Film composers don't come any more legendary or unique than Bernard Herrmann. For the first time ever collectors have the opportunity to hear his groundbreaking score to Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953) in stereo from the original session masters.

Herrmann's music is unique for its gorgeous, atmospheric evocation of the film's underwater photography, with nine harps (each playing a separate part) grounding the sublimely Herrmannesque sea-soundscapes—from gentle currents to rippling waves to crashing terror. The score also includes jaunty maritime melodies, heartfelt string writing (a la The Ghost and Mrs. Muir), crashing action music and the proto-minimalist traveling patterns of "The Marker"—which later became the jetpack music in Lost in Space—all culminating in the primal aggression of "The Octopus."

A suite from 12-Mile Reef was recorded in the early 1970s for the Herrmann entry of RCA's Classic Film Scores series—now, get the complete chronological score, in stereo, as conducted by Herrmann for the film. Please note that the master tapes have sustained some deterioration and that there is minor "wow" present; these masters are all that survive of the score and we trust that aficionados will appreciate having them in the best condition possible.