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One track was just a bunch of fellas all shouting at the same time (and not even in English FFS). ]
From what I was told that was studio atmosphere not actually in the show. All the shouting was the musicians refusing to work over time on Friday night, there was a footy match on.
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Hi Joep, thanks for your excellent review of this score, and highlighting the great use of the solo instruments like bass flute and tuba. Just a couple of points though, the score for THE BIBLE was written by Toshiro Mayuzumi, not of cause Toshiro Mifune, one of the best known Japanese actors. Also it seems that although you note on the heading that it is review of the 'regular release', it seems that your review and track list is covering the expanded CD release. As you say this is definitely worth having for the version of the main theme with Edda, which was strangely not included on the regular release. Most of the other additional tracks are used as source music in the tv series.
The series itself recently turned up on British tv on the channel Talking Pictures, I had last watched it back in 1988 or whenever it last showed. Watching again I was struck by the overuse of much of the music, repeated over and over again till it became rather grating. For example the wonderful track The Hawk, with solo violin, is repeated every time the hawk takes to flight, which is quite often. Or Red Ghosts used every time the mysterious desert tribe appears. I can only assume that Morricone had limited time to work on this score and was not present at the editing, as unlike for example MARCO POLO, there is not enough variety in the score to musically cover the 6 hours or so of the series, and the music editor just repeated the same cues in the series over and over again. This is not just limited to the original music, there are also pieces used from MASSACRE IN ROME (used a number of time in the battle scenes) and MOSCA ADDIO.
Anyway I absolutely love the album and the expanded version from a musical perspective. My favourite track apart from the main theme is probably Red Ghosts.
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Posted: |
Jul 29, 2020 - 2:47 PM
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By: |
J
(Member)
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Hi Joep, thanks for your excellent review of this score, and highlighting the great use of the solo instruments like bass flute and tuba. Just a couple of points though, the score for THE BIBLE was written by Toshiro Mayuzumi, not of cause Toshiro Mifune, one of the best known Japanese actors. Also it seems that although you note on the heading that it is review of the 'regular release', it seems that your review and track list is covering the expanded CD release. As you say this is definitely worth having for the version of the main theme with Edda, which was strangely not included on the regular release. Most of the other additional tracks are used as source music in the tv series.
The series itself recently turned up on British tv on the channel Talking Pictures, I had last watched it back in 1988 or whenever it last showed. Watching again I was struck by the overuse of much of the music, repeated over and over again till it became rather grating. For example the wonderful track The Hawk, with solo violin, is repeated every time the hawk takes to flight, which is quite often. Or Red Ghosts used every time the mysterious desert tribe appears. I can only assume that Morricone had limited time to work on this score and was not present at the editing, as unlike for example MARCO POLO, there is not enough variety in the score to musically cover the 6 hours or so of the series, and the music editor just repeated the same cues in the series over and over again. This is not just limited to the original music, there are also pieces used from MASSACRE IN ROME (used a number of time in the battle scenes) and MOSCA ADDIO.
Anyway I absolutely love the album and the expanded version from a musical perspective. My favourite track apart from the main theme is probably Red Ghosts.
Indeed, the wrong Toshirô. It could be he had limited time and moved on, but is also not unlikely that he felt he had provided them with enough music, hoping they would treat it right in the editing process. The over-use, and re-use of existing music, is indeed something that has ´plagued´ this series and so many other projects. I neglected to include that in the review, oh well.
Some information is perhaps slightly confusing, but a deliberate compromise. You can clearly read what I think of the normal and expanded release, and which I prefer. Especially in the case of Morricone, I couldn't just review a single release, I like to take everything into account.
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