quote:

---

I'd love to see Barry tackle another film that required a choral score, in my opinion John Barry writes some of the best choral music of any film composer...If only the opportunity presented itself for him to write in this idiom again!

---

I just got a copy of The Last Valley and made a minidisc pairing it with The Lion in Winter (can you think of a better double bill than that? And they were a perfect fit on the disc!). Between those, Walkabout and several other scores, it becomes apparent that Barry's musical style lends itself very well to choral accompaniment or expression.

TLV & TLIW...indeed tis perfect pairing

How long is the Barry score? I got the impression that it was quite sparse in the film.

Still love those end titles, and in the film they are preceded by that wonderful bit of poetry...damn, what WAS that? I've got it in a book somewhere.

More or less.

Walkabout was very well done, especially the chorus which I expected them to screw up. Since this score was the main attraction on the album, they get a thumbs up. And Walkabout really is a great score, albeit a short one. It gets my recommendation as something to pick up, if anyone cares a hoot about my recommendations.

However, I disliked their version of the Chase suite, Barry's own version from the 60s has no competition from this one.

Likewise, their version of Moviola seemed a tad thin. The rest of the odds and ends were fine though.

I still wish Silva would have more scutiny and quality control over what they issue--their arrangements often mis-note, their mixes emphasize the wrong sections of the orchestra, and it seems as if they don't ride the orchestra enough to get more polished takes.

I'm not too fond of other Silva policies either. As much as I'd like to hear the Peeping Tom music on their History of Horror set (and how can you screw up piano music for chrissakes!), I don't want to pay $20 to take the chance.

When Silva issued the prelude to Herrmann's The Naked and the Dead, it was the only piece that hadn't been previously released on a set that also cost $20. $20 for one lousy cue! Eventually, I found a used copy without a booklet for $6. But the prelude was so badly done, I haven't played it since.

Still, on Walkabout, they came much closer to the mark than they usually do.

I REALLY must strongly recommend the Silva re-record of ZULU. It is an absolutely thrilling performance.
very comparable to the original (film's been played ad nauseum on AMC lately).

other pieces on it include the stunning theme from Frances, The Last Valley, and various others.

it really is their best composer compilation yet.