I seem to be a roll with John Scott scores as of late. One that always struck me as a bit odd is "Parc Oceanique Cousteau" on JOS Records.
It's a lovely CD and I enjoyed it very much, however it has always irked me that no mention was made in the liner notes as to which Cousteau films the tracks come from. It seems clear that the various tracks are culled from different films and performed by different orchestras.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is credited performing most of the tracks, although the remainder are credited to "The Berlin Radio Concert Orchestra". The use of the name "Berlin" reminds me of the original CD issue of Scott's "Antony and Cleopatra" score in which the same orchestra is credited even though we all know it was The London Philharmonic performing.
So, perhaps the "Berlin" cues on "Parc Oceanique Cousteau" are actually by the LPO (?)
Are their any Cousteau/Scott fans out there who can tell me what films the tracks come from?
BTW there is another thread about "Parc Oceanique Cousteau", but no mention is made of my particular questions.
Parc Oceanique Cousteau was a French oceanographic park that opened in Paris in the Forum des Halles in July 1989, but because of the expense of the project and low visitor turnout (due primarily to the park's exorbitant entrance fees), the investors filed for bankruptcy in 1991 and closed in November 1992.
Parc Oceanique Cousteau was a French oceanographic park that opened in Paris in the Forum des Halles in July 1989, but because of the expense of the project and low visitor turnout (due primarily to the park's exorbitant entrance fees), filed for bankruptcy in 1991 and closed in November 1992.
George, many thanks for your response. I had read about the theme park, but for whatever reason I also got the (wrong?) impression that the music was from taken from some of the Cousteau programs. It does seem a bit strange to me that you would hire two different orchestras to record the music for the theme park.
It seems clear that the various tracks are culled from different films and performed by different orchestras.
From John Scott himself:
"Parc Oceanique Cousteau was the name given to the theme park which Jacques Cousteau conceived together with his son Jean-Michele in the centre of Paris. The project was a disaster and is better not talked about, but the music was commissioned by Jean-Michele with whom I worked very closely.
I visited the park regularly while it was under construction, and I composed the music with great expectations. This was also part of the reason that I started the JOS record label. There was to be a gift shop with hundreds of visitors daily. There were so many promises of great things, big exhibition areas, unique experiences simulated at the bottom of the ocean. In the end the whole venture was a failure. But at least they had the courage to attempt it.
The first piece of music was for the Blue Whale. A life size model was suspended in a vast area and one could enter the whale through the mouth and explore its organs with a heart which was beating and a foetus of a baby whale. The music was designed to be played non stop in this area.
Then there was the kelp forest. It could have been a wonderful experience and I felt that the cathedral organ was an impressive part of the sound for some of the exhibition. There was a great deal of discussion about the way music would be projected from concealed loudspeakers and how music in one area would take over from music in another area. It was to be an "Aural Concerto" with many continuous movements. This was a difficult undertaking, far harder than composing a film score.
It is a shame that Parc Oceanique Cousteau came to nothing in the end. I sincerely hope that the legend that was "Jacques Cousteau" will be remembered for the great vision and dedication of this wonderful man."
And here is the complete interview (in two parts), which is essential reading for anyone who hasn't seen it:
It seems clear that the various tracks are culled from different films and performed by different orchestras.
From John Scott himself:
"Parc Oceanique Cousteau was the name given to the theme park which Jacques Cousteau conceived together with his son Jean-Michele in the centre of Paris. The project was a disaster and is better not talked about, but the music was commissioned by Jean-Michele with whom I worked very closely.
I visited the park regularly while it was under construction, and I composed the music with great expectations. This was also part of the reason that I started the JOS record label. There was to be a gift shop with hundreds of visitors daily. There were so many promises of great things, big exhibition areas, unique experiences simulated at the bottom of the ocean. In the end the whole venture was a failure. But at least they had the courage to attempt it.
The first piece of music was for the Blue Whale. A life size model was suspended in a vast area and one could enter the whale through the mouth and explore its organs with a heart which was beating and a foetus of a baby whale. The music was designed to be played non stop in this area.
Then there was the kelp forest. It could have been a wonderful experience and I felt that the cathedral organ was an impressive part of the sound for some of the exhibition. There was a great deal of discussion about the way music would be projected from concealed loudspeakers and how music in one area would take over from music in another area. It was to be an "Aural Concerto" with many continuous movements. This was a difficult undertaking, far harder than composing a film score.
It is a shame that Parc Oceanique Cousteau came to nothing in the end. I sincerely hope that the legend that was "Jacques Cousteau" will be remembered for the great vision and dedication of this wonderful man."
And here is the complete interview (in two parts), which is essential reading for anyone who hasn't seen it:
