Christopher John Curcio's Page

One might think that composing a piece of music for film would be quite simple: find the cues (points at which the music will begin/end), and have it match each particular mood - happy, sad, tense, etc. However, too often, this becomes predictable & formulaic.

Chances are, if the music is predictable, the film will follow suit and the viewer will know it. There will be few or no surprises.

For example, the music for a gripping or disturbing Horror/Thriller scene need not consist of jagged,… Continue

I recently had the opportunity to perform and produce an arrangement of, "Hard Times Come Again No More," by Stephen C. Foster, for a PBS Documentary Television Series.

Written in 1854, this gorgeous piece of music is timeless. It's truly amazing how particular songs/compositions have a longevity and pertinence that can sustain for decades.

While recording the vocals I found myself becoming immersed in the poetry of the piece. With very little thought, the music simply took over. Nothing was f… Continue

Unfortunately these days, when it comes to Films (even Documentaries), too often the music, which is needed to drive and/or support the final production, is neglected; until the very end. It's an afterthought, resulting in, quite frankly, a weak musical composition. What should have been an integral part of the filmmaking process is forced to become a formulaic, often dull and disconnected music bed.

For many years I've been a fan of PBS Television. I'm particularly drawn to the various documentaries it continues to air - produced both in-house and independently. The mere fact that POV exists is a testament to the importance and popularity of independent documentary filmmaking.

A well produced doc with music as an integral part can be just as moving and engaging as any well produced dramatic film. This is something I've experienced first hand, having written and produced music for many PBS… Continue