For Those Who Know the Score

The Los Angeles-based Society for the Preservation of Film Music will hold its fifth annual conference Thursday through Sunday at USC. Mirroring what veteran composer David Raksin calls “the recent, astonishing interest in film music” (see the Bernard Herrmann CD review, Page 61) the 14-year-old organization will again host screenings, panel discussions, lectures and live performances.

Highlighting the program are showings of the 1926 “Ben-Hur,” Saturday at 8 p.m. and next Sunday at 2 p.m., at the Norris Theatre. Gillian Anderson will conduct the Los Angeles Musical Heritage Orchestra in the original score, arranged by David Mendoza and William Axt. (Tickets: $5-$10.)

Thursday night, a concert of chamber music by film composers--Korngold, Raksin, Friedhofer, Waxman and Rozsa, among others--will be played by members of the North Wind Quintet and USC faculty and students.

Elmer Bernstein, president of the society, says three individuals will be honored during the weekend:

* Three-time Academy Award winner Maurice Jarre, who will receive the society’s 13th Career Achievement Award. After a screening of the documentary “Lean by Jarre” at 9 a.m. Friday, James Westby of UCLA will give a Jarre retrospective.

* Buddy Baker, the film composer who founded and remains chairman of the USC Film and Television Scoring Program.

* Eldridge Walker, vice president of music clearance at Paramount Pictures, who will be recognized for working with the society in the archival rescue (completed in June) of the Paramount Pictures Music Collection.

“We consider the saving of the archives a major accomplishment,” Bernstein told The Times.

For a complete schedule of events, call (818) 248-5775.