Karl Miller wrote:

>From my own perspective, using classical music as a background is risky
>since the music will often be too distinctive to be subordinate to the
>drama.  For me the mark of good incidental music is the sort which you
>don't remember after the show, but when you listen to it outside the
>theater you find it has value on its own.

Makes excellent sense.  To achieve what Karl Miller would have you aim at,
it would help to have the music composed to fit the primary vehicle--be
it drama or film.  The composer should not attempt to contrast his music
with the main vehicle, but try for color and mood in consonance with what
is being shown.  In contrast, well-known classical music works better
when cast as the primary vehicle, and is written into (eg Fantasia,
which admittedly involves "writing" only in a broad sense of the term).
Prokoviev's Dance of the Knights is delicious farcical music but is so
strong of character and so broad of reknown that it should be cast in the
leading role and rely on the rest to lend synergy.

Denis Fodor                     Internet:[log in to unmask]