Just listened. What a great release! Terrific music, wonderful performance and recording.
I love these modest television scores, which to me often feel like they quietly persuade more effectively than some of their larger, more bombastic cousins (which, of course, I can love, too).
Upon another listen… this is really lovely, heartfelt stuff from Goldsmith. That's interesting, because as the notes point out, he wasn't religious, and also because much as some romanticize the Golden Age of Television, this episode is pretty ridiculous and not at all (you'll excuse the term) faithful to the beliefs it depicts (for instance, it is not remotely "highly unusual" for somebody to be bar mitzvah as an adult). But Goldsmith's sincerity shines through, despite the hollow goings-on that he's scoring.
(That said, he created heartfelt scores for people of many faiths and ethnicities that he was not, so I'm probably guilty of making a bad association here.)
Just downloaded both re-recordings and they are everything I hoped and more—sensitively played, impeccably produced and frankly a revelation as far as early Goldsmith is concerned. I'm in for the long haul!
Question: What is the "label" for these? I like to list the source of my downloads (Varese, Intrada, Tadlow etc) but unless I've missed it, the booklet doesn't provide a label name.
Question: What is the "label" for these? I like to list the source of my downloads (Varese, Intrada, Tadlow etc) but unless I've missed it, the booklet doesn't provide a label name.
I would probably go with 'Leigh Phillips' as the label. Most people would use "Self-Released" in a case like this.
Unless there's some new label that it's going to be under when it's released 'officially'.
Magnificent recording, spot-on performance, fantastic choice of music.
From a consumer's perspective, this feels like we just placed an order for takeout Goldsmith and it arrived piping hot and even tastier than anticipated.
It's so great to see all the positive responses here and elsewhere to the new recording of these two scores. I've been getting emails and Facebook messages from folks with thanks and praise for my notes, and it means so much to me that I've successfully helped convey the story context for these two episodes I haven't even been able to view. It was a real challenge. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Just came to chime in here to say: Leigh's not ignoring you folks! He's super busy right now juggling a lot of work assignments as well as a move. He almost had to wait until Thursday to send out "Sarah's Laughter" but he knew how eager everyone was to get it sooner and so he made a special effort to get it out this past weekend. He appreciates all you backers SO much. It's thanks to you getting "Bar Mitzvah" funded so soon (wasn't it less than a quarter of the way into the campaign?) which led to the "Sarah's Laughter" stretch goal being added...and, as those of who who have listened to the Production Report podcast know, in the end after mixing he realized that he loved that score even more than "The Bar Mitzvah of Major Orlovsky"!
As for those of you chomping at the bit to fund another pair of Goldsmith GE Theater scores (as am I, of course!), Leigh wrote the following as a response on Kickstarter 3 days ago: "already considering the next score(s) from GE Theater - there are some good ones. Hoping to get a new KS together in Sept"
So hang in there. Before you know it you'll get your chance to make more Goldsmith premieres happen...
Having listened to both scores several times, I would just like to reiterate how delighted I am by these recordings and by this ongoing project. I'm so glad that in our little community, there are enough like-minded among us that such a thing is possible.
frankly a revelation as far as early Goldsmith is concerned. I'm in for the long haul!
Did Intrada's recent fantastic recording of Black Patch (1957) composed a few years before these two little gems not already serve as that revelation for you, Joe?
Here's a score from early 1957, before Goldsmith even worked on his first film assignment, and IMO it's his first true masterpiece... hope you and others give it a listen to, if you aren't already familiar:
It's so great to see all the positive responses here and elsewhere to the new recording of these two scores. I've been getting emails and Facebook messages from folks with thanks and praise for my notes, and it means so much to me that I've successfully helped convey the story context for these two episodes I haven't even been able to view. It was a real challenge. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Just came to chime in here to say: Leigh's not ignoring you folks! He's super busy right now juggling a lot of work assignments as well as a move. He almost had to wait until Thursday to send out "Sarah's Laughter" but he knew how eager everyone was to get it sooner and so he made a special effort to get it out this past weekend. He appreciates all you backers SO much. It's thanks to you getting "Bar Mitzvah" funded so soon (wasn't it less than a quarter of the way into the campaign?) which led to the "Sarah's Laughter" stretch goal being added...and, as those of who who have listened to the Production Report podcast know, in the end after mixing he realized that he loved that score even more than "The Bar Mitzvah of Major Orlovsky"!
As for those of you chomping at the bit to fund another pair of Goldsmith GE Theater scores (as am I, of course!), Leigh wrote the following as a response on Kickstarter 3 days ago: "already considering the next score(s) from GE Theater - there are some good ones. Hoping to get a new KS together in Sept"
So hang in there. Before you know it you'll get your chance to make more Goldsmith premieres happen...
Yavar
Guess I'm unclear on the stretch goal...if you didn't up your original pledge you don't get early access to "Sarah's Laughter"? I got the link emailed to me for "Bar Mitzvah" but "Sarah's Laughter" isn't included, though I did up my original pledge by 25 £.
Enjoying Bar Mitzvah, wonderful recording. I also stuffed up supporting the stretch goal, but am fine with waiting for the general release for Sarah's Laughter.
Guess I'm unclear on the stretch goal...if you didn't up your original pledge you don't get early access to "Sarah's Laughter"? I got the link emailed to me for "Bar Mitzvah" but "Sarah's Laughter" isn't included, though I did up my original pledge by 25 £.
Call me puzzled.
I did the stretch goal too but have seen no updated links. I contacted Leigh via KS and hopefully when he gets a chance he can look into it ...
Try going back to the same link you already got, Zoragoth. If you did the “Sarah’s Laughter” add-on it should have shown up for you at the same link about a day after “Bar Mitzvah”.
Mark, I alerted Leigh about your message and I think you’ve got Sarah’s now?
Try going back to the same link you already got, Zoragoth. If you did the “Sarah’s Laughter” add-on it should have shown up for you at the same link about a day after “Bar Mitzvah”.
Mark, I alerted Leigh about your message and I think you’ve got Sarah’s now?
Yavar
Thanks, Yavar, to you and Leigh. I do indeed. Problem resolved (wasn't really a problem, but glad to have it fixed).
