Music performances are one of the few forms of entertainment that remains a mystery to me. I can’t read or perform music as well as I can write a story, act in a play or even make a film, so I leave it to those who know their craft to make music for my enjoyment.

A genre of music that I’m particularly fond of is background scores for films. To me, it’s more than just a method to set a tone or emotion to what’s being conveyed on the screen. It’s a throwback to the age of classical music, where all it took were the notes to make a hit song. 

Despite being a fan of film scores, I never had the opportunity to hear this music performed live, until last week, when Miller Concert Hall housed the Wichita State Symphony in performing some of the great modern film score hits.

The first part of the show featured the orchestra playing six different score cues from a variety of films. Highlights from this portion of the show included the Erich Wolfgang Korngold’ prelude to the 1943 film “Kings Row.” Some film buffs have noted a similarity between this piece of music and the highly recognizable “Star Wars” theme. Student conductor Aaron Davis did a masterful job at the podium, making the music come more to life than a sound recording ever could. 

The most exciting selection of music on the evening was John William’s march from Steven Spielberg’s cult classic “1941.” Spielberg himself has stated that he preferred this piece of music to the theme to the “Indiana Jones” films. Hearing that piece of music performed live, conducted by associate music professor and orchestra director Mark Laycock, conjured up the images and sounds of that film, including John Belushi as a crazed fighter pilot and Ned Beatty firing an anti-aircraft gun through his home to hit a Japanese submarine, manned by Toshirō Mifune, who fires a shell upon a Ferris wheel, sending it rolling off a peer and into the ocean. It’s quite a feat when music reminds you of those images.

The only thing I found to be a bit lackluster was the arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith’s theme to “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which had an alteration to the last movement of the piece, my favorite part.

For the second part of the show, the orchestra, with Laycock on the podium, performed exceptionally well for a special performance of Elmer Bernstein’s unforgettable score for the film adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The score evokes many feelings of wonder, sorrow, terror and sympathy. 

The special guest of the evening was the actress who played Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, Mary Badham. She provided many anecdotes about her experiences filming this beloved classic, and read the last lines of the novel when the orchestra played the end title. Another special guest included conductor Gary Gackstatter, who read a letter written by the late Gregory Peck, addressed to his father, about why he was not going to give up acting. It’s a good thing Peck felt that way; otherwise he never would have portrayed Atticus Finch.

As this was the first time I’ve ever heard a live symphony perform film score, I must say I’m quite impressed with what I heard. If I ever become a filmmaker, I’ll keep this concert in mind when I report to the recording studio to hear the composer bring my films truly to life with music.