Psycho

Music by Bernard Herrmann

 

 

 

 

 

Intentionally annoying in creating musical tension, the music of Psycho (1960) is one of the most famous works of Bernard Herrmann. The murder scene in the shower and the "stabbing" sounds of violins (the most famous stinger in history) are inseparable part of cinema folklore.

The starting point for the composer was that the score should correspond musically to the black and white photography. So the score was created for strings and only strigs. The limitation of ways, however, did not meant creative limitation and among numerous musical effects of timbre and rhythmic, the soundtrack adds to the classic shower scene – originally planned without music for Hitchcock and set to sound at the insistence of Herrmann – other great moments that also become suspense reference as the creeping motifs of Madhouse (later used in Taxi Driver). Repetitive and menacing as in the talk to Norman (the track Madhouse), the soundtrack only include new musical material when Lyla (Vera Miles) investigates the old house and the room Mrs. Bates (The Bedroom). With constant suspense breathing and passages that really seem to be getting out of the darkest basements, Psycho possibly is the high of Herrmann´s creations because of its efficiency and synthesis. It is also a unique listening experience as a film soundtrack or just as a musical work. The edition of label Unicorn brings the full original recording (58 minutes) and the soundtrack is also available in a new recording released by Varese Sarabande.

Psycho   1960

Bernard Herrmann

58 min.

Unicorn Kanchana