From the Library: Movie Magic!

Today's programme in our series From the Library features primarily instrumental film music from movies released in the 1930s onwards. The earliest film score represented is probably Sir Arthur Bliss's stunning music for the film adaptation of HG Wells' Things To Come, arguably one of the best science fiction films ever made, despite being very much of its era. Indeed, you'll hear a fair amount of music from SF movies today.

From the Thirties and Forties we also present music by British film music composers such as William Alwyn and Richard Addinsell, and there are contributions from William Walton. American composers are also represented, including Steiner, Silvestri, Mancini and Goldsmith. You'll encounter quite a wealth of John Williams today too, from Star Wars to Harry Potter, and in addition we'll be featuring pieces of classical music that have played a vital role in the movies.

You may also spot music from the film The Battle of Britain (poster, above left): both the original William Walton score and Ron Goodwin's music that was finally used. There are plenty of other examples from both composers, too.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now at http://loudcity.com/stations/radio-riel/tune_in. Outside the United States you can tune in on  http://main.radioriel.org or click here to link straight to your player if your browser is set up to do so. Today's programme is presented by Elrik Merlin.

For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world.


• Edward Pearse is on vacation.