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Forum - General Questions |
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Question
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To Kill A Mockingbird???
Ok, at the risk of sounding like the ultimate novice collector, I implore; what are your thoughts on this soundtrack? I was told by someone else that it's a great score, but have never heard it. I do not have any of Berstein's work yet, but would like to know if "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "Birdman of Alcatraz" are both worth having.
drakemarone, November 10, 2006; 9:59 AM
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Answers
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No doubt: a fabulous theme and a fine score ... though with the rerecording I have (RSNO on the V/S label) there seems to be something missing and I find it hard to rate it 5 out of 5. I believe Mr. Bernstein considered this his finest work (at least he always referred to it in interview as being so).
I know nothing of his Birdman score but as it comes from the same era I imagine it is also a fine score, though one must wonder why it has taken so long to get a release.
Unless you do not like the Americana-style Western score, though, your best bet is to get a copy of Magnificent Seven - should be in every music lover's collection - truly brilliant scoring.
Mitch, November 10, 2006; 1:03 PM

To Kill A Mockingbird,
to me it's an essential cd in my music collection,
I play it very often, and yet, I never get tired of it.
Don't expect fireworks but a melancholy gentle score.
WimArnhem, November 10, 2006; 1:51 PM

To Kill A Mockingbird is an essential and wonderful score. Get it !
42zaphod, November 10, 2006; 1:55 PM

To Kill A Mockingbird in many ways is the pinnacle of American Film music. Sure, many great scores for American films came before it, yet this one, composed by a native born American for a film produced in the USA is to me one of the greatest of them all!
As far as Birdman Of Alcatraz goes... If you haven't ordered a copy you better get on the ball and blast. I doubt if any copies will gather dust on the shelf.
It's a lonely and solitary score that gradually becomes a bit uplifting as the convict finds a purpose within the walls of his confinement. A beautiful score to a film I loved as a kid. As a matter of fact I went out and bought a parakeet as a result.
Both scores are great. Early 60's Elmer Bernstein with orchestrations by Leo Shuken and Jack Hayes.
victoravalentine, November 10, 2006; 4:49 PM

Hello,
I think the Bernstein score "To Kill A Mockingbird" is a true classic and one of his best scores. It's a must have for any serious film score collector in my opinion although I know that alot of younger collectors may find it alittle boring and dull, But as they age maybe they will realize that sometimes less is more and mood and a more subtle film score style when done well is a great thing. I also like "Birdman of Alcatraz", Both scores fit the films very well and are worth having on cd.
Best Regards,
David Phoenix, AZ.
deg63iami, November 11, 2006; 1:37 AM

By now I think you already decided to buy this truly gem. To me it's one of those rare works
that you keep playing over the years and don't grow tired of. It works especially well on hot
sunny summer afternoons or sticky summernights, when your mind can wander to the deep
south, or even to sweet childhood memories. In the booklet of the Varese CD re-recording
Bernstein (who calls it "one of my personal favorites") remembers;
"It took me six weeks to even get off the ground with that score. And so I really scared
myself until I finally realized the whole point of the score. What is this score doing here?
What kind of ambiance is it creating? What I relized was that it's real function was to deal in
the magic of a child's world. That was the whole key of that score, and it accounts for the use
of the high registers of the piano and bells and harps, things which I associated with child
magic in a definitely American ambiance".
I owned the original soundtrack on the re-issued Citadel LP and later bought the Mainstream
CD-release of 1991 (minus the track Scout & Boo (2'35), but with 6 totally unnecessary cues
added from other composers, because the score was "not quite long enough for today's CD
lengths"). The sound ("remastered for the first time from the original recordings") is quite
reasonable, but also has faint moments where the tape is deteriorated. It also suffers from a
sort of fake-stereo. Maybe it captures a feeling of old moviehouses showing worn copies of old
films.
Because the original soundtrack release gives "an incomplete presentation", and maybe also
since the sound quality of the original recording was not that good, Bernstein re-recorded the
score in 1976 as part of his "Film Music Collection" LP series (later re-released by Warner
Bros. Records in 1978) with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. This is a really nice
recording that captures the mood of the film (and the original soundtrack) perfectly, and is a
huge improvement because of the great (real stereo) sound. I prefer this LP over the
Mainstream CD.
In 1996 Bernstein went to Glasgow to conduct the Royal Scottish National Orchestra to
create the definitive recording of the score, including material that was previously unavailable
(a fair amount of music did not make it into the final cut of the picture). It contains all of
Bernstein's cues in complete form, sequenced in the chronological order of the film. It would
be hard to pick a favorite between the FMC recording and this release, it's in the details and
nuances, but the charm of this music is indestructable and all releases are worth having. The
1996 recording has the obvious advantage of being readily available and in CD format. And
it's the only complete recording. Running times are (approx.); original AVA/Citadel LP; 29
mins. FMC 1976 re-recording; 36 mins. Varese CD 1996 re-recording; 41:36 mins. This
shows there isn't that much extra music on the 'definitive' recording.
By the way, if you like this score you will almost certainly like 'Rambling Rose'. Also perfect for
a feeling of long, hot Southern summer days with even longer, hotter nights.
chris, November 12, 2006; 10:48 AM

BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ is anoher GEM, a 100% must have for all ELMER BERNSTEIN fans and great film music appreciators!
baalgehenna, November 15, 2006; 6:17 PM

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