Sorry for any confusion, Yavar, but I tried to use Mancini's own titles from within the pages of the Phillippe/Mancini book rather than Varese's, wherever I could. For example, Varese's "The Story Of The Thorn Birds" should really be "The Story Of The Thorn Bird [singular]." There is only one thorn bird in Father Ralph's story.
"Meggie Grows Up" is "Ralph And Meggie On Horseback." If you own the DVD you'll see why that title is more effective, especially as Mancini's title "Grown Up Meggie" refers to a later cue where a resplendent Meggie descending a staircase captures the attention of a captivated Father Ralph.
"Grown Up Meggie," "Opening" and "The Letter" are the three cues from the Warner CD.
The Monica Mancini bonus track is from her CD of her dad's songs, lovingly rendered with a personal touch that only a talented daughter could evoke.
Ok Graham...I went with some of the cue title changes, but have a few more questions and comments about your chrono list:
12. The Rams And The Ewes (2:06) 13. Grown Up Meggie (1:36) 14. Ralph Leaves Meggie (1:53)
I just want to comment briefly that Grown Up Meggie is such a gorgeous cue and I'm shocked Varese decided to leave it off their two disc edition when they clearly had space for it (each disc was only around an hour). I wonder if they confused it as a duplicate or alternate of "Meggie Grows Up" somehow.
EPISODE II 16. Opening (0:18)
This on the other hand I could understand Varese leaving off just because it's so brief (albeit quite lovely so I'm glad to have it).
Disc Two 1. The Thorn Birds Theme (2:35)
I can see why you put this here if you're listening to burned discs, but I personally feel it is a little out of place. We don't really need the reintroduction to the main theme because it's there right at the beginning of "Meggie Leaves Drogheda"...also I feel this rendition of the theme has drums that are too poppy-sounding to flow with the rest of the score proper. Therefore I relegated it to the end of my iTunes album after "Anywhere the Heart Goes".
5. Welcome To Himmelhoch (1:52) 6. The Letter (1:05) 7. New Kid In Town (1:22)
The Letter is another lovely contemplative cue; I can't fathom why Varese left it off. Question about the title of the previous cue -- is it "Himmelhoch" properly or "Himmelhock" as Varese spelled it?
15. Meggie Leaves The Muellers (1:43)
On the Varese this is called "Meggie Leaves the Himmelhocks" which confuses me more -- where did you get your alternate name? You didn't mention the change in your above post.
19. Goodbye, Dane (2:06) 22. Bye Bye Dane (1:45)
I just wanted to note here that I actually replaced the Varese "Bye Bye Dane" with the Case History "Bye Bye Dane" because the Varese was mixed too loud for my taste, starting to distort a bit at times. Don't know if anyone else would feel the same way but I preferred the sound of the Case History. Had a similar feeing about another cue but decided it wasn't bad enough to bother with. Also, is it just me who thinks it's weird that there are two tracks so similarly titled (Goodbye vs. Bye Bye)?
26. The Final Scene (4:04)
The Varese version of this track is called "Ralph Dies" and it's kinda funny, because I think "The Final Scene" is too vague of a title...it feels like something Mancini called it because he wanted to avoid spoilers on an eventual album...but then many years later when an album was actually made, the label changed his title to "Ralph Dies" with a horrible spoiler for anyone buying the score who hasn't seen the miniseries yet!
But more importantly, this was a must to replace the Varese track with the Case History version because Varese cuts off the first few piano notes, only beginning when the other instruments join in and resulting in a really awkward-sounding edit at the beginning (mid-piano note). Really strange goof, and I hope if Varese ever revisits this title they make sure to fix that.
I also added two “Bonus tracks” from other CDs: 28. Meggie’s Theme (1:53) (Henry Mancini, piano solo) 29. Anywhere The Heart Goes (3:03) (Lyrics by Will Jennings) (Monica Mancini, vocal)
Just curious but what album is the Mancini solo piano version of Meggie's Theme from?
Also, do you not like the 2.5 minute version of Anywhere the Heart Goes which Varese actually included on their album? I think it's also Monica Mancini -- though they don't credit the vocalist at all -- but it's quite a different arrangement from the 3 minute one later included on her solo album, which you place at the end of your program instead.
My biggest problem with the 2CD Varese set was there wasn't more score to listen to, and now that I am finding out there is more to listen to, well, musical heaven.
I just want to comment briefly that Grown Up Meggie is such a gorgeous cue and I'm shocked Varese decided to leave it off their two disc edition when they clearly had space for it (each disc was only around an hour). I wonder if they confused it as a duplicate or alternate of "Meggie Grows Up" somehow.
That may be the reason. With Varese, who knows?
Question about the title of the previous cue -- is it "Himmelhoch" properly or "Himmelhock" as Varese spelled it?
It's "Himmelhoch" in the book, and in the script, and on the DVD subtitles.
15. Meggie Leaves The Muellers (1:43)
On the Varese this is called "Meggie Leaves the Himmelhocks" which confuses me more -- where did you get your alternate name? You didn't mention the change in your above post.
Varese confused the place "Himmelhoch" with Meggie's hosts, the Muellers. I just corrected their error.
26. The Final Scene (4:04)
The Varese version of this track is called "Ralph Dies" and it's kinda funny, because I think "The Final Scene" is too vague of a title...
There's a lot more to the scene than Ralph's death. Father Ralph doesn't die until near the end of the cue.
Just curious but what album is the Mancini solo piano version of Meggie's Theme from?
From a rare disc from The Jazz Alliance TJA-12034 called "Marian McPartland's PIANO JAZZ with guest HENRY MANCINI," recorded March 14, 1985. It's a conversation between McPartland and Mancini, in which Mancini plays his most famous selections, sometimes solo and sometimes in duet with McPartland. The program was originally recorded for National Public Radio.
Also, do you not like the 2.5 minute version of Anywhere the Heart Goes which Varese actually included on their album? I think it's also Monica Mancini -- though they don't credit the vocalist at all ...
It's definitely NOT Monica Mancini! I don't know who the singer is, and I don't care (and neither apparently did Varese). Monica's version blows it out of the water and is in a very special and personal way a prayerful tribute to her father's memory:
That was why I thought perhaps it was Monica...still listening I'm not 100% sure it isn't, but you're reasonably certain, I guess? It's such a mystery why the vocalist isn't credited. Anyway, I don't hate the Varese version but I guess I'll have to hunt down Monica's version at some point.
George, would you please shoot me an email at moradi (dot) yavar (at) gmail (dot) com? I'd love to discuss The Thorn Birds further. You're right when you call it Mancini's greatest achievement.
