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Caldera Records is proud to present Gerald Fried’s Oscar-nominated score for the motion picture “Birds Do It, Bees Do It” from 1974, directed by Nicolas Noxon and Irwin Rosten.
Narrated by Lee Bergere, a beloved actor who had guest roles in every major television series in the 60s (including “Star Trek”), “Birds Do It, Bees Do It” examines the reproductive habits of bacteria, frogs, lions, kangaroos, elephants, monkeys, birds, rhinos, and others by showing in graphic detail how animals behave before, during and after sexual intercourse. The documentary did not shy away from its sensitive topic. Instead, it discussed sex as a natural part of life and aimed to educate its viewers. In fact, several college campuses decided to show the film to its students in the mid-70s, using the moving images of copulating animals as an educational tool.
Fried had already worked on a number of Wolper productions when he was offered to score the documentary. It would be one of the most satisfying experiences of his career. Not only was he not subjected to a hair-rising deadline, he also had sufficient funds to execute his creative vision. When he saw the rough cut for the first time, the germ of an idea evolved – human beings portrayed in the film would musically be treated with tonal themes (Man Intrudes), while animals would get less organized, less thematic, but nonetheless tonal music (Kangaroos). Insects would be portrayed with electronic music and/or percussion instruments (Talking Insects), amoebas only with noises produced by synthesizers (Primal Ooze). In 1976, “Birds Do It, Bees Do It” received an Oscar nomination for Best Dramatic Score. It failed to win, but Gerald Fried’s glorious music for Birds Do It, Bees Do It stands the test of time and is not only one of Fried’s very best scores but also one of the best scores ever written for a documentary.
The 32nd CD-release of Caldera Records – a world premiere – features a detailed booklet-text by Stephan Eicke and elegant artwork by Luis Miguel Rojas. The CD was mastered by Richard Moore and produced by Stephan Eicke and John Elborg.
Music Composed and Conducted by Gerald Fried
Album Produced by Stephan Eicke, Jim Lochner
Executive Producers for Caldera Records: John Elborg, Stephan Eicke
Birds Do It, Bees Do It
1. Flowers Opening (0:58)
2. Flowers Growing (1:27)
3. Lizards (3:04)
4. Rattlesnake (1:02)
5. Buffalo Birth (3:09)
6. Maggots Eating Mouse (2:10)
7. Elephants and Lions (3:49)
8. Fight Aftermath/Growth of Pepsis/Wasp Embryo (1:53)
9. Frog Mating (1:13)
10. Talking Insects (3:08)
11. Chimp Lullaby (1:19)
12. Aphids (1:02)
13. Kangaroos (4:47)
14. Man Intrudes (1:43)
15. Trout (0:52)
16. Flirting Trout (1:37)
17. Trout Eggs (1:05)
18. Snails (2:34)
19. Cheetah Chase (0:54)
20. Artificial Insemination (1:03)
21. Primal Ooze (2:16)
22. Tarantula/Pepsis Wasp Fight (1:23)
23. Wasps (0:56)
24. Assorted Pickups (3:17)
25. Waltz of the Grebes (2:43)
Listen to a 5 min clip here:
https://soundcloud.com/alderaecords/birds-do-it-bees-do-it-gerald-fried
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I must admit that I've never seen the film, but since it's nomination back in 1975, the score made me recognize (for the first time), the name of Gerald Fried, and I've always wanted to hear the music he wrote for the film. I'm frankly a little amazed, though I probably shouldn't be, that the news here has merited very scant notice. It's possible that the majority of the members here don't actually remember 1975, because they were born much, much later. I just ordered the score from S.A.E. and if I may, I'd like to put this Oscar Nominated Film Score in a little perspective. This film score, for a Documentary yet, was felt to be worthy enough by the voting musicians of that year to nominated, OVER the films that could have also been nominated for Best Original Score that year which included:
1. 'The Hindenburg' and 'Farewell, My Lovely' by David Shire
2. 'And Now, My Love', by Francis Lai
3. 'Once is not Enough', by Henry Mancini
4. 'Amarcord', by Nino Rota
5. 'The Day of the Locust', by John Barry
6. 'Three Days of the Condor', by Dave Grusin
7. 'The Man Who Would Be King', and 'Mandingo', by Maurice Jarre
8. 'The Eiger Sanction', by John Williams
Belated Congratulations Gerald Fried for finally, 45 years later, getting your music out there for us.
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Jeff Bond: I love that Caldera is putting out these Fried's work and particularly this Oscar-nominated effort--go Gerry Fried!
Jeff Bond, is this stuff in the same league, invention-wise, as all those crazy little motifs Fried wrote for Star Trek?
From the description, it sounds like there was a wealth of opportunity for such music.
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Posted: |
Jul 22, 2019 - 2:48 PM
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By: |
Graham Watt
(Member)
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I've read a bit about this film over the years although I've never seen it. I might have heard some clips of the music too (maybe a part of the docu on YouTube or something). Anyway, now that a proper release has been announced I'm getting worked up by the idea.
It always struck me as being the perfect vehicle for Gerald Fried's talents, who always seemed to me to be very adept at using extreme contrasts in his scores, juxtaposing sweetness and light with outright barbarity. STAR TREK may be the quintessential example of this - the war-like tribal fight music contrasted with the beautiful pure innocence of his "love theme(s)" and his musical depictions of childlike civilizations.
I recall when I was a wee bairn of about seventeen (Kev McGann will relate to this), that there was a spate of TV Movies on the telly, and coincidentally two of them happened to have virtually the same plot - something about wild animals being let loose to terrorize the neighbourhood. The ones I remember are both from 1978 - MANEATERS ARE LOOSE and THE BEASTS ARE ON THE STREETS. And both had spectacularly tuneful Gerald Fried scores, again contrasting savagery with innocence (such as baby chimp footage - Awww!) In1980 he did THE WILD AND THE FREE, another Chimpo film. I suppose we could even put Caldera's stupendous release of Fried's THE BABY in the same category of opposing musical forces - the lullaby of the "man baby" in a world of musically strident hatchet murders.
Interesting to note that for BIRDS DO IT, BEES DO IT the insect stuff was one of the things that Fried approached electronically. I wonder if it'll share some of the same universe as Lalo Schifrin's score for the Wolper THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE, which is one of my favourite scores of all time.
Whatever, great news, and another reminder that I STILL haven't ordered Caldera's release of Rosenman's AMBITION yet. Must get my act in gear.
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Fried had already worked on a number of Wolper productions when he was offered to score the documentary.
Hhmmm ... might this imply that the 1975 TV-movie I Will Fight No More Forever from David Wolper Productions is in the Caldera pipeline for their Gerald Fried collection?
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Hhmmm ... might this imply that the 1975 TV-movie I Will Fight No More Forever from David Wolper Productions is in the Caldera pipeline for their Gerald Fried collection?
It means Gerald Fried had already worked on a number of Wolper productions when he was offered to score the documentary.
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Posted: |
Oct 26, 2019 - 3:18 PM
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By: |
Graham Watt
(Member)
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This came in the other day, so I've just had time to listen to it for the first time today. First impressions only -
Very good indeed. I mentioned earlier in this thread (after reading the blurb about the electronic approach for insect life etc) that I wondered if some of it at least would share the same aural universe as Lalo Schifrin's outstanding score for another David Wolper documentary THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE. Well, to my ears, it does. The startling electronic tracks were done in collaboration with Paul Beaver, and they're great to hear if you like that kind of "challenging" stuff. I put "challenging" in "inverted commas" because they're not "difficult listening" (in inverted commas) - Interesting sounds stimulate the brain, and that's never boring, especially when constructed in this way, through the very musical artistry of Gerald Fried.
The rest of the score is completely tonal and orchestral, usually performed by a fairly small ensemble. It's wonderful, and completely in line with what the composer did throughout his career. Much of this score wouldn't have been out of place in "Star Trek". I've said in the past, on numerous occasions (much to your nausea), that Gerald Fried's music to me seemed perfect for portraying the sound of very primal emotions - innocence, love, tribal domination etc, all at their most basic level. This documentary is about sex with animals (I mean "among" - the humans don't participate) and so we hear a great variety of music - the "Chimp Lullaby" bears a resemblance to the sweetness-and-light "Ruth" from ST:TOS. And although the liner notes say that the "Buffalo Birth" scoring is a homage to the Americana of Aaron Copland, I hear more similarities to Native American Indian music. And again we're back at the primal Vulcan ritual stuff from "Star Trek".
Due to the nature of the film, there's isn't any one central theme. It's not a theme-and-variations score. Every cue is different. So one may ask, "So where's the coherence?", and the answer would be in the unmistakable sound of Gerald Fried. Despite the necessarily disparate approach, the result is one of unity. I love Gerald Fried for always being totally Gerald Fried.
Those were my first impressions. I'll add more comments after subsequent listens, and I'm looking forward to what you lot (those who haven't posted yet) have to say about this release
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