Film (movie) Music

[Cato]

Looks as though I need to add another recording of this GREAT score to my shelf, as I have the Polo one.  Thanks for the review, Cato.

The notes in the little booklet are also very interesting, written by Fred Steiner, and contain examples of the score, including the Main Title page...but you will probably need a magnifying glass, if you are like me!   

The booklet quotes Oscar Levant saying the the movie should have been advertised as a new concert work by Max Steiner with accompanying pictures!   

[vandermolen]

Darn.  Well, maybe there is one down the road.  I know they released a Maltese Falcon and of course The Treasure of Sierra madre (Two versions I believe, the original score and a remake.  I have the original on the Rhino label and enjoy it).  I wonder if Thomas has any insight here.

I have the old Charles Gerhardt CD below which features an effective eight minute sequence from 'Casablanca' (without dialogue):

[vandermolen]

Strongly recommend this new Naxos release, especially for L'Idee, a quite haunting score for an animated film:

[Bogey]

Grabbed these four on vinyl today:

         

[Bogey]

I have the old Charles Gerhardt CD below which features an effective eight minute sequence from 'Casablanca' (without dialogue):

May be worth a try.  I need to watch the film again and really listen to the music (score component).

[PerfectWagnerite]

Strongly recommend this new Naxos release, especially for L'Idee, a quite haunting score for an animated film:

Thanks, I collect that series, that's one of the two or three I don't have. I'll keep it in my Amazon shopping cart.

[Wanderer]

Good one! 

Incidentally, this is what I'm listening to at the moment...

[vandermolen]

Now playing: 

This is a great score. I also have the old Unicorn-Kanchana recording with Laurie Johnson conducting.

[tjguitar]

This is a great score. I also have the old Unicorn-Kanchana recording with Laurie Johnson conducting.

vandermolen, I can't recommend this new-ish complete recording enough conducted by Joel McNeely.:



http://www.varesesarabande.com/details.asp?pid=vcl-1107-1067


He's done a few fantastic recordings for the Varese Sarabande label (I think his Vertigo recording is maybe the best we have.)

[tjguitar]

Also, since we're mentioning Herrmann, I am very pleased with The Kentuckian. I never would have thought that Herrmann did any Americana, but it's quite pleasant to listen to.

[anasazi]

Also, since we're mentioning Herrmann, I am very pleased with The Kentuckian. I never would have thought that Herrmann did any Americana, but it's quite pleasant to listen to.

Herrmann (along with his friend Jerome Moross) were both early fans of Charles Ives (ig that tells you anything).  Just because Herrmann didn't get to score many Americana pictures doesn't follow that he couldn't do it, does it?  It just means that Hollywood producers and directors didn't ask him for that. And plus, he was associated so many years with Hitchcock.  If you get the chance, check out a little piece Benny wrote called "Williamsburg - The Story of A Patriot". It is from a short documentary film and has been recorded, but now (I think) it may be out of print.  Interestingly, BH makes use of the little tune that Billings wrote, called "Chester".  This was the marching music of the first continental army by the way.  William Schuman also used this theme in his "Three Places In New England".
This tune is one the COULD have been (to some of us: should have been) chosen as the USA's national anthem.   

[tjguitar]

If you get the chance, check out a little piece Benny wrote called "Williamsburg - The Story of A Patriot". It is from a short documentary film and has been recorded, but now (I think) it may be out of print.  Interestingly, BH makes use of the little tune that Billings wrote, called "Chester".  This was the marching music of the first continental army by the way.  William Schuman also used this theme in his "Three Places In New England".
This tune is one the COULD have been (to some of us: should have been) chosen as the USA's national anthem.   

Williamsburg is on the same CD as the image I posted...

I also wasn't suggesting that Herrmann COULDN'T write Americana, just that it's not what I associate him with (Hithcock, the Harryhousen fantasy stuff)

[Bogey]

He also hit the noir genre, but truly only once (?):

[anasazi]

Williamsburg is on the same CD as the image I posted...

I also wasn't suggesting that Herrmann COULDN'T write Americana, just that it's not what I associate him with (Hithcock, the Harryhousen fantasy stuff)

Yes, I know you weren't suggesting he couln't write Americana.  Sorry, I don't have the new Kentuckian CD, only the old one, and I forgot that Williamsburg was also included on the new CD. 

[Bogey]

To end the evening here:



Love the music, but do not care for the movie.  For those that disagree with this: Frankly, I don't give a damn.  

[M forever]

William Schuman also used this theme in his "Three Places In New England".

Isn't that by Ives?

[Szykneij]

Isn't that by Ives?

Yes. I believe the Schuman piece is titled "New England Triptych".

[Szykneij]

Staying with the subjects of New England compositions (Piston also wrote "Three New England Sketches") and film music, does anyone else hear a huge similarity between the main themes of Quincy Porter's "New England Episodes" and Ernest Gold's "Theme to Exodus"?

[karlhenning]

Yes. I believe the Schuman piece is titled "New England Triptych".

And based on tunes by Boston composer Wm Billings.

[Ugh!]

I'll do it again: Krysztof Komeda makes my day!