Book cover of Hearing the Movies: Music and Sound in Film History

Book description

Hearing the Movies, Second Edition, combines a historical and chronological approach to the study of film music and sound with an emphasis on building listening skills. Through engaging, accessible analyses and exercises, the book covers all aspects of the subject, including how a soundtrack is assembled to accompany the visual…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Hearing the Movies as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Buhler and Neumeyer’s book is the most comprehensive introduction to film music. While it is meant primarily as a course textbook, it isn’t written in dull texbook-ese; rather, it is readable and engaging.

The authors include chapters on film music history, aesthetics, and theory, drawing from a wide range of films from all over the world. Historical developments and theoretical concepts are described with detailed close readings of various film scenes so that even the tricker ideas are easy to follow through the examples.

The authors will get you interested in all sorts of films you probably weren’t familiar with…

From Gregory's list on film music.

If you love Hearing the Movies...

Ad

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Want books like Hearing the Movies?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Hearing the Movies.

Browse books like Hearing the Movies

Book cover of Music by Max Steiner: The Epic Life of Hollywood's Most Influential Composer
Book cover of Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen
Book cover of Hollywood Harmony: Musical Wonder and the Sound of Cinema

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,210

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Hearing the Movies, you might also like...

Book cover of Old Man Country

Old Man Country by Thomas R. Cole,

This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.

In these and other intimate conversations, the book…

Book cover of Lane and the Inventor

Lane and the Inventor by Amy Q. Barker,

A grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn, sweet-and-steamy romance set in wild and beautiful small-town Colorado. Lane Gravers is a wanderer, adventurer, yoga instructor, and social butterfly when she meets reserved, quiet, pensive Logan Hickory, a loner inventor with a painful past.

Dive into this small-town, steamy romance between two opposites who find love…

5 book lists we think you will like!