Incidental music on the Waltons episodes

[dwhill7478]

I have always loved the incidental (background) music used on the Waltons episodes, particularly the first two or three seasons. It seems to have changed after that. The music evoked such melancholy feelings as the flute (or maybe it was a clarinet) and strings blended for such a distinctive sound. Does anyone know who created this sound and why it seemed to disappear after about the third season?

dwhill7478

[wetherwacky]

interesting question.

don't know the answer.
sry

[TomV]

I've always loved the music in the show, too.
Jerry Goldsmith, who composed the theme song, along with Arthur Morton and Alexander Courage all shared duties doing the episodic music in the first two seasons. From the third season forward, Alexander Courage did most all of the background music for the show.

[dwhill7478]

Thanks TomV, for answering my question. Different combinations of composers will produce different sounds, I suppose. That music on those first couple of seasons was great though, wasn't it?

[wetherwacky]

I especially loved the one John Boy sung, the love song to Jenny, on the dulcimer. Not the best singer, but very sweet.

[waltonsfan1972]

Look at this link:

www.the-waltons.com/theme.html

[Dianne Grant]

Jun 30, 2008 14:30:42 GMT -5 waltonsfan1972 said:

Look at this link:

www.the-waltons.com/theme.html

Thanks Will,

That's cool!

Dianne

[Steve James]

Jun 29, 2008 20:45:28 GMT -5 TomV said:

I've always loved the music in the show, too.
Jerry Goldsmith, who composed the theme song, along with Arthur Morton and Alexander Courage all shared duties doing the episodic music in the first two seasons. From the third season forward, Alexander Courage did most all of the background music for the show.

Thank you all, from the past...another question answered.

[wmfan/waltonsportwriter]

In the first season or so when they played the Walton's theme music like when they were picking apples in the Minstrel that was cool, pretty and authentic I thought that was a nice touch WmFan.

[Syddie Rose]

I'm so glad there are others who love (and noticed the difference in) the Walton's soundtrack!  I listen to scores all the time and really enjoy listening for their poignant moments in movies.  In the first few seasons of the show, they put in my favorite theme from The Homecoming soundtrack.  It was so pretty and sweet; I always get excited when I hear it!  But, like you said, they took it out after awhile.  Wonder why?

[e knight]

They only used the main title theme as background music during the first season, and I've noted that as being true with a lot of TV shows of that era. I suppose that only the original composer can do that so long as he's still the mucical director.