Cutthroat Island Theme from

Cutthroat Island

Theme from Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV series The Wild Ride from NORTH BY NORTHWEST Bernard Herrmann PSYCHO A Narrative for Orchestra Bernard Herrmann Prelude from TORN CURTAIN Bernard Herrmann The Radiogram from TORN CURTAIN Bernard Herrmann A Portrait of Hitch from THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY Bernard Herrmann How appropriate that this CD compilation is now available for the centennial of Alfred Hitchcocks birth August 13, 1 The 100th anniversary of his birth was on Friday the 13th how appropriate!! This is a marvelous collection of great themes, 8 of theme previously unreleased, from some of the greatest film composers of the past 50 years. Included are both the familiar Cutthroat Island VERTIGO and PSYCHO and less available themes I CONFESS and REAR WINDOW. After the opening TV theme for Alfred Hitchcock Presents, there are two themes by Dimitri Tiomkin. Both are highly dramatic and heavily sentimental but not particularly memorable. The next theme by Franz Waxman from REAR WINDOW track 4 is much more welcome, a swinging jazz combo theme. After some familiar tracks conducted by Bernard Herrmann tracks 5-7, there are several cues from his score to MARNIE which havent been released before. The Prelude track 8 has a theme which was adapted into a pop song recorded Nat King Cole. Its another of Herrmanns gloriously rhythmic themes, full of subtle changes of tempo and dynamics. The same can be said for the three tracks from TORN CURTAIN, all conducted by Herrmann himself. Just listen to John Addisons catchy pop-lite Main Title from this film track 10 and then hear Herrmanns unused Prelude track Herrmanns theme is far more impressive with the forceful brass 16 horns and woodwinds 12 flutes! firmly stating the theme. According to Steven Smiths notes, Hitchcock asked Herrmann to write a score for young audiences who were vigorous and demanding. Then there is the wonderful Main Title theme track 16 from a vastly underrated Hitchcock film, THE WRONG MAN. This track is expertly conducted by one of Herrmanns fellow composers and friends, Elmer Bernstein. Besides Tiomkin, Waxman, Addison and Herrmann, there are three other composers featured: Maurice Jarre in a sprightly March from TOPAZ track 14; Ron Goodwin an imposing London Theme from FRENZY track 15; and John Williams, who wrote the score for Hitchcocks last film, FAMILY PLOT. The End Credits Titles music track 17 is delightfully whimsical with its prominent use of harpsichord and strings, and is ideal for this Cutthroat Island comedy caper directed by the master of mystery, Alfred Hitchcock. The accompanying 16 page is not in the commonly overdone color schemes found in many other compilations. This one is in plain old black and white thank goodness! You can actually read the excellent notes written by Steven Smith, author of the biography of Bernard Herrmann. Also there are complete recording dates and film studio information. Soundtrack collectors will probably already have many of these themes. But even so, this is still worth buying to have such a wealth of outstanding themes and suites or, as the CD cover says: Signatures in Suspense. They have been skillfully put together as an appropriate tribute to that Master of Mystery, Alfred Hitchcock. A highly recommended compilation well worth adding to your collection. Bernard Herrmann was a supreme master of film music and today considered by many to be the greatest innovative film composer from the past. On the Essential Film Scores survey he is listed at No. 1 with 10 film scores. 2010 PineTree Productions. All Rights Reserved. Posted: Jul 27, 2009 03:18 PM What is the best way to visit Disney in Orlando without breaking the bank? We promised our grandchildren we would take them this year but Cutthroat Island to keep the costs down without spoiling the magic. We want to visit at least two parks and would like a good deal on the hotel for 2 adults and 3 children. Our timing is pretty flexible. Posted: Aug 16, 2009 03:55 PM Disney can be expensive, but there are ways to save. How old are your grandchildren? Any child under 3 years is that helps. Children between 3 9 pay child prices.