“Music, in performance, is a type of sculpture. The air in the performance is sculpted into something.”  Frank Zappa

How to study Henry Mancini?

I can tell you in four words.

Listen.  Watch.  Listen again.

And again.  We have listened to Mr. Mancini’s music every day, during school, for 14 weeks.  This study has given our family a new appreciation as we are discovering old Audrey Hepburn movies and other classic movies that Henry Mancini wrote and performed the scores.  This is our second composer study that ties the movies and the pieces of music together.  (The first was our study of John Williams; who incidentally I learned played the piano for Mancini.) After seeing the movies, my girls are better able to identify the songs, even those without lyrics.  [Parental Warning: The movies below I refer to are recommended for older teens.]

I was unable to find a living book on Henry Mancini, but did hear interesting things about the composer from the director of “Days of Wine and Roses”, Blake Edwards, who used Mancini for 30 of his films over the span of 35 years. He recorded a commentary on the dvd we borrowed from the library.  Mancini’s website also has a wealth of information.

Some interesting facts about Henry Mancini:

• He served our country during WWII in the air-force and the infantry. His transfer to the band unit saved his life as his originally assigned unit was wiped out in the Battle of The Bulge.
• He recorded 90 albums over several genres; pop, classical, jazz, and big band.  He performed over 600 symphonies and he authored 2 books. Mancini also wrote over 100 scores for films.
• His daughter, Monica Mancini, is a recording artist and concert performer.  She started singing in her dad’s chorus and now performs with John Williams, Josh Groban, and others.
• To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Pink Panther and to commemorate his lifetime of music achievements, he was honored by the United States Postal Service in 2004 with a stamp that bears his picture.  I wish he could have seen that! (He passed away in 1994.)

You can read more about him on the website dedicated to Henry Mancini. Click the link, ‘A Word From Henry’ and you can read a letter he wrote to a 17 year old aspiring musician.

We are all learning Mancini together.

Moon River

wasn’t my favorite until I saw the movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.  Now I have sweet memories of snuggling with my girls while watching.  There are several scenes with alcohol, smoking,  and hopelessness which provided good discussions.  Her ‘too long’ cigarette and her black dress seen at the beginning of the movie are considered iconic images of American film.  It was definitely a different time than we now live.

“All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it.” Jean Cocteau

Here is Moon River with some of the movie clips.

Do you remember this as a kid?

The Pink Panther

After listening to this dozens of times now, it has grown on me.  This TV show was before my time.

Peter Gunn

Here is a clip of the first episode.  A little harsh for the 1950’s?

Days Of Wine and Roses

The movie’s title comes from a poem written by Ernest Dowson.

It reads:

They Are Not Long – Ernest Dowson

Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam. 

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate;
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

They are not long, the days of wine and roses,
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.

The Latin at the start of the poem reads, “The shortness of life prevents us from entertaining far-off hopes” and is a quote from Horace, in the Odes (Odes 1.4.15).

I do not agree with the author.

The movie delves into alcoholism within a love story and after listening to the song for 10 weeks and then watching the movie, it gave me an entirely different feeling when I hear it now…..  heart wrenching.  This movie portrayed the consequences of drinking in a way that my kids will always remember. I read somewhere that this movie had lasting effects in helping alcoholics.

Listen to it with  the lyrics:

And then, to end on a happy note….

Raindrops Keep Falling On my Head

How can you NOT smile when you hear this?  Doesn’t it make you want to whistle? 🙂

I encourage you to study Mancini for yourself.  When in doubt, just pick up a cd of his works at the library and listen.  Note whether it is entirely instrumental or the performing artist(s) that is included.  Listen everyday as you navigate through Math or your morning routines.  I found listening to a song with lyrics and then without to be helpful.   Get Mancini’s actual performances.  We were able to loan the movies from the library as well…..For FREE.  This is the cd I purchased and used through the term.

Other great links:

Several of his over 25 Television Themes:

NBC 1984 Election Theme

Newhart Theme, The Complete version

Remington Steele Theme

The Invisible Man

Some of his film scores:

Charade is now my middle daughter’s favorite movie of all time.  It is a murder mystery that keeps you guessing.  Again, watching the movie adds memories and feelings to the piece. (Parental Guidance suggested, best for 13 and up)

The Great Mouse Detective

Mommy Dearest

Wait Until Dark (Creepy! We saw the play this summer and the movie this fall.)

The Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet

Abbott and Costello Meet The Mummy

The Creature From The Black Lagoon

Who is your favorite composer?

“Music can change the world because it can change people.” Bono