Everybody knows John Altman's music, but not so many people know his name. Yet he is one of the most prolific composers, conductors and arrangers in history and his saxophone playing has been heard live and on record with many great names. In this vivid account of over fifty years in the world of popular music, Altman explains why he is the 'Hidden Man', whose scores include such well-known film sequences as 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Life of Brian, which he arranged, conducted and whistled; the tank chase through St. Petersburg in the James Bond movie Goldeneye and the ship sinking in Titanic, with the orchestra playing on deck. In all, he has composed the music for over 50 movies, and won most major film awards in his long and distinguished career. His orchestrations can be heard in film scores by legends like Elmer Bernstein and Jule Styne, and he was musical director for several television series, notably Miss Marple, starring Joan Hickson, as well as Peak Practice. As an arranger/conductor he has worked on hit records for numerous stars, among them Rod Stewart, George Michael, Tina Turner, Barry White, Diana Ross, Björk, and Alison Moyet. As a saxophonist, flautist and clarinet player he has performed with an equally stellar list of musicians. John Altman has also found time to write, produce and arrange over 4,000 commercials worldwide, including his theme for the 'Sheila's Wheels' advertisement. Such anonymity coupled with universally-known themes is why Monty Python's Terry Gilliam named Altman the 'Hidden Man'.

ジョン・アルトマンの自叙伝「Hidden Man」は、現代文化の背後で鳴り響く「魂の設計図」を解き明かす一冊です。数多のヒット曲や映画音楽を手掛けながらも、徹底して黒衣に徹してきた彼の人生は、匿名性と普遍性の対峙という文学的な深みを湛えています。誰の耳にも残る旋律を生み出す天才が、いかにして無名であることを誇りとしてきたのか。その美学に触れるとき、読者は表現の本質が「個」を超えた場所にあることを痛感するはずです。 本書は「タイタニック」や「ゴールデンアイ」といった名作群に、テキストならではの思索的な奥行きを与えます。映像が放つ視覚的な衝撃の裏側に、どれほど緻密な音楽的計算と情熱が潜んでいたのか。劇中の名シーンを彩る旋律が、著者の言葉によって新たな命を吹き込まれる瞬間、映像と活字は鮮やかなシナジーを生み出します。銀幕の記憶を、より深い感動へと昇華させる至高の音楽ドキュメントと言えるでしょう。