The incidental music in films are often written off as mere background music, yet any aficionado of movie music knows that that is not the case. At their best, film composers are among the most important contemporary instrumental composers in modern music, and even at its worst -- many critics dismiss the sweeter, melodic work as saccharine and commercial --

The incidental music in films are often written off as mere background music, yet any aficionado of movie music knows that that is not the case. At their best, film composers are among the most important contemporary instrumental composers in modern music, and even at its worst -- many critics dismiss the sweeter, melodic work as saccharine and commercial -- film music can be pleasant mood music that is as soothing as easy listening. Film music is either released as complete scores or as collections spotlighting individual composers, such as Bernard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone or Nina Rota.