I recently watched "QB VII" on DVD and afterwards, I played the soundtrack album.
To my ears at least, the album appears to be a re-recording. Apart from the combining of the cues on the album, I also noticed the use of an early sythn in a couple of them, of which I could not hear on the DVD (admittedly, the DVD’s soundtrack is in mono).
This begs the question; is the album in fact a re-recording and where was it (and the film's original soundtrack) recorded?
As so much of the film was shot in the U.K., it makes sense that the score would have be recorded there as well.
However, after playing the album, the orchestra's performance (to me) doesn't seem to be on par with the quality musicians of the UK.
If anyone can shed any light, I would be most obliged.
I recently watched "QB VII" on DVD and afterwards, I played the soundtrack album.
To my ears at least, the album appears to be a re-recording. Apart from the combining of the cues on the album, I also noticed the use of an early sythn in a couple of them, of which I could not hear on the DVD (admittedly, the DVD’s soundtrack is in mono).
This begs the question; is the album in fact a re-recording and where was it (and the film's original soundtrack) recorded?
As so much of the film was shot in the U.K., it makes sense that the score would have be recorded there as well.
However, after playing the album, the orchestra's performance (to me) doesn't seem to be on par with the quality musicians of the UK.
If anyone can shed any light, I would be most obliged.
Jay
The following is just a guess on my part.
I suspect that post production was done in Hollywood and the score was recorded here which is why the OST wasn't used.
As for the album.
I suspect it was re-recorded in Italy, I seem to recall some credit that suggests that.
But the one thing is for sure is that the LP is not the original soundtrack recording.
I suspect that post production was done in Hollywood and the score was recorded here which is why the OST wasn't used.
As for the album.
I suspect it was re-recorded in Italy, I seem to recall some credit that suggests that.
But the one thing is for sure is that the LP is not the original soundtrack recording.
Not to add to the confusion, but the mix on the CD is a little different in some cues from on the LP. The performance is the same on both, but the Hebrew chants toward the end of "Jadwiga Relived" are mixed more into the foreground on the Intrada CD, wheras they fade-out sooner on the LP. The opening of this cue also has a few extras bars.
Maybe they were different mixes / edits of the album recording.
Anyway Ford's probably right. I read someplace (I forget where) that the music was recorded in Italy, and this article mentioned that Alexander Courage was trying to teach the Italian choir to sing the Hebrew lyrics. Whether that was the soundtrack or a later rerecording was not clear.
The playing and recording quailty on QB VII reminds me of Papillon, whic was also recorded in Italy. In any case I consider it one of Goldsmith's finest. I'd love to see a new recording with music from QB VII, Masada and the never released The Going Up of David Lev.
From the liner notes (by Douglas S Cramer): -To composer Jerry Goldsmith fell what is surely the toughest assignment any film composer has ever faced. [since the show was such an undertaking concerning production, and had a final viewing of over 6 hours] His final score is over two hours long, with enough different themes for half a dozen motion pictures.
.......And there STILL isn't an expanded album for this one!!
It does then explain the music being better performed on the actual film's soundtrack than the LP/CD release.
It's a pity that the VHS/DVD release of "QB VII" wasn't in stereo as I was attempting to extract those multiple little stingers that are so prevalent in the series and putting them onto a CDR.
Now, the odd thing is, the fidelity of the music extracts I recorded are far better from the VHS tape than the DVD release (!) Even in mono, the VHS sound is far superior.
From the liner notes (by Douglas S Cramer): …. His final score is over two hours long, with enough different themes for half a dozen motion pictures.…
After viewing the whole series, I very much doubt that there was anything near 2 hours of music. Most of the cues are relatively short and only occasionally appear to exceed one minute (or so) in duration (excepting the Chagall Windows & Jadwega scenes, etc.)
The length of the “QB VII” album (apx. 31 min.) is a good example of “less is more”. If one takes into consideration that the album combines multiple cues (representing all of the film’s themes), it would have been redundant to extend its length by very much. As much as I enjoyed those short “stingers” and other very brief musical tidbits, I must confess, that it really would not have added to the overall listening experience.
I recently watched "QB VII" on DVD and afterwards, I played the soundtrack album.
To my ears at least, the album appears to be a re-recording. Apart from the combining of the cues on the album, I also noticed the use of an early sythn in a couple of them, of which I could not hear on the DVD (admittedly, the DVD’s soundtrack is in mono).
This begs the question; is the album in fact a re-recording and where was it (and the film's original soundtrack) recorded?
As so much of the film was shot in the U.K., it makes sense that the score would have be recorded there as well.
However, after playing the album, the orchestra's performance (to me) doesn't seem to be on par with the quality musicians of the UK.
If anyone can shed any light, I would be most obliged.
Jay
The following is just a guess on my part.
I suspect that post production was done in Hollywood and the score was recorded here which is why the OST wasn't used.
As for the album.
I suspect it was re-recorded in Italy, I seem to recall some credit that suggests that.
But the one thing is for sure is that the LP is not the original soundtrack recording.
Ford A. Thxton
Parts were shot in Israel, too. By the way, if you watch the D.V.D., watch and listen carefully to the scene where Abraham Cady meets Lady Margaret Alexander, you can hear John Barry and Don Black's "Born Free" as cocktail music on the piano ("Born Free", of course, beat Goldsmith's score for "The Sand Pebbles" and won an Oscar for Best Song).
By the way, the original album had two different back covers of Goldsmith conducting. One was the black on white seriograph (?) that was reused for the C.D. reisssue, and the other was a white on black version.
I recently watched "QB VII" on DVD and afterwards, I played the soundtrack album.
To my ears at least, the album appears to be a re-recording. Apart from the combining of the cues on the album, I also noticed the use of an early sythn in a couple of them, of which I could not hear on the DVD (admittedly, the DVD’s soundtrack is in mono).
This begs the question; is the album in fact a re-recording and where was it (and the film's original soundtrack) recorded?
As so much of the film was shot in the U.K., it makes sense that the score would have be recorded there as well.
However, after playing the album, the orchestra's performance (to me) doesn't seem to be on par with the quality musicians of the UK.
If anyone can shed any light, I would be most obliged.
Jay
The following is just a guess on my part.
I suspect that post production was done in Hollywood and the score was recorded here which is why the OST wasn't used.
As for the album.
I suspect it was re-recorded in Italy, I seem to recall some credit that suggests that.
But the one thing is for sure is that the LP is not the original soundtrack recording.
Ford A. Thxton
I totally agree, Mr. Thaxton, because there's some tempos and instrumentation that was slightly altered for the album. Also, the version of "Jadwiga Relived" is an alternate take, and not the one from the original album.
From the liner notes (by Douglas S Cramer): -To composer Jerry Goldsmith fell what is surely the toughest assignment any film composer has ever faced. [since the show was such an undertaking concerning production, and had a final viewing of over 6 hours] His final score is over two hours long, with enough different themes for half a dozen motion pictures.
.......And there STILL isn't an expanded album for this one!!
......I'm STILL waiting for it too, because it was the very first film score by Jerry Goldsmith I heard (I saw Pt. 1 of the original miniseries on my 13th birthday).
According to this interview with John Burlingame, Goldsmith says QB VII was recorded in Italy (for budgetary reasons). He doesn't go into whether the LP was a rerecording, but confirms the OST was done in Rome.
Listening to the Prometheus CD, this question can finally be put to bed, with the other two thirds of the score finally available in stunning sound and first rate performance.
Listening to the Prometheus CD, this question can finally be put to bed, with the other two thirds of the score finally available in stunning sound and first rate performance.
Yes, the Prometheus CD is first rate! I also have the original Intrada re-recording.
I love them both, but that Prometheus CD - just stunning!:-)
