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Author	Topic: Take A chance and pick up.....

Ford A. Thaxton Oscar® Winner	If you want to take a chance on a CD by a composer you don't know very well why not pick up.... "The Devil Rides Out-The Film Music of James Bernard". Highlight for me, "The Quatermass Suite", sounds like Jerry Goldsmith on a good day. So if you had to suggest a work by a composer that might not be that well known, who would it be and what CD would you suggest?
posted 09-24-2000 12:15 AM PT (US)

BMikeJ Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Ford A. Thaxton: So if you had to suggest a work by a composer that might not be that well known, who would it be and what CD would you suggest? What a great idea for a thread... I would pick Firelight by Christopher Gunning. This is an absolutely beautiful orchestral score, dominated by lush string writing and a love theme that will make you weep. I would compare it to something that Rozsa might have written. And the movie isn't bad, either... That Sophie Marceau is purty...
posted 09-24-2000 12:28 AM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	As a big fan of British film music in general, I have to agree that both Bernard and Gunning have much to recommend about them. I'm pretty vocal about my dislike for most re-records, Silva often being the worst offender, but with their Devil Rides Out CD and also their Horror! CD they did a great job of covering this aspect of British film music. GDI has been releasing original scores to many of the Bernard and Harry Robinson scores to Hammer films--but the CDs are expensive--which make these two Silva CDs a better risk if you are unfamiliar with the British Horror sound. Lastly, the Monstrous Movie Music CDs seem to set aside space for British scores like Gorgo and, up coming on a future release, Day of the Triffids. These CDs should not be over-looked.
posted 09-24-2000 01:07 AM PT (US)

JJH Oscar® Winner	Here's an unknown composer: Eleni Karaindrou. she writes mainly in contemporary classical idioms for obscure Greek films such as Ulysses' Gaze and Eternity and a Day, but ECM always seems to release her work. By "contemporary classical idioms" I mean that she is one of those that harkens back to chant and drones for inspiration as so many new classical composers do these days. the music's interesting more as a change of pace.
posted 09-24-2000 06:26 AM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	I think I will not go the expected route and recommend a Japanese fellow. Instead, I cannot more highly endorse the two-CD collection of Gerald Fried horror scores released by FSM. Each of them beautifully and audaciously written, and each utterly different from one another, despite the uniformity of the genre. (I figured I should pick something that's readily available.) Speaking of Christopher Gunning, this disc may not be as easily found, but his 1990 work for WHEN THE WHALES CAME is superb (also includes a brief narrative declamation from star Paul Scofield, which actually fits into the music quite well, and I normally don't approve of overlapping dialogue on soundtrack albums.) Gunning has received at least two British Academy Awards that I know of -- wouldn't be surprised if he's picked up some more in the last few years. John Scott isn't exactly unknown, but certainly underappreciated. Intrada released a splendid, LONG album of his 1990 action score LIONHEART. The main theme develops slowly throughout, before emerging in a triumphant fanfare that's probably one of the best things Scott has ever written (as is the end title that follows). Three other Scott scores, all released by Varese are almost forgotten: MOUNTBATTEN: THE LAST VICEROY (another British TV movie), THE WHISTLE BLOWER (starred Michael Caine, I think) and MAN ON FIRE; of these, only the latter was released to CD. You can hear part of the lovely main title in DIE HARD (and on the various bootleg CDs of it as well).
posted 09-24-2000 10:10 AM PT (US)

sakman Oscar® Winner	How about David Benoit's Coplandesque score for "The Stars Fell on Henrietta". This is a gorgeous work of filmic Americana by one of contemporary jazz's great voices.
posted 09-24-2000 12:54 PM PT (US)

ActionGuy Oscar® Winner	I would recommend Frank DeVol's "The Dirty Dozen" which was recently released by chapter III. When i picked up "Logans Run/Coma" I saw "The Dirty Dozen" and remember liking the film, so i why not get the album. It took a couple of listens, but i highly recommend it! Rich D. NP - Coma
posted 09-24-2000 01:03 PM PT (US)

Wedge Oscar® Winner	"The Haunted Palace/The Premature Burial" by Roland Stein. Great stuff! Sure to please.
posted 09-24-2000 01:51 PM PT (US)

jonathan_little Oscar® Winner	If you haven't done it yet, be sure to pick up Star Wars, by John Williams. NP: The Lost World
posted 09-24-2000 03:34 PM PT (US)

Timmer Oscar® Winner	Is Star Wars anygood jonathan?, if so I may well check it out and my recommendation?....MARIO NASCIMBENE's brilliant themes and soundscapes for One Million Years B.C. and When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth.
posted 09-24-2000 06:32 PM PT (US)

Al Oscar® Winner	Joseph Vitarelli's EXCELLENT score to the film "Commandments" is full of some great themes. There is no album, and it upsets me much. But do check out the film to hear his work.
posted 09-24-2000 07:07 PM PT (US)

Wedge Oscar® Winner	Also, "WATERSHIP DOWN" by Angela Morley. A thrilling, absolutely gorgeous score in the best tradition. If you like classical-style film compositon, romantic, grand, lyrical ... this one's for you. There are many moments that would have done Prokofiev proud! And incidentally, this CD was released on the late Pegasus label, and is becoming increasingly hard to find. So snap it up!
posted 09-24-2000 07:41 PM PT (US)

meegle Oscar® Winner	"Arabian Nights" by Richard Harvey Or "Supernova" by David Williams (actually not out yet)
posted 09-24-2000 10:07 PM PT (US)

Shaun Rutherford Oscar® Winner	Vitarelli did an exceptional score for the HBO film Excellent Cadavers. I wish I could find a copy. Go buy Bless The Child. Sure, most of us know who Christopher Young is by now, but damnit----you're an ******* if you pass this album up. Shaun
posted 09-25-2000 12:15 AM PT (US)

Scorro Oscar® Winner	Pelle The Conqueror (Stefan Nilson, Sweden) There's only about 16 mins. of Pelle music on the "Pelle The Conqueror/My Life As A Dog?" release, but what a breautiful 16 mins. it is! His "Filmmusik" compilation is also highly recommended. _Sc quote: John Scott isn't exactly unknown, but certainly underappreciated. Intrada released a splendid, LONG album of his 1990 action score LIONHEART. Agreed! I've been collecting JS scores all summer and will get Lionheart this week! [Message edited by Scorro on 09-25-2000] [Message edited by Scorro on 09-25-2000]
posted 09-25-2000 08:33 AM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	I think Varese is STILL trying to unload copies of its Seville Film Music Concert double CD: disc 1 is themes by Maurice Jarre that can easily be heard in better performances and recordings; but disc 2 includes some wonderful music by Spanish composer Jose Nieto, including lovely heroic stuff for the Spanish fantasy film CABALLERO & THE DRAGON (or something like that). It was released on LP maybe twenty years ago and received a handful of enthusiastic notices from the few who were able to hear it. Nieto's other music isn't bad either. Last time I looked, Varese was selling this double CD for the price of a single CD, so you can look at the redundant Jarre tracks as a bonus (especially if you don't already have a Jarre compilation -- the music itself is generally good, but I found the performances weak. My favorite of his compilations remains "Jarre By Jarre" from 1987 or 1988, performed by the RSO, I think.)
posted 09-25-2000 11:04 AM PT (US)

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