Looney Tunes Sound Effects

Tunes from animated classics to fill Highland Park

In classic cartoons, one of the primary roles of the music was to enhance the comedic effect of the story of gag. "It was the composer's responsibility to make the music funny and, at the same time, still effective as a soundtrack," said Whitford. "Carl Stalling was, indisputably, among the most talented and innovative composers of cartoon music."

Stalling created the scores to hundreds of Warner Brother "Looney Tunes" cartoons from 1936 to 1958. "He essentially created the sound that most fans of animated shorts know as simple ‘cartoon music,''' said Whitford.

In "A Tribute to Carl Stalling," arranged for the program by Park Band Music Director Steve Rhodes, the Park Band will visit several of the composer's favorite musical quotations including the Looney Tunes opening theme "Merrily We Roll Along," "The Arkansas Traveler," J. Bodewalk Lampe's "A Vision of Salome," Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse," Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2," Brahms's "Hungarian Dance No. 5," Rossini's "Barber of Seville Overture," the finale from the "William Tell Overture" and the Looney Tunes closing theme "The Merry Go Round Broke Down" in the inimitable "Stalling style."

Following in Stalling's footsteps, 1989 graduate of Western High School, Don Barrett has been working on musical scores of several animated creations, including "Family Guy." Barrett is known in the area as a percussion instructor and arranger for marching bands. He moved to Hollywood several years ago and makes his living as a composer for all types of film and television projects.

As television has evolved, Barrett notices that the music has, too. "I think the biggest change in animation scoring, or any film genre, really, is the continual progress of technology. Today's tools, mainly the computer and related software make, what used to be a tedious and painstaking array of tasks, a much more efficient and manageable process.

"Of course, these technical devices are no substitute for artistic talent or compositional knowledge, but Carl Stalling would undoubtedly be amazed at what is available today that makes scoring life much easier," said Barrett.

Other selections on the program from Warner Bros. Productions include Franz von Suppe's "Morning, Noon and Night in Vienna" from the cartoon "Baton Bunny" and Richard Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries" from "What's Opera, Doc?"

Though composer Raymond Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is familiar to millions because of its adaptation by Carl Stalling in over 120 classic Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and other animated features. Scott's melodies have also been heard in Ren & Stimpy episodes, The Simpsons, Duckman, Animaniacs, The Oblongs and Batfink.

Looney Tunes Scene & Sound Machine for iPhone on Sale ($1.99 ...

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It was bound to happen—Daffy Duck’s made an app out of himself along with his Looney Tunes costars! Yep, the first Looney Tunes app is here, making you the director of your own digital world via your iPhone. Choose from a cast of wacky characters with cool, colorful backgrounds and props at your fingertips. Amaze (and annoy) your friends with screwy voices and sound effects.

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