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Posted: |
May 9, 2012 - 3:30 AM
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By: |
David-R.
(Member)
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BUYSOUNDTRAX Records is proud to present a new recording of the score for the 1985 fantasy film, LEGEND, featuring music composed by electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream (SORCERER, THIEF, RISKY BUSINESS) for the fantasy film directed by Ridley Scott (ALIEN, BLADE RUNNER, THE DUELLISTS), written by William Hjortsberg and starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara and Tim Curry. Tangerine Dream’s electronic music for the film is presented here in a new recording produced and arranged by composer Brandon K. Verrett.
LEGEND is a visually stunning fantasy/adventure that takes place in a mythical forest inhabited by fairies, goblins, unicorns and mortals, where an epic battle of Good versus Evil begins to unfold. Tom Cruise plays Jack, a peasant boy in love, perhaps tragically, with the beautiful princess Lili (Mia Sara). Jack and Lili become pawns in a much larger game as the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) exploits their relationship to reveal the location of the remaining members of the purest race in the world, the last pair of Unicorns. He dispatches his goblins to kill the Unicorns and claim their horns, so that he may claim their mystical power and bring about an everlasting age of Darkness. Jack finds himself forced to undertake a quest, to save Lili, try to prevent the death of the last Unicorn and defeat the plans of the Lord Of Darkness, or the sun will rise no more.
The music for LEGEND was a subject of great controversy in 1985. Initially, Ridley Scott had turned to composer Jerry Goldsmith to score the film, which would reunite them after their great success on ALIEN in 1979. Goldsmith responded by writing an enchanting, organic symphonic score emphasizing strings, woodwinds and choir, a score that the composer, the director of the film and many others felt was among Goldsmith’s best work. After a disappointing test screening, studio executives encouraged Ridley Scott to replace the music with something that would be more commercially appealing to the film’s expected youth market. Tangerine Dream had realized great success with their score to RISKY BUSINESS in 1983, another film aimed at the youth market and so they were hired to compose a brand new score for the film.
Tangerine Dream ultimately composed 80 minutes of music for LEGEND, using 35 different synthesizers, yielding a score that many feel is the group’s finest musical endeavor for film. Despite inevitable comparison between the two scores, the music that Tangerine Dream composed for the film was extremely effective and remains their most lyrical and complex work for films, from the delicate melody for Nell’s Cottage, the hauntingly fragile melody for the Unicorns, the crackling percussive motif for the Goblins and and the pervasive dark synthetic pulses associated with Darkness.
In the spirit of BSX’s fondness for reinterpreting significant film scores new musical presentations, composer/arranger Brandon K. Verrett has created a new performance of Tangerine Dream’s music for LEGEND, keeping an eye toward respect for their original performances and ear toward the sounds of today’s technology. With this new performance of the LEGEND score, album producer Ford A. Thaxton wanted to bring out the many beautiful elements that existed within Tangerine Dream’s music but could not be realized with the gear used in 1985, taking into account how much technology has changed in 27 years since the music was first recorded and giving it a fresh face, utilizing the modern digital instruments of 2012.
To prepare for the project, composer Brandon K. Verrett thoroughly studied Tangerine Dream’s complete score. His intention for the new recording was to stay true to the familiar soundtrack performances of the original score but to do so while retaining the freedom to put his own musical stamp on the presentation. According to the composer, “Those who are familiar with the original score will find subtle changes in tempo, musical gestures and timbre. Some of the interpretations may be found to be fairly literal. Other tracks seem to invite more development and exploration and with those tracks, I allowed myself to explore Tangerine Dream’s material and to paraphrase using my own compositional vocabulary.” While the original score was composed largely on synthesizers, this new recording of LEGEND retains the original organic concept of the instrumentation, augmenting it with violin, erhu, piano, guitar, voice, cello and other exotic instruments, carefully molded to bring the music alive. This mindset extended to the songs featured in the film and this new recording of LEGEND also includes new presentations of the classic songs “Loved By The Sun” and “Is Your Love Strong Enough”, featuring the voice of singer Katie Campbell.
Brandon K. Verrett’s formal musical training began at age 11. After having discovered an interest in composing while in middle and high school, Verrett continued his studies at the University of Lousiana-Monroe, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in theory and composition. He also holds a graduate certificate in Scoring For Motion Pictures And Television from the University Of Southern California. Verrett’s scores have been featured in films for theatrical and television releases and have also premiered in both local and international festivals. In addition to composing, Verrett’s arrangements and orchestrations can be found in films such as PRIEST, DRAG ME TO HELL, UNTRACEABLE, THE INFORMERS and many other films.
BUYSOUNDTRAX proudly presents LEGEND – MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE, featuring a new exciting recording of music composed by Tangerine Dream, produced and arranged by Brandon K. Verrett, featuring vocal performances by Katie Campbell. LEGEND – MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE includes exclusive liner wrotes written by noted author Randall D. Larson, detailing the history of the film’s music and new comments from composer/arranger Brandon K. Verrett related to the development of the project. LEGEND – MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE also features striking front cover and rear tray artwork produced by noted artist and illustrator Jerry Bingham (BATMAN: SON OF THE DEMON, BEOWULF) that is exclusive to this release.
LEGEND – MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE is a limited edition release of 1500 units. The first 100 units ordered from our website will include a booklet signed by composer/arranger Brandon K. Verrett and singer Katie Campbell.
BSXCD-8909
Music From The Motion Picture
Legend
Music Composed by
Tangerine Dream
Produced and Arranged by
Brandon K. Verrett
$15.95
Ships 5/21/12
1. Prologue (2:28)
2. Opening (3:41)
3. Cottage (4:15)
4. Unicorn Theme (4:48)
5. Goblins (4:48)
6. Fairies (2:58)
7. Blue Room (3:58)
8. The Dance (2:19)
9. Darkness (3:10)
10. Kitchen Fight (3:26)
11. Unicorn Theme Reprise (1:45)
12. Jack Versus Darkness (3:29)
13. Unicorn Saga (3:52)
14. Loved By the Sun (6:27)
Music: Tangerine Dream
Lyrics: Jon Anderson
Performed by Katie Campbell
15. The Unicorn Song (3:19)
Adapted from “The Angel” by William Blake
Performed by Katie Campbell
16. Is Your Love
Strong Enough (5:31)
Music: Tangerine Dream
Lyrics: Bryan Ferry
Performed by Katie Campbell
17. Cottage - Alternate (3:19)
18. Unicorn Theme
Alternate (4:42)
19. Fairies - Alternate (2:50)
20.Unicorn Saga
Alternate (4:33)
Total Time: 74:07
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Very interresting remake, very nice cover.
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I gave it chance and listened to music clips, my view still does not change and will stick with the original release.
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Hmmm....
These guys have so idiosyncratic sounds, that they will be exposed to lots of scrutiny by fans.
That was my first thought. Hold on to your butts...
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Samples sound great so I'll be ordering this. Thanks BSX!
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The samples sound good, I had liked Brandon's previous cover of the Unicorn theme. But I have to admit tremendous disappointment that basically we're just seeing a re-recording of the MCA album with two short added cues, plus songs.
Well, it's a bit more the just a "Re-Recording", it's a very different take on both the score and even the songs. If you review the press release it will point this out.
In short, it's a very different animal then the soundtrack that tries to be very respectful of the music as well.
All we ask is that you listen to the samples and make up your own mind.
We'll be posting samples of the alternate tracks later today.
Ford A. Thaxton
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I don't remember the original recording so I am as a "virgin" respect to this score, but I really enjoyed the BSX samples.
Ordered from SAE together with Moon 44 & The Sword and the Sorcerer.
Cheers!
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Posted: |
May 9, 2012 - 12:24 PM
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By: |
MikeP
(Member)
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The samples sound good, I had liked Brandon's previous cover of the Unicorn theme. But I have to admit tremendous disappointment that basically we're just seeing a re-recording of the MCA album with two short added cues, plus songs.
Well, it's a bit more the just a "Re-Recording", it's a very different take on both the score and even the songs. If you review the press release it will point this out.
In short, it's a very different animal then the soundtrack that tries to be very respectful of the music as well.
All we ask is that you listen to the samples and make up your own mind.
We'll be posting samples of the alternate tracks later today.
Ford A. Thaxton
Absolutely, and to me, as a die hard TD fan, the samples DO sound good. Brandon's take on the Unicorn theme ( the already released single version ) is great, as you said it sounds to be more of an acoustic / quasi orchestral version, which IS very nice indeed. The Jack vs Darkness sounds nice... not adhering to the original like a carbon copy
The cover art looks stunning as well. I think this'll be a must have for those who couldn't afford the pricey OOP Varese CD
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