Sound of Cinema

Matthew Sweet proves there's more to movies and mathematics than Superman 1, 2, 3 etc with a selection of film music sharing the theme of The Zero Theorem, this week's big release. Terry Gilliam's new film is inspired by the power of mathematics to change the world, with a new score by George Fenton. Matthew considers the film and its music and looks at other film scores inspired by number-crunchi...

Matthew Sweet on film music written for the sword and sandal movie world of Ancient Greece, prompted by this week's featured new release "300: Rise of an Empire". The new film has been scored by Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL). Matthew also highlights scores by Bernard Herrmann, Laurence Rosenthal, and James Horner, among others, from films such as "Clash of The Titans"; "Troy"; "Immortals" and "Ja...

Matthew Sweet introduces a selection of film music inspired by books in the light of this week's featured new release - "The Book Thief", featuring a new score by John Williams. The classic score of the week is Bernard Herrmann's "Fahrenheit 451" and the programme also features music by Nico Muhly, James Horner, Thomas Newman and Joseph LoDuca. #soundofcinema.

On the eve of the announcement of the 2014 BAFTA Film Awards, Matthew Sweet looks back on music from some of the prize-winning films across the 44 year history of the Best Score Category. From John Barry's 1968 score for The Lion In Winter, to Thomas Newman's 2013 music for the James Bond movie Skyfall. #soundofcinema (See also "Saturday Classics with Ella Spira" 1400-1600).

Matthew Sweet introduces a selection of film music inspired by 19th-century women alongside this week's featured new release, "The Invisible Woman" - about Charles Dickens's relationship with the actress Nelly Ternan. The programme features an interview with the composer , Ilan Eshkeri, and looks back at some of his past work, including "Stardust", "Coriolanus" and "The Ring of the Nibelungs". Oth...

Matthew Sweet introduces a selection of film music about war and military action behind enemy lines - inspired by this week's featured new release - Peter Berg's "The Lone Survivor", which has a new score by Steve Jablonsky, which will feature in the programme. The classic score of the week is Ron Goodwin's "Where Eagles Dare"; and Matthew also focuses on scores by Maurice Jarre; Anthony Collins,...

Matthew Sweet introduces film scores on the subject of money by Max Steiner, Ernest Gold and others, and profiles the music for the new cinema release from Martin Scorsese, "The Wolf of Wall Street". "There's nothing quite as wonderful as money on the this week's Sound Of Cinema - except of course when it's dirty, filthy, stolen and the root of all evil." The programme features music from - amongs...

This week's featured release is "Mandela:The Long Walk to Freedom", Matthew Sweet features the new score by Alex Heffes and looks at music inspired by other films about prisoners.

In the light of the second instalment of Peter Jackson's Tolkien-inspired Hobbit trilogy - "The Desolation of Smaug" - which is launched on Friday, Matthew Sweet focuses on music inspired by fantasy, myth and adventure. Including music by Howard Shore written for Jackson's Tolkien films.

Matthew Sweet introduces a selection of film scores inspired by the master of horror, fantasy and suspense - Stephen King, in the light of this week's featured new release, Kimberly Peirce's version of "Carrie". The new film includes a score by Marco Beltrami, who was Oscar nominated for his music for "The Hurt Locker". The programme offers the opportunity to hear part of his new score for "Carrie...

Matthew Sweet looks back at scores from the films of the distinguished British director Sir Ridley Scott whose new film "The Counsellor" is released this week. Ridley Scott's wide ranging output includes The Duellists, Alien, Bladerunner, Legend, Thelma and Louise, 1492 - Conquest of Paradise, Heaven of Heaven, Hannibal, GI Jane, Prometheus, Robin Hood, Gladiator and he's collaborated with some of...

Matthew Sweet introduces music from this week's featured new release, Alfonso Cuarón's space adventure "Gravity", with music by Steven Price. This week's theme looks at film scores created for films about exploration and adventure - at the edge. #soundofcinema.

Matthew Sweet looks at music inspired by the theme of lost children prompted by this week's new release, Stephen Frears's "Philomena", with music by Alexandre Desplat. "Philomena" won Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope the Best Screenplay award at the 70th Venice Film Festival, and Dame Judy Dench's central performance has been widely tipped for a best-actress award. The film is a moving account of a moth...

Matthew Sweet captures the action packed world of the thriller including film music inspired by hijacking, the subject of this week's featured new film release, Captain Phillips. Captain Phillips is a biopic directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks recalling the story of Captain Richard Phillips who was taken hostage by Somali Pirates during the Maersk Alabama hijacking in 2009. Matthew...

Matthew Sweet takes Carter Burwell's score for the new release, "The Fifth Estate", and profiles music for films reflecting journalism, from Citizen Kane to Frost/Nixon. The Fifth Estate is Bill Condon's new drama based on the WikiLeaks story, with music by Carter Burwell. Matthew Sweet looks back at some of the great film scores created for movies inspired by the world of journalists and journali...

Matthew Sweet's weekly celebration of film music looks at scores inspired by our relationship with the sea, including this week's new release, Paul Wright's "For Those In Peril". "For Those In Peril" attracted a lot of acclaim at its premiere during this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. It goes on general release this week. Writer and Director, Paul Wright, says of it: "I remember whe...

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand introduces the music Franz Waxman wrote for Billy Wilder's dark satire, Sunset Boulevard.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand looks at composer Arthur Honegger's work, Pacific 231, and its use in Jean Mitry's 1949 film of the same name.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand introduces Aaron Copland's score for the film The Heiress.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand looks at the music Patrick Doyle wrote for Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film Henry V.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand introduces composer John Williams' Close Encounters Suite

As part of BBC Sound of Cinema, Neil Brand looks at the music Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote for the film Scott of the Antarctic.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand looks at George Gershwin's music in the film An American in Paris.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand introduces Mikloas Rosza’s Violin Concerto - the work he later adapted for The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.

As part of the BBC Sound of Cinema season, Neil Brand looks at William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, taken from his score for The First of the Few.