out and intensify the inner thoughts of the characters. It can invest a scene with terror, grandeur, gaiety, or misery. It can propel narrative switftly forward, or slow it down. It often lifts mere dialogue into the realm of poetry.
BERNARD HERRMANN

Character Inspirational Music
Finally, it is the communicating link between the screen and the audience, reaching out and enveloping all into one single experience.
BERNARD HERRMANN

Audience Communicating Enveloping Experience Reaching Screen
I like to write music which takes its inspiration from poetry, art and nature. I do not care for purely decorative music.
BERNARD HERRMANN

Art Decorative Inspiration Music Nature Purity Sympathy

More Bernard Herrmann Quotes