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It's probably worth noting that the 2-disc OST part of this release is available for download. I noticed it on Spotify recently. I dunno if it's lossless, but it IS therefore available separately.
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I have always maintained that the Varese Spartacus box was an horrendous vanity project. I realise many will consider this to be heresy. I always loved the score and for years looked forward to it, as rumours were going around about it being worked on. When the set was announced it felt like a betrayal. A project for the rich elite enthusiasts who have money to burn. Varese should have released a 1000 limited edition run of the big box and a more affordable 3000-run of a 3 disc set alongside it. Everyone would be happy.I would love to own this score but cannot afford it, and Varese can't sell half their stock. I appreciate the intent but the project was a disaster, in my opinion. I only hope that 3 disc set will come one day, or Varese will offload their stock at an affordable price.
I actually got - SACRILEGE - very tired of it very soon.
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I love this set. Doesn´t matter if stereo or mono. I also appreciate the interpretations of the love theme. not all but most of it. All in all a labour of love. Thanks Bob.
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The truth is that the entire SPARTACUS score as heard in the film, plus most of the significant alternates, would fit easily on two CDs.
In contrast, a few minutes of North's CLEOPATRA score were left off Varese's 2CD release of that score. It's a pity that Mr. Townson's professed love of Alex North's music didn't extend to a release of a complete 3CD set of CLEOPATRA, with the original LP album program filling out disc three.
Two landmark Alex North epic scores... one frugally limited to 2 CDs, the other lavishly expanded to 6 CDs, a book and a DVD. No middle ground.
***
When I received my Varese box set, the first thing I did was to re-assemble the score from the Criterion DVD and the first three discs in the set. I added a subtle bit of stereo processing to the mono cues from Discs 2 and 3 so that they would integrate better with the stereo cues from Disc 1. The Criterion DVD was necessary to patch in the opening bars of the MAIN TITLE and the PRELUDE TO BATTLE (including, for the coda of the latter, that ominous chord that segues into the rest of MANEUVERS). The Criterion DVD also has the stereo ROME music which I patched into the end of the SLAVES ESCAPE cue, plus the coda to the Entr'acte which seques from Varese's HEADED FOR FREEDOM. The extra bars (25 seconds) from the mono GLABRUS DEFEATED were reinserted into the stereo HEADED FOR FREEDOM in order to preserve as much stereo material as possible. Likewise the additional bars in the mono DRABA's FIGHT were inserted into the stereo GLADIATORS FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
Several hours of work -- but the result is the ultimate SPARTACUS release, 2 CDs with room to spare.
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It's probably worth noting that the 2-disc OST part of this release is available for download. I noticed it on Spotify recently. I dunno if it's lossless, but it IS therefore available separately.
Is it? There are numerous Spartacus albums on Spotify (including one spelled Sparticus), but most of them are the 11-tracks MCA album. The only longer version I can find appears to be the first two discs from the Soundtrack Library b**tl*g release (comparing with the listing on Sountrack Collector's site at http://soundtrackcollector.com/title/2695/Spartacus), minus one track. None of the Varese set's premiere track listings seem to come up on Spotify (eg "Luceria Camp") whereas the titles and times of the SLC b**tl*g correspond entirely.
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I'm surprised at Varese's initial marketing strategy, but still more surprised that despite all the controversy and the fact that the box set clearly hasn't sold that well, they haven't budged one inch.
But they HAVE (graciously but quietly) budged: the price of the box set has dropped $22 from $109.98 to $88.98:
http://www.varesesarabande.com/servlet/the-14/Spartacus/Detail
Incidentally, does anyone else think that "Blue Shadows and Purple Hills" is a better tune than the Love theme?
I'm in complete agreement with you there. It is the most lyrical version of the "slave theme" (first heard after the main title), and thus dramatically the central motive of the score. BTW, the correct title is "Blue Shadows and Purple Woods, written by Dalton Trumbo for the poem that Antoninus recites:
When the blazing sun hangs low in the western sky,
When the wind dies away on the mountain,
When the song of the meadowlark turns still,
When the field locust clicks no more in the field,
And the sea foam sleeps like a maiden at rest,
And the twilight touches the shape of the wondering earth,
I turn home.
Through blue shadows and purple woods…
I turn home.
I turn to the place that I was born,
To the mother who bore me and the father who taught me…
Long ago, long ago, long ago.
Alone am I now, lost and alone
In a far, wide, wondering world.
Through blue and purple shadowed woods I go,
Bewitched by the distant bellowing of cows
And the smell of pine smoke and a far-away light
And the voices of kinfolk together at night.
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Sweet dreams, Spartacus.
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