What makes the film music of film noir so different from other sorts of Hollywood fare? What musical elements aid in suspense or the sense of foreboding? What are the memorable sounds of some of your favorite noir films? This class will be listening to some music from various noir films, focusing on five or six different films. (To learn more about film noir, read this wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir.) We will hear about some of the techniques composers use to create tension and suspense, and how they develop ideas for their sound tracks. We will also listen to some of the music as just great cinematic music, learn about the composers, and of course be welcomed to watch the films, now with attention also to the sounds as they are happening in the various scenes. These films are available through rental on Amazon  Prime and may be available through a public library or on Netflix or on other streaming services. Various segments from some films’ soundtracks are also available through YouTube (links will be given in class). Composers discussed may include Franz Waxman, Philip Glass, Miklos Zozsa, David Raksin, Bernard Hermann, and Max Steiner.  Coincidentally, it may be noted that all these composers were Jewish, and some were refugees from Hitler’s Germany. Join me as we explore a new field of study together, and answer some of these intriguing questions.  Preparation time will be approximately 2 hours a week, depending on the length of the films.