I sat in on David Raksins film class at the University of Southern California. The first impression of the man was a definate authority in his presence, unusual intelligence and warm heartedness. Also a very quick wit and terrific sense of humor - he loved to laugh. He did not suffer fools.
In his class we would watch great films of his and others such as Forever Amber, The Best Years of Our Lives (Hugo Freidhoffer) Citizen Kane (Bernard Herrman) and the like. Mr. Raksin would speak before the screening, pointing out things to look for musically as well as the history of the film. For example in "The Best Years..." he talked about how brilliantly Freidhoffer musically portrayed the engines of a B17 (being started in the imagination of a main character - there were no sound effects.) Also, how the producers wanted to throw the score out! Raksin intervened telling them they were crazy and that it was a brilliant score. They backed down and Freidhoffer won the Oscar for best score. The score is very Copland-esque with Raksin pointing out the huge influence on his generation of that composer. We would ask questions of every kind after the film as well.
When I told him that I thought Alex North was one of the greatest film composers in all film he corrected me saying, "One of the great dramatic composers of the 20th century". In doing this he freed me from any bias against the legitimacy of composing for film as opposed to "serious" composition.
Personally I would see him at the Los Angeles Philharmonic from time to time and say hello. After ward he would go back stage and greet the players.
He was dearly loved by the entire musical community here and considered the final voice and word on musical issues in film.
"Melody is the lost art." David Raksin.
He will be sorely missed. I will miss my occasional phone calls to him which I treasured.
Dave Connor
