Unusual Instruments

Matthew Sweet is on the hunt for mythical creatures on the big screen. Tune in to escape reality, as we explore film music that transports you to fantastical worlds; from Middle-earth with Howard Shore’s beloved music for The Hobbit, to ancient Greece with Leonard Rosenthal's epic score for Clash of the Titans. Our final destination is the Isle of Berk, the Viking setting of How To Train Your Dragon - the live action remake, scored by John Powell, is released in cinemas this week.To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

Matthew Sweet looks at unusual instruments used in film scores such as the Cristal Baschet which is a favourite of Cliff Martinez in scores such as Drive.He considers the use of unusual technology such as the Blaster Beam used by Jerry Goldsmith in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. He traces the development of electronics in film music, from 'electronic tonalities' in Forbidden Planet, to the Moog synthesiser in A Clockwork Orange, and the later use of the Chamberlin by Jon Brion in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.We hear unusual instruments in the scores of blockbusters such as Casino Royale (David Arnold), Sherlock Holmes and Dune (Hans Zimmer). And Matthew's Classic Score of the Week, Spellbound by Miklós Rózsa, features the Theremin.To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

Matthew Sweet dials in, with a playlist of film music inspired by a phone call. Hold the line for classics including Scream, The Conversation and Dial M for Murder. Also featuring Bear McCreary’s score for our featured new release, Drop.To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

Matthew Sweet is joined by multiple award-winning composer A.R. Rahman to explore his extraordinary career in film music, including his best-known score - Slumdog Millionaire. In an exclusive interview, we hear about his relationship with his father, R.K. Sekher who was also a film music composer. A.R. Rahman tells Matthew about his early success in the Indian film industry, and why he decided to remain in the industry rather than become a rock musician. And we hear about his work in Hollywood on the comedy Couples Retreat. A.R. Rahman talks about recently turning his hand to directing with Le Musk, a Virtual Reality film he wrote, scored and co-produced that even uses specially created smells to evoke memories in the viewer. And we hear about his new appointment as Honorary President of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

Matthew Sweet celebrates the life and work of Studio Ghibli composer, Joe Hisaishi. Tune in for some of his most beloved music, with classic soundtracks including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle.Joe Hisaishi will make his BBC Proms debut this year, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

This special episode of Sound of Cinema features an exclusive interview with the legendary film composer and record producer, Hans Zimmer.Hosted by Matthew Sweet, this programme dives into the growth of live film music, exploring how scores are reworked for the concert platform.With a catalogue of iconic soundtracks including Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception, and The Dark Knight, Hans Zimmer is a household name. Tune in to find out how he got started in the music industry, where his inspiration comes from and how he prepares for a live performance.Sharing the stage in this episode is Debbie Wiseman, the award winning composer behind the music of Wolf Hall, and Bear McCreary, a composer who is celebrated for his work on Battlestar Galactica, God of War and more.To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers) just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema"

Evil penguins, chickens on the run and the mischievous sheep of Mossy Bottom Farm. Enter the unique musical world of Aardman Animations as Matthew Sweet celebrates the studio's iconic film scores with the release of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Matthew visits the Aardman Animation studios in Bristol to meet archivist Tom Vincent, where he encounters uniquely Aardman props, puppets and scores - even a real-life Were-Rabbit. Matthew also speaks to those involved in Vengeance Most Fowl at work in Abbey Road studios in London: filmmaker, animator and creator of Wallace & Gromit, Nick Park and the film's composers Julian Nott and Lorne Balfe.To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

Matthew Sweet bangs the drum for the inventive ways films use percussion. There's Tan Dun's taiko masterclass of a score in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the delicate and lyrical marimba in American Beauty, John Williams' ritualistic drums in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Justin Hurwitz's obsessive kit in Whiplash.To listen on most smart speakers just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema".

Matthew Sweet celebrates the centenary of legendary film composer Ron Goodwin - famous for his scores for Where Eagles Dare, 633 Squadron, The Battle of Britain and the Miss Marple films. However, Goodwin's scores are far more varied than military marches, with his music for Hitchcock's Frenzy and the first-ever score for brass band, Escape from the Dark.Matthew also speaks to Helen, the step-daughter of Ron Goodwin, who shares her memories of growing up with an in-demand composer. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”

Matthew Sweet celebrates the film highlights of the year with a focus on the recently announced 2025 Bafta winners. He speaks exclusively with the winner of the Best Original Score - composer Daniel Blumberg, for the film The Brutalist - who tells Matthew about how he travelled to an Italian quarry to record some of the music, and what it was like to actually win the Bafta itself.There's music from Conclave, The Brutalist and The Wild Robot, plus even some Zoe Saldana and a hint of Trent Reznor's alarm clock....and even a musical jump-scare from Nosferatu....To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”