National Film Score Day

National Film Score Day is celebrated annually on April 3^rd to recognize musical masterpieces known as "Movie Scores" and more specifically the talented composers who created them.

As the opening scenes of a long-awaited movie begin to flicker across the screen, a high tempo undulating through the theater aggravates your mood. One note plays, then two notes. Soon the theater would fill up with beautiful layered orchestral musical compositions. This accompaniment to the movie you are watching is called “Movie Score”.

Imagine your favorite movie without a few proper notes elevating the emotion of a dramatic on-screen exchange. Or a chase scene without the vibrant orchestral music raising the bar. Would the Star Wars, Jaws, The Lord of the Rings, or the Harry Potter movies will be the same if there is no their complementary musical scores. Without movie scores, wouldn't it be easy for us to cower in fear from our seats? Should our imaginations be so eagerly suspended from reality? Music elevates emotions and pays our attention. Without a doubt, the movie score is the fiery soul of a movie.

We quickly recognize our favorite films from throughout cinematic history with just a few notes in the film's orchestra. Longtime classics and modern blockbusters call to us when we listen to Movie Scores we love the most. Regardless of years or decades, those chords often evoke indelible memories. Besides, every new movie released will have a great musical artwork created by a talented composer. Plus, each film evokes a new set of lasting cinematic memories.

History of National Film Score Day

Jeffrey D. Kern from Movie Scores and More Radio established National Film Score Day to celebrate and highlight the tireless achievements of talented composers. The day also honors their precious musical works that have brought so much joy to audiences around the globe!

Why April 3?

April 3^rd, 1942 is the time that The Jungle Book film of Alexander Korda was released by United Artists. The orchestral score was created by the legendary composer, Miklós Rózsa. A year later, they published a recording of the entire soundtrack in a 78 rpm recording album with narration by Sabu, the film's star. The Jungle Book soundtrack became the first commercial recording of non-US orchestral music ever released. The album experienced phenomenal success.

On April 3, National Film Score Day celebrates the release of the first commercial recording of a non-music by US orchestra. The original The Jungle Book premiered in 1942!

Celebrating National Film Score Day

Decades of successful composers from Miklós Rózsa, Shirley Walker, Bernard Herrmann, and Leonard Bernstein to John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Rachel Portman, and Michael Giacchino - hundreds of which are nameless - have created great works work for a lifetime.

Share with us your most memorable movie moments. Is that John Williams' highest movie score for Star Wars and Harry Potter? Is the music of Jerry Goldsmith for Rudy, Alien, Hoosiers or Star Trek? Does James Horner's Score separted for Titanic or Field of Dreams?

Do not forget using the hashtag #NationalFilmScoreDay to share your favorite musical memories on social media.