Today I am listening to Moross' masterpiece. I have been listening to ALOT of different stuff lately, but nothing has had me humming WITHOUT THE CD ON like The Big Country. This is my first exposure to Moross.
Today I am listening to Moross' masterpiece. I have been listening to ALOT of different stuff lately, but nothing has had me humming WITHOUT THE CD ON like The Big Country. This is my first exposure to Moross.
Is his other stuff just as catchy?
I'd say it's all pretty catchy, though this one is Moross' masterpiece. Also recommended: THE CARDINAL (Spanish RCA version, not the Preamble release which is missing a track) and THE PROUD REBEL (released by SAE, if you can still find one that won't bankrupt you). If you want to check him out cheaply I'd recommend one or both of the Silva compilations, VALLEY OF GWANGI or THE CARDINAL (etc.), the latter not to be confused with the actual CARDINAL OST.
P. S. I would be remiss not to mention the FSM release (still available unless I miss my guess) of Moross' THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, which has many similarities to THE BIG COUNTRY stylistically.
You don't want to miss The Golden Apple which was never recorded completely because of its length- but what is there is magnificent, I can promise you. The songs, especially "It's the Going Home Together" and "Lazy Afternoon" are among the greatest in the American Songbook. You'll find the CD on RCA and should be available from Amazon.
There is a lot of unreleased Moross music for television ("Wagon Train:, "Lancer")...... and "The Valley Of Gwangi" is one of the most requested releases that FSM or any of the other soundtrack CD labels have.......
I am listening to La La Land's version. It doesn't say anything about a rerecording on it.
La La Land's release is the original tracks, which were mono, and is the one to have IMO. Glad you're enjoying this great score!
Original tracks were recorded in stereo. Unfortunately all we have is the mono...
There was never a true stereo release of the soundtrack, which is difficult to understand if stereo tapes were in existence at the time. UA only released a mono version and a "reprocessed stereo" version which was really atrocious.
I would also recommend Moross´"War lord". His musical signature is obvious but it`s a great piece of music (with a little contribution by the great Hans Salter)
Moross does have a very distinctive style. I have been watching reruns of Gunsmoke. One episode clearly had his signature mark and even though I did not catch the end credits, I knew right away it was Moross who had to have composed it. Great stuff.
I am listening to La La Land's version. It doesn't say anything about a rerecording on it.
La La Land's release is the original tracks, which were mono, and is the one to have IMO. Glad you're enjoying this great score!
Well Dana of course would say that but the re-recording I produced for Silva Screen with the Philharmonia is pretty darn good.
Plus of course the CDs of of suites from many of his scores I did with the City of Prague Phil are still among my own favourites with music from THE CARDINAL, THEWAR LORD, 5 FINGER EXERCISE, VALLEY OF GWANGI, RACHEL RACHEL, JAYHAWKERS, ADVENTURES OF HICK FINN etc....
I am listening to La La Land's version. It doesn't say anything about a rerecording on it.
La La Land's release is the original tracks, which were mono, and is the one to have IMO. Glad you're enjoying this great score!
Original tracks were recorded in stereo. Unfortunately all we have is the mono...
There was never a true stereo release of the soundtrack, which is difficult to understand if stereo tapes were in existence at the time. UA only released a mono version and a "reprocessed stereo" version which was really atrocious.
That is correct concerning a stereo LP or cd release. The score was indeed recorded in stereo for the film tracks. I'm sure if you do a search in this forum you'll find out additional information including the story of one collector who has a print of The Big Country in stereo. The first showings in NYC were in stereo.
That is correct concerning a stereo LP or cd release. The score was indeed recorded in stereo for the film tracks. I'm sure if you do a search in this forum you'll find out additional information including the story of one collector who has a print of The Big Country in stereo. The first showings in NYC were in stereo.
I've read the same thing about The Vikings (anouther UA film), I wounder what happened to the stereo mix tape? I can understand them losing the music only tapes, but not the final mix.
A favorite of mine is The Warlord, I had the Brunswick LP & have the Varese CD. What a fantastic theme. In the 60's The Shadows had a hit with a cover of it. I'm thinking a lot of people here don't know who the Shadows are!
A favorite of mine is The Warlord, I had the Brunswick LP & have the Varese CD. What a fantastic theme. In the 60's The Shadows had a hit with a cover of it. I'm thinking a lot of people here don't know who the Shadows are!
If you type 'Shadows' and 'The War Lord' into YouTube's search browser, you'll turn up any number of Shadows tribute electric guitarists who are playing that piece in clips. You'll NOT however see any of them in their Hank Marvin glasses adulation mention Jerome Moross' name in their credits, which is shameful.
THE BIG COUNTRY is another of my Top Ten Favorite Film Scores.
Moross hits the epic element in western film scoring in every cue. His music finishes the picture of this film as an epic of the first order, elevating the rather elongated story into classic status.
Moross is one of those composers whose music is all of a piece. Like Korngold (but unlike Rozsa or Williams), his concert music is in the same vein as his film scores. If you like THE BIG COUNTRY, you will likely enjoy his symphony and even such rhythmically inflected chamber pieces as the Sonata for Clarinet Choir and the piece for string bass. The latter two were on an LP called "Sonatas for Diverse Instruments." I don't know if it ever made it to compact disc.
