Tom Service discovers the power of using pre-existing classical music in films.

Tom Service discovers the mighty musical power of needle drop – the use of pre-existing music in film soundtracks.

From 2001: A Space Odyssey to Barbie, from The Shining to Maestro, Tom listens in to some of the most iconic film scenes using needle-dropped classical music. He explores how directors harness the resonance and meanings of a piece of music to enrich the film’s storytelling, and how a successful fusion of sound and image can leave such a deep impression in viewers’ minds that music and film become inextricably entwined in popular consciousness.

Plus, Maggie Rodford – one of the film industry’s most sought-after music supervisors – pulls back the curtain on the processes and thinking behind choosing the right needle drop for the right scene to make the most meaningful movie.

Producer: David Fay

Source: BBC Radio 3 – The Listening Service, Needle Drop: the power of classical music in film