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Soundcheck

Thursday, September 22, 2005
  • Tunes for 'Toons by Daniel Goldmark
    Tunes for 'Toons by Daniel Goldmark

    Music and the Hollywood Cartoon

    Throughout the 1930s, '40s and '50s, Hollywood's animated cartoons were a major vehicle for composers writing in a classical and jazz style. Today, music historian Daniel Goldmark gives us a history of the genre, especially the cartoons produced by major animation studios like Warner Bros., MGM, and others. Goldmark's latest book, "Tunes for 'Toons" discusses several well-known cartoons in detail, including "What's Opera, Doc?," the 1957 Warner Bros. parody of Wagner and opera. Also on the show: Associated Press music writer Nekesa Moomby Moody joins us to look at a recent phenomenon: the greatest-hits album. These once stood as a career watershed but in recent years, everyone's doing them. This calls into question just how great they really are.

Is Cartoon Music Great Art?

The musicologist and cartoon music expert shows us why we should stop worrying and learn to love the music from cartoons.
» Tunes for 'Toons Web site

Greatest Hits and Misses

AP music writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody on the ubiquity of the greatest hits album.
» SOME "BEST OF" DISCS ARE WATERED-DOWN, NOT WATERSHEDS

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.