CSO Concert Master Barbara Gilby says,"People love to hear the music they know." While it's impossible to include everything, this concert is intended to provide the audience with plenty of aural memories from the silver screen including Alfred Newman's 20th Century Fox fanfare and excerpts from movie scores both old (including Max Steiner's for Gone With the Wind and Elmer Bernstein's for The Magnificent Seven) and new (such as John Williams' for the Harry Potter movies and Hans Zimmer's for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies).

Among the other selections are Williams' Superman score, Nino Rota's music from The Godfather, Ennio Morricone's score for The Mission and Lara's Theme by Maurice Jarre from Doctor Zhivago. In some of the selections a single musical theme is presented, in others an arrangement of themes from a film or a group of films.

Northey says, "Music adds an enormous amount to the dramatic subtext of scenes in films and particularly to the overall 'feel' of a movie. In this context, where the music is the primary focus, it presents an opportunity to marvel at the artistry of these extraordinary film composers."

The program was chosen by Northey to appeal to family audiences, both adults and children of all ages. Having it on a Saturday afternoon meant people of all ages could attend.

Northey says, "It's a collection of film music's greatest hits really. We've tried to include something for everybody."

And that includes him: Northey remembers the impact Williams' majestic main title theme from Star Wars had on him as a child and it is featured in the concert.

"I'm really looking forward to working with the CSO again," he says. "Even though I am from Melbourne, my father is a former head of Burgmann College at the ANU and my sister, also a musician, lives in Canberra. I know how important it is for our nation's capital city to have its own orchestra and greatly admire what the musicians and the CSO team have accomplished in recent years."

For some in the audience this might be their first time at a symphony orchestra concert and Gilby thinks hearing music live is a unique experience.

"I do quite a bit of playing at old people's homes and community events around Canberra and people are always saying to me, 'It's so wonderful to hear the music up close."

She says there's an excitement to live performance and certain vibrations in the air that simply hearing a recording cannot duplicate.

"To me hearing music live is way more exciting."

For newcomers, this is an easily accessible introduction.

Gilby says,"Young people often don't feel like sitting through a 40-minute symphony and most of these pieces are five or so minutes long. If they don't find something to enjoy in the piece they're listening to they might find something in the next piece."

While this music may be regarded as lighter than the symphonic repertoire, Gilby says that does not make it any less challenging - or enjoyable - to play. As a violinist she often finds herself playing either very high or very fast, she says. All the sections of the orchestra usually find themselves with rewarding parts to play.

Part of this, she thinks, might be because many film composers are well trained musicians who also write "serious" music. The composers, arrangers and players who have worked in Hollywood have always been some of the best at what they did, and they had to be, because of tight schedules and pressure to get it done and get it right.

Major Dan Hiscock, officer commanding/music director, Royal Military College Band, says a couple of dozen members of his band - woodwind, brass and percussion - will perform in the concert.

"We often perform film music in our concerts," he says, but as the band lacks a string section, joining forces with the CSO will benefit both groups: the RMC Band will have access to a greater repertoire and the opportunity to perform on stage rather than in a ceremonial or school context; and the bulked-up woodwind, brass and percussion will make for a unique blend and a stronger sound for the combined ensemble.

Last year's matinee concert, combining the CSO and the RMC Band, Strike Up the Band, was a sellout and all involved are hoping this year's performance will be just as successful.

Canberra Weekly Matinee Magic: Hollywoodticketek..com.au