George said, "But I want to worry about the incidental music. If my name is on the credits, I want to be sure that every note is mine. Hell, I'll write the incidental music for free!"
That last sentence was music to Berman's ears. As a result, every note in this film came form George's pen, to include this instrumental classic that was used as a long intro to a song.
I understand completely the desire to have control over every note of one’s own compositions!
The clarinets and oboes in that piece reminded me of a story that you might appreciate!
Over 50 years ago, my BFF Diane and I took piano lessons from the same cranky Nun, who managed to make even playing the piano an unpleasant and tedious experience. She told us we HAD to attend the performance of a local orchestra because SHE had an oboe solo.
As D and I entered the building, I noticed on the program that the solo was to be in Grofe’s ‘Grand Canyon Suite”.
Sure enough, when “Sister’s” solo came up, she stood up to her full 6’2’height, swathed in her black habit with her face-pinching wimple, and played the somewhat GOOFY oboe solo (representing a donkey plodding along the Grand Canyon).
Of course, the oboe’s small double reed makes everyone look silly when they play, but Sister looked like an absolute buffoon! D and I couldn’t help ourselves, and we burst into hilarious laughter reminiscent of the “Chuckles the Clown Funeral” Episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Needless to say, we both became autodidacts after the incident.