Book Origins

Release Date: September 7, 2024

I saw The Burbs in the summer of 1989 at the movie theater. I was 13. I was an immediate fan. The hysteria in the 80s over cults, heavy metal music, horror films, and Dungeons & Dragons was ubiquitous. So, even as a young teenager, I understood Dante’s satire. And, of course, I loved the music. Looking back on the film now as an adult (roughly the same age as Hanks’ character in the movie), I have a more visceral appreciation for the homeowners portrayed in the fictional suburbia of Mayfield Place. Seeing all the thought that goes into these scores is an unintended byproduct of the engraving process. Consequently, it allows me to observe the various elements of writing music to picture, namely orchestration. For this score, Jerry chose a modest orchestra, and it seems he did this so as not to get in the way of the comedy. Even though the underscore is present for two-thirds of the film, Goldsmith adapted his orchestration style to suit the needs of the film. He trimmed the fat, so to speak. He was a master of understatement. He knew just how much music to put and where. Page after page of this score demonstrates that a simple gesture in the winds, a synth patch, or a solo violin is just enough to support the picture. In other words, less is more.