Are you a film music missionary?
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I’ve broached this topic in the “origin” thread, and it’s been brought up in the “codger” thread as well, but it deserves its own, really. I’ve always found it super interesting.
Firstly, have you ever been influenced by your parents, siblings, friends, whoever, in terms of your musical taste? And especially film music?
Secondly, have YOU ever influenced, or tried to influence others regarding the virtues of our wacky music interest? Family, friends, colleagues? Have you made someone else catch the film music bug, ever?
Firstly, have you ever been influenced by your parents, siblings, friends, whoever, in terms of your musical taste? And especially film music?
Yes, as documented on thte “Origins” topic.
Secondly, have YOU ever influenced, or tried to influence others regarding the virtues of our wacky music interest? Family, friends, colleagues? Have you made someone else catch the film music bug, ever?
Yes, but never really could “convert” anyone. Some had some interest but only among other music tastes.
I always found it interesting to learn what other people connects with or excites about any music, especially music that I don’t have on my radar. My wife has more or less an opposite musical taste than me. But I understand how musical taste and experience connects with her personality. Therefore I am always interested and happy when she shares something with me. This way we managed to develop some overlabs.
She joint me for concerts of film music or my pop heroes and I join her for concerts of traditional or modern oriental or Bulgarian music.Apart from that I have no ambition to missionair anyone. I listen to my music. If that catches someone’s interest and they ask about it, fine. I will answer. But usually nobody asks. I might give recommendations in film music forums. But that’s about it.
One more thing. When people asked me about the music I listened to, I often misunderstood it as an interest in the music. But mostly people were interested in me and wanted to understand what I like about it and why. But that’s the same for me.
I don’t try to missonair anyone but I try to make them aware of film music. Everyone know about my preferences 😉
But usually nobody asks.
Indeed, it rarely happens. Although some weeks ago I was asked about Alan Silvestri by my nephew and his mother and was a bit surprised that they even knew his name 😉
I identify as 100%, full-on, unflinching missionary, there’s no getting around it. This site wouldn’t exist if I weren’t. But I don’t shove it down people’s throats; there needs to be some curiousity to build on.
But I wonder if many of us are “unwitting” missionairies, as you both allude to. Meaning that if you’re asked about it, you answer and maybe sow a seed. If it’s a passing remark you make, it’s picked up by someone and it sows a seed. Or if they’re merely aware of your interest, they might seek it out and sow a seed (“Hey, if my friend likes this, I should at the very least investigate what it’s about!”).
One more thing. As I said, I am rather reserved when it comes to talking people into my favourite music. But I also think, I feel rather tempted to talk people out off stuff which I find really bad.
Firstly, have you ever been influenced by your parents, siblings, friends, whoever, in terms of your musical taste? And especially film music?
Yes, I have been.
Secondly, have YOU ever influenced, or tried to influence others regarding the virtues of our wacky music interest?
Yes, I have.
Family, friends, colleagues?
All of those.
Have you made someone else catch the film music bug, ever?
Yes, I have.
I haven’t been influenced much by family and friends much, certainly not for film music. My dad wanted me to buy Jean Michel Jarre’s first Oxygene single (he didn’t buy music much). And that got me into his music.
I tried to get family and friends interested when I first got into it but there was little interest. People just thought it a bit weird. That’s why my film music is very personal to me. I listen on headphones, or wait until I have the house to myself. I always listen alone. Which is why I enjoy zoom meeting with fellow film music listeners.
One more thing. As I said, I am rather reserved when it comes to talking people into my favourite music. But I also think, I feel rather tempted to talk people out off stuff which I find really bad.
Interesting, I’ve never had that inclination. If someone tells me they’re interested in a type of music I don’t like (let’s say certain types of modern hip hop, country music, 90s indiepop/grunge or certain types of contemporary teen pop), I get instantly curious. VERY curious. I want to know WHY they like it, what it is about that particular music that clicks for them. And if enough people I respect say the same thing, I will probably go investigate it with curious ears. Of course, it mostly happens that I don’t like it anyway, but at least I tried.
Maybe it goes back to that ‘are you a moth or a cat?’ discussion; I’ve always been on the lookout to explore as much as I can during my life, that art and music have to offer.
Interesting, I’ve never had that inclination. If someone tells me they’re interested in a type of music I don’t like (let’s say certain types of modern hip hop, country music, 90s indiepop/grunge or certain types of contemporary teen pop), I get instantly curious. VERY curious. I want to know WHY they like it, what it is about that particular music that clicks for them. And if enough people I respect say the same thing, I will probably go investigate it with curious ears. Of course, it mostly happens that I don’t like it anyway, but at least I tried.
Maybe you got me wrong. Maybe not. For me there is a difference between music that I don’t like and music of which I think, it’s actually rubbish, an insult to any musical taste.
Let’s take my favourite example, Hans. I don’t think his music is rubbish. If people like it, fair enough. Do I think, most of his orchestral music doesn’t meet my quality standards? Yes. But the music fulfills others that I don’t care for or I even dislike. But I understand why others like it.
But pop groups like Modern Talking are terrible. And liking their music is… in need of help.Other example. When people claim, they like the melody of a particular song and I know from where it was actually stolen I feel the urge to clarify that.
I think I’m more of a film music rebel in my world.
My interests have often been at odds with everyone around me, certainly my family (when they were alive). My parents were fans of classical music, which I grew up with, but almost no one else around me had an interest in symphonic music of any kind, let alone music that is not pop or metal. Even the few people I know who do like film music seem interested in one thing (typically an obsession with John Williams), then I am usually somewhere else in my interest. Perhaps that’s because I tend to get excited about something and study what I listen to. Not quite in a scholarly way, but as a science-y need to understand how things work, as well as admiring the beauty of it. I wonder if I could do that…
Now, I am very blessed to have a partner who is happy to share an enjoyment of the music I select, and often comes up with new things herself. She is the first person to really not despise and derive my choices lol. We have since been to several concerts of film composers and look forward to new ones.
BTW, my inspirational starter moment was Jerry Goldsmith’s Star Trek: the Motion Picture (not really Star Wars, which was familiar being closer to things like Rimsky Korsakov that I had grown up with).
Maybe you got me wrong. Maybe not. For me there is a difference between music that I don’t like and music of which I think, it’s actually rubbish, an insult to any musical taste.
Let’s take my favourite example, Hans. I don’t think his music is rubbish. If people like it, fair enough. Do I think, most of his orchestral music doesn’t meet my quality standards? Yes. But the music fulfills others that I don’t care for or I even dislike. But I understand why others like it.
But pop groups like Modern Talking are terrible. And liking their music is… in need of help.It probably will not surprise you that I like quite a bit of Modern Talking. 😀
Of course, since it’s difficult to agree on ‘objective’ criteria as to what constitutes good or bad music (I’m not saying it’s impossible — see this thread — it’s just difficult), I’ve always found it more useful to try and understand what it is someone finds appealing with a piece of music. I’m also a big supporter in evaluating music on its own terms (for example, I wouldn’t judge Zimmer by traditional orchestral standards, as that’s not what he’s about).
I’m also a big fan of TAILORING my suggestions when I do missionary activity out “in the field”. That is, first getting to know the person’s taste and preferences, and then fit my own suggestions into that. Otherwise, it would just slide off like water to a goose’s back or however the saying goes. In cases like these, it’s not really important what I personally like or dislike.
Other example. When people claim, they like the melody of a particular song and I know from where it was actually stolen I feel the urge to clarify that.
This one, I fully support. It’s about providing context and information, and that was always a good thing. As long as they aren’t wild stretches, like I see on so many messageboards (where people stumble upon some random similarity between two pieces, and present it to others as if they’ve discovered the atom; some revelatory intentional connection where there is none).
I think, usually film music fans don’t expect much resonance from their non-film music environment on their taste.
But within the film music fan community it is different. There appears from time to time a vital competition around who has the better musical taste. So, within that community some not just missionaries but even crusaders seem to be at battle.Oh, definitely. It’s fascinating to behold — everything is usually so black/white in those “battles”.
I’m rather reductionistic at times, I believe complex things can and should be understood by breaking them down into their simpler parts. So I take a look at the most basic components.
When it comes to music, it’s quite interesting. No one really even knows why some people enjoy music so greatly, others don’t. Basically all cultures have some kind of music, though Western Classical music is rather unique (and learned), as you can write hour long compositions with precision that allows a hundred musicians, singers, etc. to coordinate exactly what they are doing and when. But since the music is quite sophisticated, it seems the appreciation of that music is something that may be at least partially “learned”.
Anyway, why do people listen to music? Lots of reason, of course, but they basically all come to to one thing: because they enjoy it. So basically, music is there to be enjoyed.
So I have a guiding principle I find often “true”: if there are two people arguing about the value or worth of a piece of music, one who enjoys it, the other does not, I tend to think the one who enjoys it is “right”, because that’s what the music is for. If I don’t enjoy a piece of music (and obviously, there’s a ton of music I don’t enjoy at all), well, that piece of music may just not be for me, if someone else enjoys it, well, good for them. That’s a bit how I think about these things.
I got a lot more forgiving of musical genres than I was in my younger days. I couldn’t stand Hip Hop/Rap at all. Nowadays I do like some. As in every genre there is good and bad. Or to follow Nick here direclty. Some is not for me but for others.
Oh, definitely. It’s fascinating to behold — everything is usually so black/white in those “battles”.
Yeah, somehow often die hard fans of something can’t “tolerate” if anyone is not into it that much.
Oh Lord, no. My family liked adult contemporary pop music and white people’s Jazz. I was the only one with an interest in classical (by-way-of film music).
I had a running group text a few years ago with a couple of family members going through John Williams scores a track at a time. I would highlight important musical moments with timestamps (thanks music school!), and provide examples of various pieces of note that probably inspired the sonic language being used in the cue. It was a fun time. A bunch of stuff happened that made it stop, but I’ve contemplated starting it up again.
I can’t seem to get the block quote to work right. Is there a trick to it?
I can’t seem to get the block quote to work right. Is there a trick to it?
Check out the “Forum Feedback” thread on top, and the first post there, for a “How To”.
Speaking of “unwitting” missionaries earlier, my dad was definitely one of those, as I recounted in the “origin” thread. A lot of the music he owned and taped and donated to me became my first real passion, and then I built on that myself.
Alas, I never really managed to influence him back. I mean, I gave him some CDs (mostly compilations and mixedtapes) that he could play in his car or whatever, but nothing really made an impact. He’s open to film music, but he’s not converted.
My mother and sister never had the potential for conversion.
I tried with my little brother (some 10 years younger than me), and it worked a little bit. He became aware of certain big name composers via me, and even had a folder on our family’s computer with a few files by the likes of Zimmer, Poledouris, Horner, Williams. But he was never really interested in music (he’s a “drier” person than me).
Similarly, none of my childhood friends have had the potential, so at most they’re aware of some names like Williams and Zimmer.
There have been more opportunities with my colleagues (film critics and the like), but no massive conversion into film music geekdom.
As I alluded to earlier, I always make sure to chart the person’s music interest, or their relationship to film music as such, before I even try any missionarity activities. But these days, it’s a more laidback attitude. I post about things on this site, or chat about things publically, but my energy for active conversion is mostly lost.
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