Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Music in a silly movie

In previous rants, I complained about how the legal profession, supporting the recording and movie industries, is damaging art: limiting internet streamed music to tracks, desecrating music by stopping the composers intent.

Last night I was watching a silly 1994 Coen brothers' movie "The Hudsucker Proxy" on my Roku. The background music often was from ballets by Aram Khachaturian. The romantic theme was the luscious "Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia" and at another point I believe they were using "the dance of Gaditanae", both from his "Spartacus". There were other clear quotes from "Gayane" -- the famous sabre dance.

What bothers me is the the lawyers want music to be protected and its use restricted and controlled. However, what's good for the goose isn't apparently good for the gander. As I watched the credits flash by there was only a passing reference to "Themes by Aram Khatchaturian". I guess that's the best creative types can come to giving someone else credit for art. The creator of "themes" is equivalent to a driver, key grip, associate executive assistant or dresser.