 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jan 21, 2012 - 5:56 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Richard-W
(Member)
|
The Silva Screen CD and Cloud Nine CD are the original instrumental scores recorded by Nino Rota in 1967-68. They include the love them, sung. Both are out of print, pricey, and a cherished treasure. I think it's the best soundtrack music I ever heard in 45 years of movie-going:
http://www.amazon.com/Romeo-Juliet/dp/B000025LBZ/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193664&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/FRANCO-ZEFFIRELLIS-ROMEO-JULIET-SOUNDTRACK/dp/B0015227DU/ref=sr_1_27?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193474&sr=1-27
Either / or edition needs to be brought back into print, and quickly. I forget which one includes a sample at the end of the City of Prague's re-recording.
The Capitol and EMI / Capitol CD is the same as the 1968 LP, the original score supporting dialogue from the film. It's much easier to come by than either the Silva Screen or the Cloud Nine because it's always been in print. That was the first soundtrack LP I bought, and my first exposure to Shakespeare, which grew into a lifetime preoccupation. Or distraction, depending on how you look at it:
http://www.amazon.com/Romeo-Juliet-Nino-Rota/dp/B00000DR9R/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193384&sr=1-4
The City of Prague's re-recording, released by Silva America, includes the dance number The Moresca which the original score CD's do not. I haven't heard it but I'm reliably informed the recording is very fine:
http://www.amazon.com/Zeffirellis-Premiere-Digital-Recording-Complete/dp/B000066SF9/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193384&sr=1-5
Richard
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jan 23, 2012 - 9:03 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Rozsaphile
(Member)
|
You would think this music is loved universally. The picture was a big success, the love theme (simplified) became a pop hit, and public demand resulted in a music ST album as well as the original dialogue + music disc.
One of the strangest comments I ever encountered was Royal S. Brown's dismissal in some High Fidelity review. (I think this was pre-Fanfare.) He said he didn't know anybody who could possibly like the R&J score, "except possibly Rota's mother." Brown was enthusiastic about Rota's very different Fellini scores, which he described (nicely) as "surreal pop". And of course hyperbole is not unknown in film music circles. Still, you have to wonder about this particular head scratcher.
For those unfamiliar with RSB, he was a very sophisticated scholar of cinema (esp. Godard and Hitchcock) who also respected lots of Hollywood film music. He reviewed film music albums for High Fidelity from the late 1960s and then in Fanfare for many years. He wrote a useful book, Overtones and Undertones, and also published a collection of his Fanfare writings. Well, we all have our blind spots.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Nov 22, 2012 - 9:27 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Bill Finn
(Member)
|
Since I just watched my DVD of the movie tonight, I feel compelled to reply.
First, let me say that I love the music. I've had the album since it was released,
and now a CD. I play the music myself (barely) on the piano.
But, to me, in the film, it's just a bit TOO MUCH. But then again, the film itself,
was basically the Shakespeare play, on film. Not really edited as most movies are
or were. So for me the film itself was a bit too much.
I had just wanted to do a comparison, as a few nights ago I watched "Taming
Of the Shrew". Also based on Shakespare and also produced by Zeferelli. I was
surprised, at how much more I enjoyed Shrew than I did Romeo & Juliet. Same
composer of course. I now like Rota's Shrew music (as a film score) better than his
Romeo score. 40 years ago, I would never have imagined me saying that.
Serves me right for getting older and changing my mind!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
