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A DECADE OF RARE MAURICE JARRE CONCERT WORKS DEBUTS ON CD
Film Score Monthly presents the limited-edition Maurice Jarre: Concert Works featuring five classical pieces that range from the abstract to the cinematic
Linden, VA – December 24, 2008 – An important new release from Film Score Monthly spotlights early compositions from one of the most prominent names in film music from the 1960s and beyond: Maurice Jarre. This CD presents a full program of his rare concert works from the French national archives.
Jarre’s career is commonly thought to begin with The Longest Day and Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, which propelled him to international stardom and multiple Academy Awards. But as early as 1951 he had a flourishing career in his native France that encompassed film, radio, theater, record albums and concert works for over a decade. Five such classical works are presented on this CD for the first time.
“Three Dances for Ondes Martenot and Drums” (1951) was written for a ballet that was never choreographed, although the score was performed in concert. It is scored for the ondes Martenot (an early electronic instrument which Jarre used in several film scores) and percussion.
“Passacaglia to the Memory of Arthur Honegger” (1957) is a symphonic work Jarre wrote in tribute to his mentor, French composer Arthur Honegger. It utilizes the challenging form of the passacaglia, marked by a persistently sustaining musical figure (or ostinato) in the bass.
“The Night Watch” (1961) is the most cinematic piece on the album, inspired by a Rembrandt painting (hence the cover of the CD). It is an exciting, pulsating work foreshadowing Jarre’s film music, particularly Lawrence of Arabia, with what sounds like a forerunner to the Arab theme.
The lengthy (32-minute) “Mobiles for Violin and Orchestra” (1961) is a modern, abstract piece in which the violin soloist (here, Devy Erlih) is responsible for choosing some of the order of the violin music, in relationship to a “fixed” orchestral accompaniment. (The liner notes explain the work’s conceptual backing in detail.)
Finally, “Ancient Suite for Percussion Instruments and Piano” (composed in 1956, recorded in 1974) is a “competition work” spotlighting several percussion instruments in five movements. Jarre was himself a percussionist and writes for percussion with great skill.
Maurice Jarre: Concert Works has been produced by Jacques Hiver and Lukas Kendall from recordings maintained by the Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (INA), a division of the French government which archives the country’s public radio and television broadcasts. The entire CD is in monaural sound and has been newly mastered from the original tapes – or acetates, as in the case of the 1951 “Three Dances”. Liner notes explain all of the works in detail, including new interview comments by the composer. This important release is limited to 1,500 copies.
The CD is available now from Screen Archives Entertainment at www.screenarchives.com.
Check it out at http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm?ID=11036
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Many, many thanks to Santa Kendall, I knew he wouldn't let us depart without another lovely musical release at Christmas time. Needless to say, ordered!
I hope that Lukas and all the good folks at FSM have a wonderful holiday, whenever it happens to be.
Niall.
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A terrific idea for a release. I can't wait to hear it.
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What rules are there with non film soundtrack material to limit the release to 1500 copies. Confused?
The rule is we want to stay in business by selling more CDs!
lk
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