It is wonderful. Does anyone know anything about the score for this movie? There are snippets from it on various compilation cds but cannot locate the full score.What a shame. More info would be appreciated.
I'm afraid I don't have any more info for you on this, but I love Clifton Parker and think he's very underrated. I have a re-recorded compilation of his work in the Chandos film music series which has a great suite from his score to the first live action Disney film, Treasure Island (1950) -- I hope Intrada can put out the complete score some day!
The suite you mention was reprised by Silva (an early Prague recording, and a bit woolly, but they're good now ...!) and it appears on some of their various war/D-Day compilations.
The clip claims to be the London Festival Orchestra, actually the LSO on their days off.
One thing about the score is that the slow march is a LOT like Arnold Bax's slow march for 'Malta GC.' The jaunty scherzando tune is about naval pilots taking off to hunt the Bismarck.
I wonder if that was a Stanley Black performance? He once conducted the LFO in Parker's 'Western Approaches', an exquisite seascape for a movie made with only Royal Navy veteran personnel and no professional actors, about the N. Atlantic convoys in WWII. That too is on YouTube. The album it appeared on, 'Film Spectacular', was re-issued in the USA, but with that exquisite track replaced!
I'm afraid I don't have any more info for you on this, but I love Clifton Parker and think he's very underrated. I have a re-recorded compilation of his work in the Chandos film music series which has a great suite from his score to the first live action Disney film, Treasure Island (1950) -- I hope Intrada can put out the complete score some day!
Thank you Yavar. I actually considered Damn The Defiant a few months back but didn't listen to the samples. I am glad you brought this to my attention. I can honestly say the name Clifton Parker is new to me. I discovered this clip when I was listening to some old Leigh Harline music on YouTube, having just bought a copy of The Enemy Below earlier today. Funny how one piece can lead you to another.
I'm afraid I don't have any more info for you on this, but I love Clifton Parker and think he's very underrated. I have a re-recorded compilation of his work in the Chandos film music series which has a great suite from his score to the first live action Disney film, Treasure Island (1950) -- I hope Intrada can put out the complete score some day!
I agree. The Chandos CD is full of good stuff, not only a march from SINK THE BISMARK, and a short piece from WESTERN APPROACHES, but several selections from TREASURE ISLAND. SINK THE BISMARK must have been one of the first movies I ever saw, but I was much too young to appreciate the music I'm sorry to say.
I absolutely treasure Parker's score for DAMN THE DEFIANT. One of my desert island discs for certain. Not a bad film either, for what it's worth (especially if you like Guiness, Bogard and Quayle).
I agree. The Chandos CD is full of good stuff, not only a march from SINK THE BISMARK, and a short piece from WESTERN APPROACHES, but several selections from TREASURE ISLAND. SINK THE BISMARK must have been one of the first movies I ever saw, but I was much too young to appreciate the music I'm sorry to say.
In the cases of 'Bismarck' and 'Western Approaches', there isn't enough score probably to fill any album. The 'Approaches' suite is the entire score to a film largely without music, in a documentary style. All the 'meat' of StB is in that suite too.
Western Approaches. Don't be put off by the sea SFX at the start: they work:
I cannot believe the memories that this clip brought back to me as I watched it. My parents were both huge music lovers and my mom in particular a fan of Stanley Black. My parents had every Phase 4 album featuring Mr. Black. I recall Broadway Blockbusters, every volume of Film Spectacular, Fiddler on the Roof, and one or two featuring latin music. This was back in the early 70s and the Phase 4 albums were the big thing back then and somewhat expensive. However, they sounded wonderful and my parents played them even when cds came on the scene. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I'm afraid I don't have any more info for you on this, but I love Clifton Parker and think he's very underrated. I have a re-recorded compilation of his work in the Chandos film music series which has a great suite from his score to the first live action Disney film, Treasure Island (1950) -- I hope Intrada can put out the complete score some day!
Could you please give the specific name of the Chandos series? The only compilation I see for Clifton Parker is one conducted by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Could you please give the specific name of the Chandos series? The only compilation I see for Clifton Parker is one conducted by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
It's this one: the BBC Concert orchestra are very good. Chandos recordings in the film series tend to use either them or the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester, and Rumon Gamba knows that he's doing:
If you're not familiar with the series, it's got a lot of titles now, and all great stuff, check them out. Around these parts, some will tell you they have too much echo, or reverb, or 'a concert hall ambience' or not close-miked enough. A matter of taste, but actually they're all great performances in the real world.
They tend to focus on British composers, but there are a couple of Korngold albums. The 'Sea Wolf' has too much echo, but 'The Sea Hawk' is great (as is Naxos' with the Moscow Symphony, and Varese's with the Utah SO).
Sorry, the pasted link above (even though it's from the right page!) doesn't link to the Parker: it links to a page called 'Film Music of Georges Auric' which shows 'Film Music of Prokofiev'!!!!!
DOES NOTHING WORK ANY MORE?!
Here's the whole series, try to find the right place to order from:
I cannot believe the memories that this clip brought back to me as I watched it. My parents were both huge music lovers and my mom in particular a fan of Stanley Black. My parents had every Phase 4 album featuring Mr. Black. I recall Broadway Blockbusters, every volume of Film Spectacular, Fiddler on the Roof, and one or two featuring latin music. This was back in the early 70s and the Phase 4 albums were the big thing back then and somewhat expensive. However, they sounded wonderful and my parents played them even when cds came on the scene. Thank you so much for sharing this.
If you're interested in the Stanley Black albums, Dutton/Vocalion have some on CD now: go here and type 'Stanley Black' in the 'search' box at top right:
I cannot believe the memories that this clip brought back to me as I watched it. My parents were both huge music lovers and my mom in particular a fan of Stanley Black. My parents had every Phase 4 album featuring Mr. Black. I recall Broadway Blockbusters, every volume of Film Spectacular, Fiddler on the Roof, and one or two featuring latin music. This was back in the early 70s and the Phase 4 albums were the big thing back then and somewhat expensive. However, they sounded wonderful and my parents played them even when cds came on the scene. Thank you so much for sharing this.
If you're interested in the Stanley Black albums, Dutton/Vocalion have some on CD now: go here and type 'Stanley Black' in the 'search' box at top right:
I do declare, the gremlins of entropy seem to make some recordings just hard to even find online.
William, I really appreciate all of your effort! I visited the Chandos site - looks wonderful. I also located a copy of the "The Film Music of Clifton Parker" on Amazon as well. Thank you so much - truly appreciated.
A lovely score (I've never heard a Clifton Parker score I didn't like), in the UK, the film is on this weekend & next week on Film Four in HD (& stereo). I've read (here I think) that the Fox scores recorded in the UK around this time are missing. I hope that's wrong, as I'd also love Malcolm Arnold's, The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness.
