Why do so many horror film scores today sound similar to The Exorcist from 1973?

How Composers Make Music Sound Scary Sound Field

Premiered May 09, 2019
How Composers Make Music Sound Scary

Why do so many horror film scores today sound similar to The Exorcist from 1973? A lot of that is thanks to Krzysztof Penderecki, a Polish composer whose music was used by director William Friedkin to score The Exorcist. Penderecki's music can be heard in the works of Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch, and has even inspired the scores of modern horror films such as Bird Box.

About the Program

Sound Field

Arthur Buckner and Linda Diaz are accomplished musicians and music teachers exploring the music theory, production, history and culture behind our favorite songs and musical styles.

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