FEMALE FILM COMPOSERS (Part 2)
Part 2: SCL Members on Radio FEMALE FILM COMPOSERS
re: Samm Brown’s FOR THE RECORD Sunday, Nov. 23, 2003
SUNDAY NIGHT’S SUBJECT: FEMALE FILM COMPOSERS (Part 2)
FROM SAM BROWN: Last week, we began the first in a series of reports on female film composers. Evidently, we struck a chord with our KPFK listeners. This show (with Shirley Walker, Sharon Farber and Aiko Fukushima) received more congratulatory emails, than any show we’ve done in the past 8 years! In the midst of all these kudos, I had to remind myself that it took us 8 years to getting around to doing it — and that’s nothing to write home about. But we shall endeavor to make up for it with another one this week with Emmy Award winner, Laura Karpman; 2 time Emmy Award nominee Nan Schwartz; and 2002 Jazz Instrumentalist Award Winner/AF of M Trustee Bonnie Ruth Janofsky. And there’ll be more in the near future.
It should be mentioned here that we are not blaming anyone for the lack of major media or studio exposure — as the women are quick to point out, male film composers have been their most solid supporters and some have even been mentors. On the other hand, it should also be noted that women composers have as far back as Anne Boleyne, (yes that Anne “Of A Thousand Days” Boleyne), not received the same notoriety or assignment/commission opportunities as their male composing counterparts.
We can only hope that the Nightline’s, Dateline’s, 20/20’s, Primetime’s, etc. will also begin to join us in bringing these fabulous female film composers to the attention of the public.
Do hope you will join us for what will be a very stimulating and informative discussion regarding our American music business.
Samm Brown, Composer/Host of Samm Brown’s FOR THE RECORD
Show time is 10 pm, PST, on KPFK 90.7 fm in Los Angeles. As always we will also have open phones (818-985-5735).
If you’d like to receive a weekly notice as to the subject of our broadcast, drop us a line at: sbrownkpfk@aol.com.
If you’re out of state you can hear the show by streaming from the stations website. Click here: KPFK 90.7fm – Most of Southern California; 98.7fm Santa BarbaraCounty
You can also stream us live via modem by going to http://www.kpfk.org and clicking on “Listen Live” at the top of the page. You’ll need RealPlayer Basic, which can be downloaded free from the site. Or you can click on “programs,” scroll down to FOR THE RECORD; click on it and then click on “listen live.” Get there early as some of you have complained about not being able to log on to do an overfilled buffer. I’ve been advised that the server can only service 100 streams at a time.
Samm Brown’s FOR THE RECORD Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003
Part One: TONIGHT’S SUBJECT: FEMALE FILM COMPOSERS
Question. What do composers Aaron Copland, Quincy Jones, Hugo Friedhofer, Philip Glass, Elliot Carter, and Virgil Thompson all have in common? Answer. The French composer, conductor, and principal teacher of all the aforementioned composing icons — Madame Nadia Boulanger.
If you never heard of her — don’t feel too culturally challenged. Most Americans outside of the classical or film music industry haven’t an idea who she is either. In fact more people know who Eminem is, than know who Nadia Boulanger, arguably the most influential 20th century figure in classical/film music is.
I mention that only to underscore the premise of our Sunday night show. Now that we’re on the subject of film music, do you know who John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Quincy Jones, Hans Zimmer, and Lalo Shiffrin are? Of course you do. How about Shirley Walker, Laura Karpman, Rachel Portman, Anne Dudley, Nan Schwartz, Sharon Farber and Aiko Fukushima and Bonnie Janofsky? You probably don’t.
Obviously, the former group are all male, and the later are all female, both groups highly regarded among their peers as film composers. Which begs the question, why have you heard about the males and not the females?
This Sunday and next, we begin the first of several in a series of reports on female film composers. You’ll be meeting Shirley, Sharon and Aiko, whose first names we can only hope will soon begin to resonate a little louder in the consciousness of American film goers, as does John, Jerry, Quincy, Hans, and Lalo.
From Samm Brown, Host of Samm Brown’s FOR THE RECORD
Show time is 10 pm, PST, on KPFK 90.7 fm in Los Angeles. Open phones (818) 985-5735.
If you’d like to receive a weekly notice as to the subject of Samm’s broadcast, send an email to: sbrownkpfk@aol.com
If you’re out of state you can hear the show by streaming from the stations website: kpfk.org
You can also stream live via modem by going to http://www.kpfk.org and clicking on “Listen Live” at the top of the page. You’ll need RealPlayer Basic, which can be downloaded free from the site. Or you can click on “programs,” scroll down to FOR THE RECORD; click on it and then click on “listen live.”