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Re: For people who like to take a break from the typical omnipresent Hollywood soundtrack there's always "Maurice" by Richard Robbins. I bought mine years ago as a part of "The E.M. Forster Trilogy" which is a 3-CD box for a very good price. The others of the threesome are "A Room with a View" and "Howard's End". But it's Maurice that is the jewel on the crown. If you're gonna buy only one Richard Robbins CD then I strongly suggest the very sad and hauntingly beautiful "Maurice".
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Alex Cremers
I came here after doing a search for any entries about Robbins. While I had been aware of his music for the Merchant Ivory films, mainly "A Room With A View," "Remains of the Day," and "Howard's End," it was with his very touching music for "Maurice" that I fell in love with his music. And I was happy to see that others here like that score as well. Many of the postings elsewhere revolve around his death, and I was surprised to learn that he was an American, having assumed wrongly that he was British. And I was happy to read that his score for "Maurice" was his own personal favorite. Can't imagine that movie without it!!!
For me, though, it's his very atmospheric score for "The White Couness" this is a holy grail, although one can find it at outrageously inflated prices on Amazon ($99.99 new, $410 used).
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I have enjoyed every Robbins score I've heard but MAURICE is very, very special. It's lovely through and through and along with HOWARDS END is my favorite score of his. I quite liked THE GOLDEN BOWL as well. And his concert work VIA CRUCIS is a wonderful insight into his art outside the context of film.
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nerfTractor:
But have you heard his soundtrack for "The White Countess"? By the time i saw that movie, the soundtrack CD had come and gone and, as I wrote, you would have to spend more than $100 to buy a copy ... if you could find one to buy! I have several of his soundtracks, including "A Room With a View," "Jefferson In Paris," "Remains of the Day," and, of course, "Howard's End." But, as already mentioned, the one that stands heads and shoulders above all of them is his "Maurice," which I simply adore.
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I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Robbins many years ago, and I asked him what emotion he was exploring with the main title. He said, "longing."
I then asked him why the end title takes the same melody, but flips it into a major key. He told me that this was to convey that the character no longer feels that sense of unfulfilled longing anymore.
I thought that was a very beautiful and effective approach.
Strangely enough, the one that touches me the most is the latter one, the end titles.
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I'm touched most by the main titles.
I too believe that Maurice is Richard Robbin's best work.
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Yes, as I already wrote, this remains my favorite Richard Robbins score, and I was pleased to read that it was the composer's own favorite of his many scores. But I also love the movie and was delighted when it was finally released on DVD.
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Yes, as I already wrote, this remains my favorite Richard Robbins score, and I was pleased to read that it was the composer's own favorite of his many scores. But I also love the movie and was delighted when it was finally released on DVD.
I hope it gets released in a Bluray too.
A criterion release like that of Howards End would be superb, but unfortunately it can't release any Ivory films again.
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Yes, as I already wrote, this remains my favorite Richard Robbins score, and I was pleased to read that it was the composer's own favorite of his many scores. But I also love the movie and was delighted when it was finally released on DVD.
I hope it gets released in a Bluray too.
A criterion release like that of Howards End would be superb, but unfortunately it can't release any Ivory films again.
And why not? Would like to see a Criterion Blu-ray of "Remains of the Day" -- it has a great audio commentary with Emma Thompson, who makes some very very funny comments about Anthony Hopkins and the look he created for his character. Funny, but one day I took down from the shelves both of my copies of the DVD releases of "Remains" and can't remember what I did with them! But CAN find both the original DVD and the Criterion special edition of "Howard's End." Just LOVED Merchant (and) Ivory. Did you see their "The White Countess"? It has one of Richard Robbins best soundtracks (AFTER, of course, "Maurice"!!!).
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Yes, as I already wrote, this remains my favorite Richard Robbins score, and I was pleased to read that it was the composer's own favorite of his many scores. But I also love the movie and was delighted when it was finally released on DVD.
I hope it gets released in a Bluray too.
A criterion release like that of Howards End would be superb, but unfortunately it can't release any Ivory films again.
And why not? Would like to see a Criterion Blu-ray of "Remains of the Day" -- it has a great audio commentary with Emma Thompson, who makes some very very funny comments about Anthony Hopkins and the look he created for his character. Funny, but one day I took down from the shelves both of my copies of the DVD releases of "Remains" and can't remember what I did with them! But CAN find both the original DVD and the Criterion special edition of "Howard's End." Just LOVED Merchant (and) Ivory. Did you see their "The White Countess"? It has one of Richard Robbins best soundtracks (AFTER, of course, "Maurice"!!!).
Merchant/Ivory sued Janus films (something about them selling their films, even after the rights had expired), so Criterion can't release any of their films again.
Remains of the Day is out in BLuray in Europe.
But yes, I'd prefer too a Criterion release.
I haven't seen nor heard "The White Countess".
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Re: "The White Couness"
The White Countess (2005)
Ralph Fiennes (Actor), Natasha Richardson (Actor), James Ivory (Director) | Rated: PG-13 | Format: DVD.
Probably the forgotten Merchant Ivory masterpiece, with a fine Ralph Fiennes and the lovely now sadly departed Natasha Richardson. Rent it! And it has one of my favorite, quite atmospheric, Richard Robbins scores.
http://www.imdb.com/rg/em_share/title_web/title/tt0384686
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Re: "The White Couness"
The White Countess (2005)
Ralph Fiennes (Actor), Natasha Richardson (Actor), James Ivory (Director) | Rated: PG-13 | Format: DVD.
Probably the forgotten Merchant Ivory masterpiece, with a fine Ralph Fiennes and the lovely now departed Natasha Richardson. Rent it!
yes, I know about it. I have it but haven't seen it yet.
By the way, I listened to the complete soundtrack, but unfortunately I would put this to my least favourite Robbins scores. It felt very repetitive and limited..
I like Remainds of the Day, Howards End, Room with a View, and Surviving Picasso, better.
I am not sure I have listened to any other Robbins score.
I'd be interested in listening to Mr. and Mrs. Bridge too..
Do you recommend any other?
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KonstantinosZ:
I have all you mentioned, with the exception of "Surviving Picasso," which I'm totally unfamiliar with. But I do have his "Jefferson In Paris," but can't single it out as much more than the familiar Richard Robbins fabric. I didn't realize that "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge" was by him, and will have to find my CD of it, which I've never downloaded to my iTunes.
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