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I don´t have this on CD other than the CD-R I transfered from vinyl. But the music is wonderful; it happens that I listened it just a week ago. And as much as the Mountbatten Theme reminds me of Elgar´s music, I have nevertheless enjoyed it through the years. The farewell music at the end is just as Elgarian and even more lovelier. I also like the way he uses the sitar as part of his orchestrations, which are always such a delight to listen to. And the aggressive bits in between are some of Scott´s most violent outbursts of his career. As I have said before, it´s a kind of music he really enjoys writing, his true musical persona as he has stated, hard as it is to believe, considering his marvellous gift for exquisite melody. Mountbatten is one of those "Oriental" scores of Scott´s (King of the Wind, The Long Duel, The Deceivers, The Second Jungle Book) that he has always been particularly inspired to write. I´d like to take the opportunity here to remind you of one of his most sumptuous scores in similar vein, namely the 1986 miniseries Harem, which has unfortunately never been issued on CD. I consider it an absolutely enchanting piece of work; the main theme is extremely sensual, even erotic affair, something you don´t hear that often from Scott (Antony and Cleopatra is a notable exception). This is one of those scores to die for, ravishingly beautiful Scheherazade-like music. It´s available on DVD though, fortunately. Great point Kev, reminding of the jazz influences in Scott´s, Goldsmith´s and Williams´ music. I don´t think it´s a coincidence that all these great composers have a jazz background, something I have always regarded with great interest. By the way, don´t be too modest in your abilities to evaluate the music, Kev. You´re obviously a man of great taste.
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I like it. Similar feel to "The Scarlet Tunic", which is one of my favorite Scott scores (despite the unwelcome and lengthy section of standard military bugle calls placed ridiculously right in the middle of the Tunic CD). The Main Title of Mountbatten opens with a motif that also features strongly in the Tunic score. The sound of my Movietracks CD is very good – better than some of Scott's JOS CDs. The packaging reminds me of Scott's early JOS releases. I'd always assumed (perhaps mistakenly) that this was released by Scott himself. I was told by the person who gave me a copy of it that the CD had been sent to him many years ago, at no cost, by Scott personally.
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It's listed on the non-official John Scott website, along with the Movietracks CD I just checked that site and saw a reference to a Scott score for the Fairbanks version of "Robin Hood" which was performed by the RPO live to film last year. I hadn't heard of that. I bet it's terrific. Anyone heard of any plans to release a CD?
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I don´t think Robin Hood has been recorded at all. It was composed in 2006-2007 and has so far been performed live two times accompanying the picture (in Nottingham premiere and London last year). Scott said in recent interview: ‘I didn’t want to be compared with Korngold. But then I thought, I’m not going to copy Korngold. I’m just going to write a score that I believe in...’ ‘With a silent film the music never stops, so it was a relentless process...´ ` It’s a swashbuckler. There’s adventure music, baddy music and romance.’ Yes, a CD would be nice.
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From John Scott´s own article, Robin Hood: The Silent Treatment (2007): The main themes contained in the score are: (1) The crusader´s theme, a theme of adventure and heroism which relates to King Richard. (2) Maid Marion´s theme, the romantic element expressing her longing for the man who has captured her heart. (3) Prince John´s theme conveying the suffering and brutal torture inflicted on the people during King Richard´s absence. (4) Robin Hood´s theme, a swashbuckling theme full of humour, daring and adventure. This theme only truly emerges in the second half of the film when the Earl of Huntingdon assumes the full character of Robin Hood. Doesnt´t it whet your appetite? And when I add that the film is over two hours long with continuous music, it pretty much makes you ravenous!
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It´s good to live in hope. Harem, Robin Hood (1922/2006-07), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920/2002-03, his first of two silent film scores), those numerous nature documentaries he´s done through the decades (Jacques Cousteau, Jane Goodall, Hugo van Lawick, IMAX), The Long Duel, Hennessy, England Made Me, Return of the Saint (TV series from the 70´s, he did all the 24 episodes) to name some of the most delectable.
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I listened to a suite on Youtube; not as good as was written here, but it was plesant enough. There was one cue I think could be substituted for the Throne Room sequence in "Star Wars: Episode IV".
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