[Thor Joachim Haga]

There is a specific sub category of this discussion that has always fascinated me – scores that merge with classical music in one form or another. I was reminded of this issue now, while listening to Stefano Lentini’s recent BELCANTO.

For example, it can be a composer doing straight-up pastiche of an old classical period, even if the compositions themselves are original. An example would be James Newton Howard’s wonderful RESTORATION.

Or it can be films that utilize several existing classical pieces, around which the composer writes his own music. An example would be THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, with Fenton’s music circling the Händel.

Sometimes, the original music is more contemporary in style. There are cues in both RESTORATION and THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE that are more contemporary-sounding, for example. But the main gist of the score is that film music/classical merger.

What are some other examples you can think of?