National Film Score Day: Celebrating Cinema’s Musical Magic
A celebration dedicated to the art of film scoring and the talented composers who create the memorable musical accompaniments that enhance our movie-watching experiences.
Quick Facts
- When is it?: April 3rd annually
- Tagged as: Film & Television, Music & Sound
- What’s the hashtag?: #NationalFilmScoreDay
- When was it founded?: March 20th, 2018
- Who founded it?: Jeffrey D. Kern
History
The day commemorates the release of “The Jungle Book” on April 3rd, 1942, which marked a significant milestone as its score became the first non-musical film soundtrack to be commercially released. The legendary composer Miklós Rózsa created this groundbreaking orchestral score.
Timeline
1895: Lumière brothers hire first film pianist
1942: The Jungle Book releases with first commercial film score
1975: John Williams creates iconic Jaws theme
2018: National Film Score Day established
Dates for Next Year
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 3 | Thursday |
| 2026 | April 3 | Friday |
| 2027 | April 3 | Saturday |
| 2028 | April 3 | Monday |
| 2029 | April 3 | Tuesday |
Observed
Celebrated annually on April 3rd since 2018 worldwide by film enthusiasts, musicians, and cinema lovers.
Fun Facts About Film Scores
- The Jungle Book’s soundtrack was the first non-musical film score released commercially
- Star Wars’ iconic theme is considered one of the most recognizable film scores ever
- Many modern composers started in rock bands before moving to film scoring
- Film scores are often recorded before the movie is fully edited
Quiz
- When was the first film score commercially released?
- Who composed The Jungle Book’s original score?
- What year was National Film Score Day founded?
(Answers: 1943, Miklós Rózsa, 2018)
FAQs
Q: What is a film score?
A: Instrumental music composed specifically for a film to enhance its emotional impact.
Q: How is it different from a soundtrack?
A: Film scores are instrumental pieces, while soundtracks can include popular songs with lyrics.
Importance of Film Scores
Film scores serve as the emotional backbone of movies, enhancing viewer experience by setting moods, emphasizing dramatic moments, and creating memorable themes that become synonymous with the films themselves.
Related
- Academy Award for Best Original Score
- World Music Day
- National Composer Day
- International Film Day
- Sound in Film Day