Dave's Faves No. 130 (Waxman)

Franz Waxman: Classic Film Scores. National Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Gerhardt (cond.) RCA

[leestamm]

Glad to see other old movie buffs who know these composers. Lots of terrific music from Waxman and others.

[roberttownson]

That's the recording that first introduced me to Waxman, a few decades ago. It was immediate love and I have produced upwards of 20 Waxman albums at this point. And Ride To Dubno is always an instant standing ovation when I program it in concerts.

[martinhaub]

I remember the thrill from 50 years ago when the LP came out and finally, those of us who loved the Universal horror films could enjoy the selection from The Bride of Frankenstein. The whole record was fantastic as is the cd. It's really a shame that in the bargain box RCA didn't include a cd-rom with the pictures and text from the original, extensive and informative booklets. And let's not forget Waxman's orchestrators who certainly should get more credit than they do for bringing Waxman's sketches to life.

[jaykauffman]

FABULOUS DISC!!! I remember when I bought the LP and I played the Bride track right into the groove!!!!

[mlconlanmeister]

"Capacitors overloading!!" (Now that is some vivid program music).

[tterrace]

Has to be my most-played of all the RCA/Gerhardt albums, which I've had in various formats since they first started coming out. Everything in it is wonderful, but for me the biggest goose-pimply moment has always been when the big theme rises up at the end of Prince Valiant.

[edwardcasper]

Much of "The Bride of Frankenstein" music was also used in the Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers serials.

[federicorodriguez]

The Ride of the Cossacks is truly a masterpiece. The Berlin Philharmonic actually played it as the final encore in one Silvesterkonzert under Petrenko and it sounded brilliant, I was kind of surprised that they played it, not an ensemble you would associate with this music. Erick Kunzel also did a good recording, though the sound is slightly heavy on the bass to my liking but the performance I liked. And YES, the Frankenstein is superb.

[curseofmillhaven]

Without doubt a great recording. However anyone interested in the complete Bride of Frankenstein score (and you really should be as it is all uniformly excellent) the version on Silva Screen with another pick-up orchestra (Westminster Philharmonic) conducted by the redoubtable Kenneth Alwyn is really, very, very good in my honest opinion. Together with the glories already described for the creation of the female monster cue, there's the brilliant montage music accompanying Mary Shelley recounting the story at the beginning of the film (a wistful minuet) transforming in to something more ominous at the entrance of monster (timpani and basses pizzicatto), and the comic/scary theme for Dr Preterious show Waxman at his considerable best.

[leslieackerman]

Yes. Waxman was great. I am glad you are covering the Golden Age. If not already, I would like your take on the others… Steiner, Rozsa, Tiomkin, etc

[carlconnor]

That music for the creation of the female monster scene is amazing!

[ccgrueter]

In the early 90s Varese Sarabande released another amazing compilation of Waxman scores (4 discs entitled 'Franz Waxman - Legends of Hollywood'). This set includes some lesser known but equally fascinating works. Well worth checking out although long out of print.

[richardwilliams]

I am glad you replaced the big Tam Tam with your HUGE collection of CD s behind you. You are a true devotee of Classical Music recordings. That electronic instrument you were talking about scared me half to death when I first heard it in Bernard Hermann s movie score for The Day The Earth Stood Still

[guillaumechabason]

I will listen to my Waxman Gehrart box set after your wonderful review
Do you also appreciate Leonard Rosenman works ?

[frankdberger]

Any comment on the Vocalian re-release of this on SACD?

[mickeytheviewmoo]

I love the creation of the bride monster. It's so clever where he uses a single repeated note on timpani all the way through until the end. As the tension builds the timpani gets louder and louder . Wedding chimes at the end is a great touch.