I don't think it's going too far out on a limb to suggest that Jerry's replaced "Dress Waltz" from LEGEND was patterned quite knowingly after the ultimate impressionistic waltz piece, Maurice Ravel's "La Valse." Not many composers could have crafted an homage that is both such a clear tribute and yet sounds utterly unique and in their own style.
For some lovely ‘swirling grand waltzes’ & more; try Alfred Newman’s ‘Anastasia’ with his own Anastasia Waltz & one by Anton Arensky. Also Ernest Gold’s ‘Ship Of Fools’ (the RCA score conducted by Arthur Fiedler). There’s a gorgeous waltz on it called ‘Candlelight & Silver’ (it’s on YouTube), plus more similar goodies. One more too is a fine waltz from Nino Rota’s score for ‘War & Peace’ way back in the 50s too. Love ‘em.
Do you have any similar examples of these types of waltzes from among your favorite scores?
If the eminent ToneRow is open to a non-FILM score waltz, I wonder if he's familiar with Nielsen's 3rd Symphony, where the whole of the first movement is based around a wild symphonic waltz that is as far removed from a Tchaikovskian or Straussian waltz as can be imagined. This is a waltz with boxing gloves on, and I haven't come across anything as powerful in film music.
It also helps to give the lie to anyone who doesn't recognise this great Dane as one of the top dogs (heh) in 20th century music.
So many excellent examples of the genre . . . Newman's waltz used in DESIREE a personal favorite! All of these and some fine examples from Rodgers and Hammerstein: Cinderella Waltz and Lerner and Lowe: Embassy Waltz from My Fair Lady would be additionally wonderful.
Why oh why hasn't someone done a Bowl concert or something, a recording maybe, of all this fabulour music?
A couple of years ago, I watched a Bette Davie/Henry Fonda movie called JEZEBEL scored by Max Steiner. I really like the love theme which he incorporated into a lovely waltz.
I wish I could find a clip from the Wagon Train series, but I can't find one. In 1957 Ann Blyth did an episode for Wagon Train called The Jenny Tannen Story, and John Williams composed a GORGEOUS waltz for this episode, and she actually sang lyrics to this waltz. I'll keep searching.
