The existing Sisters CD (regardless of which Lasher label iteration) is really tough to listen to because of the sound problems. It sounds to me like some kind of aggressive noise gate was used, the way that the quieter sounds kind of seem to flicker in and out of existence. Super unpleasant. I wouldn't think that would be on the original tapes. I read that the Japanese release on the "Soundtrack Listener's Club" does not have the same issue, but I've never heard it or seen any opportunity to buy it anywhere.
I remember reading that he saw and wrote down some notes on how he might want to score "The Exorcist", but of course died before that could happen. Some sight that I can't recall the name of, has some clever guy who used composing software and did a score for it based on what he thought Herrmann would have done. Wish I could remember it the site.
I have to say I find the facts of this a bit questionable because The Exorcist was released the same year as Sisters (I still need to hear his score for this one), which was a good three years before Herrmann's death.
The story goes that Herrmann met with Friedkin, but the two disagreed on the approach to use in scoring the film. IIRC, Herrmann made a remark that he wanted to use cathedral organs, to which Friedkin replied "No Catholic music!" And that pretty much soured things right there. I think Friedkin's account is a little different, but I can't recall what it was.
I have a vague memory of reading an interview in--I think it was an issue of 'Castle of Frankenstein'--where Herrmann said he was offered the film but told Friedkin after a screening there is only one great movie with the credits at the end and that is 'Citizen Kane' and this wasn't nearly as good as that.
Here's the article referred to by Bill Finn in his post of Aug 12, 2012. Written by Brian De Palma, it explains how Herrmann came to score SISTERS, and describes his first viewing of the film.
Here's the article referred to by Bill Finn in his post of Aug 12, 2012, Written by Brian De Palma, it explains how Herrmann came to score SISTERS, and describes his first viewing of the film.
