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Posted: |
Mar 20, 2008 - 8:25 PM
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By: |
Mike Esssss
(Member)
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I did a bit of poking in the search engine and really couldn't find a thread dedicted solely to this absolutely gorgeous score, so hopefully no one will mind if I start one.
I have to admit at the outset, I'm listening to it now and not all the way through it, so my thoughts aren't very organized, but the truth is that this thing is just bowling me over with its beauty. I've got the Varese set, and while the sound leaves a bit to be desired, the composition still shines through. It's lush and gorgeous, with an unabashed emphasis on strings (which Newman does so well).
Sorry, I know this isn't the most intelligent thing I've ever written, but I'm having such a strong reaction, I felt the need to share. It's been a long time since I've really become obsessed with a composer, and working through Newman's catalog the way I have in the past month has been such a joy.
Cheers.
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Newman was brilliant. One of the finest Hollywood conductors ever, and a film composer par exellence. I like BERNADETTE, but LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING is my personal favorite! I can't wait to read Burlingame's book. Finally!
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Thor, please avoid double posts in the future. They make for too long a reading experience.
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Posted: |
Dec 20, 2008 - 10:33 AM
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By: |
TJ
(Member)
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Back when I was at CLU, they did an Alfred Newman concert and---and along with The Robe, and of course How The West Was Won, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE was one of my favorite pieces of the program---It figures that I would wait some two and a half years to actually order the thing, but thank goodness it's still around at affordable prices! And it arrived yesterday!
I'm curious why there has been so little discussion of this score at FSM? I guess the 1999 release date is from a bit before this version of the board was created, still, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE has to be considered amongst the top-tier Newman, yes?
Anyway, I see that our own HAINES is credited as the executive producer for this title, so many kudos to Haines and Nick Redman for preserving this great music.
Hopefully I'll have some more thoughts to share about this after giving this set a complete listen.
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I like the ambiguities in the score. Is this 'nature music' pastorale, with a sort of elfin twist that speaks about the products of a young girl's psyche, or 'genuine' religious music? Either way, it has a kind of numinosity and unique feel.
If any of you have seen 'The Captain's Paradise', a hilarious Ealing comedy about a ferry-captain (Alec Guinness) with two wives in different ports, you'll note that when Alec visits the stay-at-home, domestic wife, Malcolm Arnold uses a jaunty march version of the main theme from 'Bernadette'. Arnold was a great Newman fan by his own admission.
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BERNADETTE, along with Raksin's FOREVER AMBER are two of my favorite vintage Fox classic scores released by Varese.
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Posted: |
Feb 12, 2017 - 6:10 AM
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By: |
Graham Watt
(Member)
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I did a bit of poking in the search engine and really couldn't find a thread dedicted solely to this absolutely gorgeous score, so hopefully no one will mind if I start one.
I have to admit at the outset, I'm listening to it now and not all the way through it, so my thoughts aren't very organized, but the truth is that this thing is just bowling me over with its beauty. I've got the Varese set, and while the sound leaves a bit to be desired, the composition still shines through. It's lush and gorgeous, with an unabashed emphasis on strings (which Newman does so well).
Sorry, I know this isn't the most intelligent thing I've ever written, but I'm having such a strong reaction, I felt the need to share. It's been a long time since I've really become obsessed with a composer, and working through Newman's catalog the way I have in the past month has been such a joy.
Cheers.
Mike wrote the above almost ten years ago. I got the CD as a Christmas present on January 6 this year, eighteen years after its release.
What I'm trying to express by all this is that I echo Mike's ancient thoughts (especially in the "I know this isn't the most intelligent thing I've ever written" bit), and that I too am bowled over and just want to convey my enthusiasm for this. And while we're at it, why not mention THE ROBE? Okay then, I will. THE ROBE. Alfred Newman and his "religious sound". Or perhaps "spiritual" for non-believers such as myself. This all touches my soul in a way that is deeply moving.
That's all I wanted to say. Bye.
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Posted: |
Feb 13, 2017 - 5:48 AM
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By: |
Graham Watt
(Member)
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Thanks for the vid, Howard. It's wondrous music indeed, but I could understand people maybe being put off by its now-"kitsch" associations (places selling plastic figures of the Virgin). Still, it goes straight to my spiritual side, to my soul (if I have one). The music really does seem to reach the heavens, much in the same way that Jerry Goldsmith's "The Artist Who Did Not Want To Paint" conveys the greatest beauty which can be achieved by man.
I hear that they're using the Gerhardt re-recording in the clip. One of the "problems" with the Varese is that it's a bit rough sounding. Nevertheless, I quickly got used to it (I think that it settles down after the really rough Track 1, the Overture anyway). The music shines through.
Rozsaphile, I don't mind the repetitious nature of the score. I must admit, I was never quite sure occasionally if I was listening to exactly the same piece retracked several times, but at the same time I kept going "Oh great! That theme again!" because it's all so gorgeous.
I have more to say about this score, but I have to go and make lunch. I'll post a photo of it on Facebook. See you later.
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Unbelievably to me, Newman is mostly considered passe' amongst soundtrackers nowadays.
It is mostly understood that any release of his music will not sell very well.
Case in point: La La Land's 2-CD A CERTAIN SMILE. Deluxe release, but kind of a flop financially.
Newman and Rozsa are my 2 favorite film composers. I want to hear everything they wrote, and have heard most of it. Doesn't matte to me that a lot of Newman's themes appeared in multiple scores; the man wrote dozens of them, and conducted dozens more. He was a powerhouse.
And, no matter what anyone says nowadays, contemporary composers don't have the talent to create such melodies!
Sadly, so many scores are now just "soundwalls," with little or no differentiation.
No wonder we call the era of Newman and Rozsa the Golden Age!
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Posted: |
Feb 13, 2017 - 10:30 AM
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By: |
Bob Bryden
(Member)
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Unbelievably to me, Newman is mostly considered passe' amongst soundtrackers nowadays.
It is mostly understood that any release of his music will not sell very well.
Case in point: La La Land's 2-CD A CERTAIN SMILE. Deluxe release, but kind of a flop financially.
Newman and Rozsa are my 2 favorite film composers. I want to hear everything they wrote, and have heard most of it. Doesn't matte to me that a lot of Newman's themes appeared in multiple scores; the man wrote dozens of them, and conducted dozens more. He was a powerhouse.
And, no matter what anyone says nowadays, contemporary composers don't have the talent to create such melodies!
Sadly, so many scores are now just "soundwalls," with little or no differentiation.
No wonder we call the era of Newman and Rozsa the Golden Age!
Well said, and sadly true.
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