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Loooong time favorite. One of FSM's happiest releases for me.
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"The Pharaoh's Procession" alone is worth the cost the 2-cd set. A wonderful score made even better by the unique sound of the 1950's Warner Bros. orchestra.
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He was perfectly cast in it all right.
But not just because of the 'big Hollywood' angle. I recall thinking when I first heard Gerhardt's take on the Dalai Lama's funeral procession in 'Lost Horizon', 'This sounds Egyptian' .... it could be a Pharaoh's funeral, the bells, the orientalisms, but also the quick descending intervals that denote Africa in everything from 'White Witch Doctor' to 'Zulu'.
My old mate Carl Jung used to say that Egypt was better approached via the Hamitic rather than the Semitic mindset, and he's right (i.e., the feel of Egypt in her greatest era was African, not Arabic) and it needs that sort of approach musically. That's what he gives it.
I'm sure Hawks and those in the loop made the same connection in casting this film. It's the best evocation of Egypt in any movie score, not sliding down the Arabic, or the Aida traps, but going for its own feel. And never corny.
Avoid the obvious. De Bosio's 'Moses the Lawgiver' is the most VISUALLY accurate depiction, and not one person in that production ever wears that silly square-head dishcloth that everybody thinks is Egyptian in movies, but which is really a misinterpretation of a Pharaoh's lion's mane headdress. And in LotPs you have the MUSICALLY best evocation, because Tiomkin avoids the vampy kitsch sand-dances and goes for the big African feel, which hits the spot.
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I had put off purchase of this for years because I had the idea from the samples that there was a high percentage of source/choral cues mixed in with the dramatic underscore, but I recently relented. Happily, with very little editing, I still have 90 minutes of prime Tiomkin. Anyone who likes Fall of the Roman Empire or 55 Days at Peking will like this.
That's one I really tried to like. I am crazy about Roman Empire and The Alamo, but Land of the Pharaohs (despite the at times really interesting opening music with the choral, etc) sounded really cluttered to me from an orchestration perspective. And just kind of messy overall. Granted, it could be the restoration could only do so much...I don't know.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it comes out amazingly rerecorded.
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That's one I really tried to like. I am crazy about Roman Empire and The Alamo, but Land of the Pharaohs (despite the at times really interesting opening music with the choral, etc) sounded really cluttered to me from an orchestration perspective. And just kind of messy overall. Granted, it could be the restoration could only do so much...I don't know.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it comes out amazingly rerecorded.
Elmer Bernstein recorded a substantial suite of LAND OF THE PHARAOHS for his personal music label. FSM released it as part of a box set, which unfortunately is now out of print. However, if you ever get the chance to hear it, this may be the performance that wins you over. It's a less hysterical take on the music.
I'm definitely interested. Maybe I'll luck out on ebay.
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Well even brand new, the Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection (which like so many other things you've been interested in, only sold out from SAE this past year) was $199.95, $20 more than the Rozsa Treasury because of the fancy hardcover book. It did go on sale several times before selling out, at least once for 50% off...but I think the chances of finding it cheap now are slim and if you get that kinda money you'll still be wanting to prioritize the Rozsa Treasury.
Yavar
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Well even brand new, the Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection (which like so many other things you've been interested in, only sold out from SAE this past year) was $199.95, $20 more than the Rozsa Treasury because of the fancy hardcover book. It did go on sale several times before selling out, at least once for 50% off...but I think the chances of finding it cheap now are slim and if you get that kinda money you'll still be wanting to prioritize the Rozsa Treasury.
Yavar
The Rozsa Treasury I'm hoping to have happen within the next six to eight weeks, and a lot of it has to do with my tax return lol! I want it like crazy, but I've been so inspired with all the single and double disc cds that I haven't had a chance to take a breath and hold off for awhile.
Still, the Bernstein sounds like quite a coup. Sometimes ebay surprises me (I ended up with the Rhino KoK for under fifty brand new, all because of saved searches).
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Still, the Bernstein sounds like quite a coup. Sometimes ebay surprises me (I ended up with the Rhino KoK for under fifty brand new, all because of saved searches).
So you're not interested in the individual downloads (under $10.00 each on amazon or iTunes)?
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Still, the Bernstein sounds like quite a coup. Sometimes ebay surprises me (I ended up with the Rhino KoK for under fifty brand new, all because of saved searches).
So you're not interested in the individual downloads (under $10.00 each on amazon or iTunes)?
As Yavar knows, I hate mp3s (and am getting serious Acquisition Syndrome over the prospect of owning the CD). But I guess I'll have to relent, as I'm super interested in checking out a more tight Land of the Pharaohs.
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Posted: |
Jan 9, 2018 - 7:08 AM
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By: |
Expat@22
(Member)
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He was perfectly cast in it all right.
But not just because of the 'big Hollywood' angle. I recall thinking when I first heard Gerhardt's take on the Dalai Lama's funeral procession in 'Lost Horizon', 'This sounds Egyptian' .... it could be a Pharaoh's funeral, the bells, the orientalisms, but also the quick descending intervals that denote Africa in everything from 'White Witch Doctor' to 'Zulu'.
My old mate Carl Jung used to say that Egypt was better approached via the Hamitic rather than the Semitic mindset, and he's right (i.e., the feel of Egypt in her greatest era was African, not Arabic) and it needs that sort of approach musically. That's what he gives it.
I'm sure Hawks and those in the loop made the same connection in casting this film. It's the best evocation of Egypt in any movie score, not sliding down the Arabic, or the Aida traps, but going for its own feel. And never corny.
Avoid the obvious. De Bosio's 'Moses the Lawgiver' is the most VISUALLY accurate depiction, and not one person in that production ever wears that silly square-head dishcloth that everybody thinks is Egyptian in movies, but which is really a misinterpretation of a Pharaoh's lion's mane headdress. And in LotPs you have the MUSICALLY best evocation, because Tiomkin avoids the vampy kitsch sand-dances and goes for the big African feel, which hits the spot.
These are very interesting comments. Thanks.
I have always wanted LOTP since hearing it in the film. I thought it was quite amazing as a listening experience after listening to the FSM release. Especially since the reconstructed the chorus into the relevant cues.
Someone here mentioned the 'hysterical' nature of the music. I think that is also a very good description of it - in a non pejorative way.
The Bernstein sound of the music didn't sit well with me. I don't know why. Similarly his take on excerpts from Thief of Bagdad, although the vocals were very well done.
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As Yavar knows, I hate mp3s (and am getting serious Acquisition Syndrome over the prospect of owning the CD). But I guess I'll have to relent, as I'm super interested in checking out a more tight Land of the Pharaohs.
Oh!! I rarely even consider springing for $200 box sets, regardless of content.
I ended up buying
Mrs. Muir
Land of the Pharaohs
Madame Bovary
The Miracle
The Thief of Bagdad
Viva Zapata!
Wuthering Heights
for $8.99 each from amazon.
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As Yavar knows, I hate mp3s (and am getting serious Acquisition Syndrome over the prospect of owning the CD). But I guess I'll have to relent, as I'm super interested in checking out a more tight Land of the Pharaohs.
Oh!! I rarely even consider springing for $200 box sets, regardless of content.
I ended up buying
Mrs. Muir
Land of the Pharaohs
Madame Bovary
The Miracle
The Thief of Bagdad
Viva Zapata!
Wuthering Heights
for $8.99 each from amazon.
Well geez then you bought a whole bunch of amazing music! 
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And it looks this score has flown the coop (I.e. gone out of print). I must say I’m glad I sprang for this during the last sale. I’m really liking this score, though it has a long way before it can dethrone Fall of the Roman Empire as my favorite Tiomkin score.
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"The Bernstein sound of the music didn't sit well with me. I don't know why. Similarly his take on excerpts from Thief of Bagdad, although the vocals were very well done."
Well, I'd have to say two out of the three vocals were well done, with the third one very much not so. Can you guess which one fell short for me? (Hint: In my review for the Rozsa Society way back when, I opined, "Abu is supposed to be a boy, not a fruitcake.")
I, too, don't know why the Bernstein sound of the music didn't sit well with you. It suited me to a T, and brought much joy into my life in the years before the complete recordings of these two scores were made available. And I still listen to them both with much pleasure -- thanks again, Lukas!
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