Bernard Herrmann film scores on Phase 4 - new seven CD boxed set

[John Fowler]

All of Bernard Herrmann's recordings of his own and others' film scores made for Decca Phase 4 Stereo in the 1960s. Newly remastered at 24bit 96kHz, and packaged in original jackets.
Does not include Herrmann's Phase 4 recordings of non-film scores.
Release date: July 23
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09242ZMBT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Miklos Rozsa also recorded two Phase 4 LPs of his film scores (Ben Hur and Quo Vadis), already released in a two CD set from Eloquence:
https://www.amazon.com/Rozsa-Ben-Vadis-Julius-Caesar/dp/B0047VETBY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=rozsa+phase+4&qid=1623256383&s=music&sr=1-1

[John Fowler]

I had to delete my original post and re-post it.
I misspelled "Herrmann".
Sorry about the confusion.

[MELMOTH]

John Fowler avait prétendu :

> I had to delete my original post and re-post it.
> I misspelled "Herrmann".

http://www.mesnews.net

Or even Mozilla Thnderbird....

[John Fowler]

You will save a lot of money over the current price of the seven individual CDs.

[MELMOTH]

John Fowler avait soumis l'idée :

> You will save a lot of money over the current price of the seven individual
> CDs.

???...I ask the question...

[Kerrison]

The 7 "Movie Music" CDs are: (1) Great Movie Thrillers; (2) Great Film Classics; (3) Fantasy Film World; (4) Great Shakespearean Films; (5) Mysterious Film World; (6) Great British Film Music; (7) Music from 'Obsession.'

If the 'movie' box sells well enough, I assume Decca could do a 6-CD set of Herrmann's concert music discs: (i) Great Tone Poems; (2) Holst 'The Planets'; (3) The Impressionists; (4) Ives 2nd Symphony; (5) Four Faces of Jazz; (6) Satie and Milhaud. His health was failing during his last days and some of the tempos in these performances were awfully lethargic. Still, the pair of boxes, should the second one ever materialize, would be useful to have.

Incidentally, Herrmann's 110th Birthday is on 29th June, so get ready to send your record requests to your local radio stations! ... And if you haven't already seen it, there's an excellent 1992 Herrmann documentary on YouTube ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Bej6w8yXQ&t=458s

[gggg gggg]

(2020 Youtube upload):

The Psycho Chord - Consonance vs Dissonanc

[gggg gggg]

On Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 12:18:58 PM UTC-7, John Fowler wrote:

(Recent article):

https://screenrant.com/bernard-herrmann-best-musical-scores/

[John Fowler]

CD2) GREAT FILM CLASSICS *
(London Philharmonic, 1970)
-- Citizen Kane (directed by ORSON WELLES) – Suite
-- Jane Eyre (starring ORSON WELLES) – Suite
-- The Devil and Daniel Webster - Sleigh Ride and Swing Your Partners
-- The Snows of Kilimanjaro - Interlude and Memory Waltz

* CONFUSION: In 1967, one year before beginning his association with Decca, Bernard Herrmann recorded an LP of his music with the London Philharmonic for Pye Records. The contents were partially duplicated in “Great Film Classics” (CD2). The Pye LP featured a longer suite of music from ‘The Devil and Daniel Webster’ plus “Welles Raises Kane”, a suite combining music from ‘Citizen Kane’ and ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’. The Decca booklet implies that this music was recorded for Decca Phase 4, but it was not, and it is not in the new box. The Pye recordings were later licensed to Unicorn-Kanchana for LP and CD (out-of-print). Apparently the rights are today owned by Warner, which bought Pye, and has not as yet released the music on CD.
http://www.bernardherrmann.org/legacy/site/db/old/rec/r_wrk67.html

[gggg gggg]

(Recent Y. upload):

Review: Glorious Herrmann in Phase 4

[Kerrison]

Just to go into a little more detail, the Discography in Triad Press's "Bernard Herrmann - Hollywood's Music-Dramatist" (published 1977) states the following. As noted above, he recorded an LP for Pye Records (Catalogue No. TPLS 13010) on 6 June 1967 consisting of a Suite from "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (Mister Scratch; The Ballad of Springfield Mountain; Sleigh-Ride; The Miser's Waltz; Swing Your Partners) and on the other side "Welles Raises Kane" (Overture; Theme and Variations; Ragtime; Meditation; Finale). The session was recorded in the Barking Assembly Hall, London, with the London Philharmonic, and the LP was later reissued on Unicorn Records (Catalogue No. UNS 237).

"Music from Great Film Classics" was recorded for Decca 'Phase 4 Stereo' in the Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, on 16 February 1970, also with the London Philharmonic. The items were a Selection from "Jane Eyre"; the Interlude from "The Snows of Kilimanjaro"; the Overture, Variations, Ragtime and Finale from "Citizen Kane"; and Sleigh-Ride and Swing Your Partners from "The Devil and Daniel Webster." (Catalogue Nos. PFS 4213 in the UK; SP 44144 in the USA).

I don't know why gggg can't provide a link to the Hurwitz / Herrmann review but here it is ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbvojpdce48

[John Fowler]

CLARIFICATION:
CD 2 = GREAT FILM CLASSICS *
(London Philharmonic, 1970)
-- Citizen Kane (directed by ORSON WELLES) - Overture and Finale *
-- Magnificent Ambersons (directed by ORSON WELLES) - Variations and Ragtime *
-- Jane Eyre (starring ORSON WELLES) - Suite
-- The Devil and Daniel Webster - Sleigh Ride and Swing Your Partners *

-- The Snows of Kilimanjaro - Interlude and Memory Waltz

* CONFUSION: Bernard Herrmann assembled a five-movement concert suite titled “Welles Raises Kane” combining music from two Orson Welles films: Movements 1 (Overture) and 5 (Finale) were from ‘Citizen Kane’. Movements 2 (Variations), 3 (Ragtime) and 4 (Meditation) were from ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’.
The Phase 4 recording omits No.4 “Meditation”.
In 1967, one year before beginning his association with Decca, Bernard Herrmann recorded the full five-movement suite with the London Philharmonic for Pye Records (see photo).
The Pye LP also featured three additional movements from ‘The Devil and Daniel Webster’ that were not recorded for Phase 4 (Mr.Scratch, the Ballad of Springfield Mountain, and the Miser’s Waltz).

[Mr. Mike]

Discussion of the set at Film Score Monthly board:

https://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=143984&forumID=1&archive=0

[Kerrison]

On Monday, August 16, 2021 at 6:38:59 PM UTC+1, Mr. Mike wrote:
> Discussion of the set at Film Score Monthly board:
>
> https://filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?threadID=143984&forumID=1&archive=0

They dropped a terrible boo-boo in the booklet. CD1 is entitled "Music from the Great Music Thrillers" instead of "Movie Thrillers." The other nonsense of course is reducing the backs of the 12" LP covers to 5" square CD size and expecting the sleeve-notes to be legible, which they aren't unless you happen to posses a very powerful magnifying glass.The booklet essay is printed in a miniscule type-size too and in a quasi-grey, rather than black, which is reserved in the text for the CD titles.

A friend who is a lover of British music says that the "Great British Film Music" CD is a "disaster" with everything taken far too slowly. This was of course due to Herrmann's failing health. Even so, it has some nice moments and I particularly like the Constant Lambert "Anna Karenina" Suite. On the Shakespeare CD, the Shostakovich "Hamlet" Suite is not all bad either. But when it comes to "Psycho" no-one has ever matched the harsh viciousness of the original movie soundtrack, doubtless electronically juggled with to sound that way.

[Frank Berger]

I was hesitant to order this but did, I guess on Hurwitz's recommendation. Other people's incompetence is always frustrating. I refer to the cover design, not Hurwitz. Though I don't know how you expect a 12" vinyl back is supposed to be made legible in 5" square. Too bad that booklet error won't make it valuable, like errors with stamps and coins.

When I worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, some circular went out that referred to "pubic affairs" instead of "public affairs." I don't think any heads rolled, though public embarrassment of the FED is the only sure way to get fired by them. Incompetence isn't. Usually you just get moved to another department where management has less influence where you can continue being incompetent.

I do recall an officer in the San Antonio Branch being fired for theft (somehow diverting checks that the Fed was supposed to clear to himself).

Also, a Vice President in the Public Affairs department was fired for approving a new design of the Bank's business cards. It had a graphic that was reminiscent of the Texas flag. Unfortunatey, the 11th Federal Reserve District includes parts of New Mexico and Louisiana and they didn't like being ignored.

[vhorowitz]

Usually, if one scans those back covers, they come out legibly on a computer/tablet screen. That's what I've done with the various Sony sets (Ormandy/Szell/Walter). I make a big pdf stitching them together and scroll through to figure out. what to listen to. Would be nice if these companies would post those for us. I see there's a promise that the booklet to this set is available digitally, but it doesn't seem to be up on that site yet.

[gggg gggg]

(Recent Y. upload):

Film Composer Spotlight: BERNARD HERRMANN on DECCA PHASE 4

[Kerrison]

Hermann's "Fantasy Film World" Phase-4 Stereo CD is featured on YouTube with the 'main title' Preludes to The Day the Earth Stood Still, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Fahrenheit 451 ... Great sonics! ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGzinpJxuzY&t=374s

[gggg gggg]

"Film Composer Spotlight: BERNARD HERRMANN on DECCA PHASE 4"

(Y. upload)

[gggg gggg]

On Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 12:18:58 PM UTC-7, John Fowler wrote:

(Y. upload):

"Bernard Herrmann - Mysterious Island (#vinyl: Ortofon SPU, PTP Solid12 (Lenco), Graham Slee)"