Film Music Recommendations

[Stanfordian]

I am surprised that no-one has gioven Erich von Korngold a thought, especially that magnificent recording on Chandos, of his Sea hawk. Very well played by BBCPO/Rumon Gamba.

Hiya maestro,

I'm often disappointed with filmscores taken out of the context of the cinema but yes I agree Korngold's music for the Errol Flynn Hollywood films is worth hearing.

[Serial_Apologist]

The very example I would have chosen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-0hZu4Ew4o

...

To me, I have to say, it drags after a short while - and this is the shortcoming of most movie music extrapolated: I'm sure it helps keep the viewer glued to the on-screen action.

[Pikaia]

Not sure if this meets the brief, but I like Bliss's suite from "Things To Come", not just the march:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIImxW1bYnQ

I love the megalomaniac's speech at the end of film too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-wCq7zSLE&list=FLg3MqBFneouGMi4Ki3wEiQQ&index=76

[PJPJ]

The Chandos series is well worth investigating, as are Bill Stromberg's for Marco Polo/Naxos and latterly for their own rather smartly presented Tribune Film Classics series which has some wonderful Bernard Herrmann scores.

http://www.tributefilmclassics.com/

[Nick Armstrong]

Victor Young's scores are very good, from the Korngold/Waxman/Steiner era. In fact, à propos

Bill Stromberg's for Marco Polo/Naxos

the film music disc I have probably played most over the years is this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Korngold-Captain-Steiner-Musketeers-Scaramouche/dp/B001LYH034

The Victor Young "Scaramouche" score was arranged by Mr Stromberg, and is one of my top favourites (tried watching the film once - awful, and the music almost inaudible: this is one case where taking the score out of the film has done the former a favour!)

Apart from that, my top favourite film score ever is Michel Legrand's music for Losey's "The Go-Between" - very 70's cod-Bach but intoxicating, nostalgic stuff I think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP5pAnG7Oqc

In another genre, Miles Davis's music for Louis Malle's "Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud" never fails to create a frisson:

whether in isolation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ4l4oRkh_8

or with the film itself - available IN FULL here, I'm amazed to find (the title music starts around 1m 15s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuHbvPQc0IQ

[amateur51]

Not sure if this meets the brief, but I like Bliss's suite from "Things To Come", not just the march:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIImxW1bYnQ

I love the megalomaniac's speech at the end of film too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-wC...wEiQQ&index=76

It's Raymond Massey (pre-Doctor Kildare ), wonderfully OTT and I can't recall the name of the other actor I'm afraid.

[gurnemanz]

Some goodies that occur to me:

Paris, Texas Ry Cooder's steel guitar

Jules et Jim

Ennio Morricone (too many possible clips)

Nino Rota - Fellini's Amarcord
Otto e mezzo

Godfather

Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky

[Russ]

I enjoy 'film music', but here's the thing for me: when I listen to for example Goldsmith's Chinatown theme or Legrand's The Go-Between, I can't help running through the film through my head again, but when I listen to music for a film I've never seen, like the Miles Davis clip Caliban posted (ta!), I imagine a new film in my head. The more disconnected and 'incidental' that unfamiliar music is from its source carrier, the more space seems to be created for something else.

Russ

[PJPJ]

Apart from that, my top favourite film score ever is Michel Legrand's music for Losey's "The Go-Between" - very 70's cod-Bach but intoxicating, nostalgic stuff I think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP5pAnG7Oqc

One of my very favourite LPs, a CBS one with Legrand conducting the LSO. The other side has "Les Parapluies.." which is even better. The Japanese issue CD was a great disappointment, thin, etiolated sound, far worse than the CD than it oughter have been.

Why it's not had a local CD release (in good sound) is a mystery. Perhaps someone has the answer. I don't think it's great music, but it's great fun.

http://www.discogs.com/Michel-Legrand-London-Symphony-Orchestra-Suites-From-Umbrellas-Of-Cherbourg-And-Go-Between/release/2489687

This is the LP I have - perhaps it's had a local CD release and I haven't noticed, in which case do let me know.

[Nick Armstrong]

I enjoy 'film music', but here's the thing for me: when I listen to for example Goldsmith's Chinatown theme or Legrand's The Go-Between, I can't help running through the film through my head again, but when I listen to music for a film I've never seen, like the Miles Davis clip Caliban posted (ta!), I imagine a new film in my head. The more disconnected and 'incidental' that unfamiliar music is from its source carrier, the more space seems to be created for something else.

Russ

That all sounds good to me !

[Nick Armstrong]

One of my very favourite LPs, a CBS one with Legrand conducting the LSO. The other side has "Les Parapluies.." which is even better. The Japanese issue CD was a great disappointment, thin, etiolated sound, far worse than the CD than it oughter have been.

Why it's not had a local CD release (in good sound) is a mystery. Perhaps someone has the answer.

I'd never heard of that recording and it does look tempting, although I wonder if he beggared around with the "Go-Between" score to create the piece included there. I only know the original soundtrack version, also cond. Michel Legrand.

But I'd be curious to hear it, certainly, and the "Parapluies" suite... the 'operatic' film is such an odd mixture of the touching and the saccharine, never been up my street but some of the music is haunting (inc "I will wait for you..." of course)... I'd like to hear that orchestral version too.

Hope someone comes up with a source!

I don't think it's great music, but it's great fun

Discuss... !!!

[PJPJ]

Discuss... !!!

You noticed. Alas, I am undone.....

[Nick Armstrong]

You noticed. Alas, I am undone.....

No no, not undone at all. It's just you've encapsulated a big debate there (which I think had already been held elsewhere in the Forum). Don't worry, I know what you mean!

[BBMmk2]

This is a nice set of RVW film music http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vaughan-Will...+williams+film



Some of the films are long forgotten I think,but the music well worth hearing IMVHO.

Yes I concur with you there, Rob! Infact Chandos's series, as a whole, is highly reccomendable.

[Russ]

Well, fancy that, BBC to celebrate film music in autumn season.

Edit: further info at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/lat...of-cinema.html

Russ