New Opportunities in Film: Korngold and Warner Bros.

Abstract

This chapter sketches an overview of Erich Korngold's film output that draws attention to the variety of scenarios for which he provided music. It also discusses the kinds of musical gestures and techniques he used to help him meet their dramatic demands. In many ways these techniques represent a significant expansion from the range demonstrated by his operatic output; in that sense Korngold's Hollywood career was not a regression from the culturally engaged world of opera but represented an opportunity to develop his gifts as a musical dramatist. After a brief summary of Korngold's working practices, the chapter explores the sound of his scores—including his use of particular orchestral colors—and his ability to score a variety of narrative scenarios. It then outlines some aspects of his approach to scoring, including his thematic technique.