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INTRADA Announces:
THE MIRACLE
Music Composed and Conducted by ELMER BERNSTEIN
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 243
The Miracle was one of the most ambitious and significant scores of Bernstein’s early career. The composer acknowledged its importance when, responding to numerous fan requests, he chose it as the first of his own scores to re-record for his pioneering Film Music Collection in 1974. That LP featured about 27 minutes of the score. But until now, the original tracks from Bernstein's score have never been available. In an article for his Film Music Notebook, Bernstein explained: “The score for The Miracle was composed in the late fifties and represents the conclusion of the lessons learned during my apprenticeship with C.B. DeMille on the religious spectacular. In fact, The Miracle represents the last score I did in this particular style as it is the last film I scored with a religious theme.”
The early 19th-century setting and the Spanish locale provided new opportunities for Bernstein. “The style of the music is somewhat reminiscent of The Ten Commandments,” he wrote. “The sound is ‘big’ in the old sense. The [musical] ‘mise-en-scène’ is romantic-symphonic. The score differs from The Ten Commandments in that The Miracle is considerably more romantic and the fact that the period is early 19th century provides a freedom of expression one does not enjoy in a biblical context.” This will hit the listener right way, when the principal theme is introduced during the main title in a lush, romantic setting.
This premiere release of Bernstein’s score on this 2-CD set for The Miracle was mixed and mastered from monaural dubs of the orchestral and vocal tracks archived at Warner Bros. originally on ¼-inch tapes, transferred to 2-inch as part of a preservation project in the 1990s.
The Miracle started in the Middle Ages with a 13th-century Spanish legend: a nun leaves the convent to pursue earthly temptations while a statue of the Virgin Mary comes to life and takes her place until she— transformed into a sorrowful penitent—returns.
Years in the making! Elmer Bernstein fans place such high esteem on epic 1959 score that composer starts club in 1974, makes highlights from The Miracle the first of his own music to re-record. 26 minutes make it to second LP on his private label, but incredible wealth of powerhouse music including massive choral segments, battle music, entire Spanish elements of score remain unrecorded... until now! Over 90 minutes of actual soundtrack music spread over 2 CDs! Large-scale picture from Warner Bros. directed by Irving Rapper, starring Carroll Baker, Roger Moore is set during vibrant era of Napoleonic Wars in 1812. Religious story sees young postulant leaving convent to pursue love, adventure. As Teresa embarks on worldly adventures, statue of Virgin Mary assumes her place until she returns. Tale of faith, love, war and tragedy all inspire Bernstein to create lengthy, ambitious score in vein of legendary Ten Commandments score for Cecil B. DeMille. Massive chords launch work from outset, spotlighting great power of Church, faith. Bernstein creates sweeping primary love theme for initial romance with British Captain during first part of movie, then writes dynamic Spanish-flavor music for her life amongst gypsies, new romance with bullfighter. This portion of score transforms theme into earthier shadings, brings in flamenco colors. Also highlighting both parts of film score are two massive cues underscoring the miracle itself (CD 1, track 8), battle of Waterloo (CD 2, track 12). Miracle sequence presents Bernstein at his most powerful, with magnificent series of fortissimo major chords for large orchestra, chorus playing in epic manner. Bernstein also arranges, adapts several period pieces to augment tale, all of which appear as "extras" on CD 2. Both versions of penultimate cue ("Gratitude") also appear. Entire presentation, including both orchestra and all choral overlays, comes from pristine mono elements housed at Warner Bros. Informative notes by Frank DeWald, old-fashioned "spectacular-style" artwork rounds out magnificent package. Elmer Bernstein conducts. Intrada Special Collection 2-CD set available while quantities and interest remain!
CD 1
01. Main Title 2:19
02. At First Sight 2:34
03. Aftermath 1:29
04. Infirmary 3:02
05. Un Momento 2:46
06. Convalescence 1:52
07. Stolen Fruit 1:35
08. Departure/Decision/Flight/French Attack 12:09
09. Musical Watch/Death News 1:12
10. Christian Gypsy/Proposal 2:41
11. A Woman for Carlitos/Michael’s Return 0:48
12. Betrayal/Guido Dead 4:41
CD 1 Total Time: 37:32
CD 2
01. Madrid 2:18
02. With Your Permission/The Painting 1:02
03. Casimir Exits 0:59
04. Teresa and Cordoba 1:53
05. Hail the Matador/The Bull 0:52
06. Cordoba’s Death 1:58
07. La Morena Gitana 0:58
08. Reunion 3:14
09. Toast to Victory/Waltz 3:30
10. Forgotten Vows 3:19
11. Bugles/Action 1:12
12. Waterloo/Teresa Departs/The Journey/Arrival at Convent/Madonna Returns 11:35
13. Gratitude 0:55
14. Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart, arr. Bernstein)/End Title 2:47
The Extras
15. French Attack (alternate) 3:11
16. A Woman for Carlitos/Michael’s Return (film version, no vocal) 0:48
17. Gratitude (alternate) 0:57
18. Oh Maria, Madre Mia (Traditional, arr. Bernstein) 3:05
19. Salve Virgen Pura (Unknown, arr. Bernstein) 2:28
20. British Grenadiers (Unknown, arr. Bernstein) 0:57
21. Auld Lang Syne (Traditional, arr. Bernstein) 1:09
22. La Boca de Pepita (Unknown, arr. Bernstein) 2:03
23. Cancion de Maja (Unknown, arr. Bernstein) 2:09
24. Muineira (Unknown, arr. Bernstein) 0:49
25. Adoramus Te (Palestrina, arr. Bernstein) 2:07
CD 2 Total Time: 57:17
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 243
Retail Price: $24.99
Available Now
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Posted: |
Sep 30, 2013 - 5:46 PM
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By: |
manderley
(Member)
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Awesome release !!!
Doug Fake, while you are in this generous mood, may I cask for another Warners score from this period.
Fanny - 1961
The album is a bad rerecording with small orchestra, about half of which is stuff not actually in the film.
I would love the complete 75 minute actual soundtrack with large orchestra.
Joe is correct, THE MIRACLE does sound marvelous!
As to the FANNY request, though I'd love it too, I don't believe FANNY is still owned by Warners. It was distributed on DVD (and with an included CD of the score) by Image Entertainment in 2008, presumably licensed from the production entity which "owns" the
copyright, Mansfield Productions.
Perhaps Mansfield is related to Josh Logan's estate, or more likely, the estate of the original creator of the written material, Marcel Pagnol, which has made the release of other versions of this, particularly MGM's PORT OF SEVEN SEAS, difficult to impossible so far. Still another clearance problem could be that of composer Harold Rome.
If someone could battle through the rights and red-tape, it would be a worthy issue---though I imagine that anything still stored in the WB vaults and that could be cleared would be mono, unfortunately.
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Awesome release !!!
Doug Fake, while you are in this generous mood, may I cask for another Warners score from this period.
Fanny - 1961
The album is a bad rerecording with small orchestra, about half of which is stuff not actually in the film.
I would love the complete 75 minute actual soundtrack with large orchestra.
With all due respect, whatever one may think of the contents of the Fanny re-recording, it is hardly a "bad" recording - in fact, it is a great recording and typical of the Warners' albums of that time, i.e. great, great stereo recordings. I don't know how large you "think" the original orchestra was but it was, in all likelihood, fifty pieces or thereabouts, which was standard for that time. The re-recording probably had thirty-five to forty but you would not know that from listening as it in no way, shape or form sounds small.
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Posted: |
Sep 30, 2013 - 7:04 PM
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By: |
manderley
(Member)
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Awesome release !!!
Doug Fake, while you are in this generous mood, may I cask for another Warners score from this period.
Fanny - 1961
The album is a bad rerecording with small orchestra, about half of which is stuff not actually in the film.
I would love the complete 75 minute actual soundtrack with large orchestra.
With all due respect, whatever one may think of the contents of the Fanny re-recording, it is hardly a "bad" recording - in fact, it is a great recording and typical of the Warners' albums of that time, i.e. great, great stereo recordings. I don't know how large you "think" the original orchestra was but it was, in all likelihood, fifty pieces or thereabouts, which was standard for that time. The re-recording probably had thirty-five to forty but you would not know that from listening as it in no way, shape or form sounds small.
I agree. These WB Records stereo recordings of the early 1960s---the Lionel Newman/Erich Korngold, Heindorf's SPELLBOUND and FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS and the GERSHWIN set, AUNTIE MAME and, I presume, ROME ADVENTURE and PARRISH and JOHN PAUL JONES---all sound wonderful. I see no recording scrimping here other than that the full scores have not been recorded. I treasure all of them and still listen to them regularly now---50 years later.
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For 1959 mono, the samples sound pretty incredible. Have never heard of this one, but am intrigued...
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Me too. Just picked one up. I'm only familiar with the recording from the Elmer box. Illumination awaits.
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I got my shipping notification this morning.
Should be in tomorrow's mail delivery.
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