Film Score Friday 1/22/99
Thanks to everyone who responded about the new
message board. It'll catch on in no time and I think people will be
satisfied with the new board's advanced features.
To those who missed it yesterday,
Varese will release a new recording of Battlestar Galactica, which
Stu Phillips conducted in Scotland.
FSM has ordered a large supply of the new book from England, John
Barry: A Life in Music, otherwise unavailable on these shores. The
books should be en route to us now. Watch this space for ordering information.
Composer Fred Myrow has passed away at the age of 59, of a heart attack.
Among his film scores were Phantasm, Soylent Green, Leo the Last, Scarecrow
and Phantasm II.
Margaret Rozsa, widow of the composer, passed away on December 29 in
Los Angeles. She was 89. This info comes courtesy the Miklos Rozsa Society,
who just sent out a free e-mail newsletter on Rozsa related matters. Write
to Rozsaphile@aol.com for a copy.
Super News
See last
week's column for fantastic news on Superman!
From: Alan Maxwell <ceeam3@cee.hw.ac.uk>
Wow, fan-power does work. Soundtrack fans have done an Alien Nation,
and now the Superman score looks like it may get a new release. Reading
this article filled me with confidence, not because I desperately want
the Superman score expanded (I'm pretty indifferent either way), but just
because somebody else has actually listened to what soundtrack fans want.
This is something which doesn't appear to happen quite as often as one
might like.
So there I am reading this announcement and thinking to myself "wow,
maybe my campaign to get Rosenman's two Planet of the Apes scores released
isn't doomed" (well, OK, it's not so much a campaign as just whinging
a lot and telling anyone who'll listen just how great these scores are).
And hey presto - further down the page one fan is re-stating his request
to see them as part of the FSM Silver Age Classics series (and of course
I can assure him he wasn't alone!).
Fan power can indeed bear fruit. Looks like it's time for me to
start writing those letters.
From: Mike Condon <mcondon@email.sjsu.edu>
I've been a subscriber of FSM for about 7 or 8 years, and have seen
the publication grow from your college day efforts, to the class act you
present these days. I have been pretty quiet, not writing letters to the
mail bag, or to the net site, but that doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed FSM
since day one. I have gotten a lot of use out of the magazine, was introduced
to some scores/composers that I may have ignored before, and of course,
ignored some scores based on reviews and comments in FSM.
But the SUPERMAN news is great, and that is why I think you are
a GOD, for being able to be involved in getting the score out the way it
should be. Thanks again!
Sundance Film Music Activities
If you're at the film festival, or making your way there...
ASCAP is sponsoring a Music Cafe with Starbucks from January 22 to 29.
This will feature ASCAP performing artists, both singer-songerwriters and
film composers; most notably among the latter category is Mark Governor.
There should also be tons of resumes and info for filmmakers interested
in composers. Look for it at The Elks Building, 550 Main Street in Park
City, 9:30AM to 10PM.
BMI, meanwhile, is hosting a panel discussion on Music and Narrative
on January 28 at Yarrow Theatre, 1800 Park Avenue, Park City, 12PM. BMI's
Doreen Ringer Ross is the moderator, with panelists director John Waters,
composer Stewart Copeland, composer Thomas Newman, and Segue CEO Dan Carlin.
Willow CD
Let the feeding frenzy begin:
From: "Jamison Dufour" <mrigger@mediaone.net>
I thought you might want to let your LA-area readers know that there
is (at least there was yesterday [1.19.99]) a used CD of the "Willow"
score at the Burbank Penny Lane (212 East Orange Grove). Although they
do know that it is a rare disc, they have it priced at only $12!
I would have bought it, but I already have a copy and don't believe
in "collectibles". The store's phone number is: (818) 566-7401.
The Prince of Egypt
From: Mike Skerritt <mskerrit@umich.edu>
To continue what was said last
Friday regarding The Prince of Egypt, I believe that the Wal-Mart collector's
edition CD also contains the cue from the film's finale. Whether it is
the full version, I don't know (I only saw the movie once and cannot remember).
But it is the second half of "The Chariot Race," and runs about
3 full minutes during the track.
From: Steve <stev4uth@hotmail.com>
Well, after reading Andy
Dursin's review I figured why bother expressing my enthusiasm for this
score..hehe. But I must admit that the so-called "soundtrack"
album is a botched job. 76:00 minutes is wonderful, but almost 20 minutes
is given over to crappy "pop" stuff that is poorly performed
and so horribly difficult to listen to anyway. I have not heard "Mulan"
or "Hunchback", but this is the first animated score disc I have
ever bought after going to the movie..it really is that good--and I am
not a Zimmer fan overall. I am waiting to see "Mulan" and that
may be the sencond from what I have read here.
There were several sequences in the film that grabbed you with the
music. The opening had me from the start all the way through the chariot
race, the burning bush scene was wonderfully scored, and I bought the disc
primarily to hear the Red Sea music-unfortunately this is badly edited.
The ending music was fine, until the house lights came up and we were subjected
to the typical pop garbage that used to serve for wonderful end credits
music.
While it may never get a "full" release, I think we can
hold up hope that Zimmer's score may find it's way onto a Cincinnati Pops
collection someday as Kunzel has recorded Zimmer's music on other collections
in the past.
Off to England for Stephen Warbeck's score for "Shakespeare
in Love" which is wonderful! It had me thinking "Lion in Winter"
and Doyle's Branagh scores, but in a new way. Having not seen Warbeck's
other scored feature, "Mrs. Brown", his was a new name for me.
If you like Renaissance music, Doyle, or are a fan of "LIW" then
this comes highly recommended.
Finally, can it really be! This looks like a great year for film
music! We have 2 Williams re-issues to look forward to (maybe 3 with FSM's?)
with "Superman" and "The Missouri Breaks" from Ryko.
THen there is Arnold's "TMD" score--and maybe the new Bond film?
Varese has "Citizen Kane" in the hopper to release-hopefully
soon, among other goodies. Then there are several Goldsmith scores to look
forward to this year, and of course, "The Phantom Menace". And
we have another generation of film composers now entering the "golden
years" of their craft--people some of us are only now beginning to
hear about! ANd for those of us mad about Compilation discs, I can only
wonder what Silva has dreamed up to surprise us with this year!
The Truman Show
From: Kombiz N Lavasany <klavasan@sdcc13.ucsd.edu>
I pulled out my Truman Show Cd a couple of days ago and was reminded
of how great of a sountrack it really is, and if we are to look back at
some of the definitive films scores of last year there is no way we can
look back without mentioning Burkhart Dallwitz score for the truman show.
Not only do his musical pieces really capture the essence of the film,
adds layers to the discussion the film is trying to have with audience
and make it an even greater delight to watch (though I will admit that
I could have wanted Weir to use 20 to 30 more minutes of his score), his
score also mixes in perfectly with the Phillip glass pieces that were chosen
for the movie. If part of the charm of Danny Elfman's Good Will Hunting
Score last year was how it mixed so well with the Elliot Smith Songs inserted
into the movie, I think Burkhart Dallwitz should get the same recognition.
He would definitely be my choice for the Musical/Comedy Score and I'm very
dissapointed I haven't heard the CD mentioned in that context.
Webmasters...
We have just completed updating many of the links
here at the site. Those who run or are associated with film music sites:
I recommend you make sure your site is listed properly. Let me know if
not, and I'll fix it! Thanks.
Needless to say, if it's OK, don't write anything... my email inbox
has been overloaded as of late!
Have a great weekend! And look for Star Trek: The Motion Picture
2CD set in record stores on Tuesday... finally!
MailBag@filmscoremonthly.com
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