Jason and the Argonauts [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Intrada is proud to announce the third album in their Excalibur Collection of classic film score rerecordings. Following the intricate reconstructions of Ivanhoe and Julius Caesar (both by Miklos Rozsa), Intrada presents the world premiere recording of Bernard Herrmann's Jason and the Argonauts, one of the four films on which Herrmann worked for Ray Harryhausen. Herrmann wrote some of his most impressive music for Harryhausen's fantasy films in the years from 1958 to 1963. Jason was the most extravagant in that Herrmann omitted strings and created a huge ensemble of brass, woodwind, percussion, and harps. The number of individual instruments required was tripled and in some cases quadrupled from that of the standard orchestra.

The score contains several major set pieces, including the powerful prelude that opens the score with an heroic theme for Jason and his men and the mythological adventures in which they are about to partake. For the sequence with the giant statue Talos, Herrmann composed a massive, threatening sound for brass and percussion. Herrmann displayed his flair for using low woodwinds and an array of harps to bring the tormenting harpies to life. Highlighting the film is the spectacular climactic Hydra sequence and the subsequent battle between the Argonauts and an entire army of skeletons, culminating in a rousing "scherzo macabre."

This sonically brilliant new 20-bit digital recording conducted by Bruce Broughton and performed by the augmented Sinfonia of London presents a full hour of Herrmann's most impressive masterwork.

Tracks:

Jason Prelude
The Prophecy/The Battle
River Bank
The Feast
The Oak Grove/The Ascension
Mount Olympus
The Olympic Games
Departure
Heras Effigy
Argo
The Titans/The Chamber/The Door
Talos/The Boat/The Wreck
Hera Speaks
The Attack/Talos Heel/Talos Death
Sorrow/Heras Warning
The Harpies
The Nets/The Rope/The Cage
Medeas Ship
Triton
Medea
Acastus And Jason Fight
Temple Dance
The Glade/The Golden Fleece
The Hydra/The Hydra Fight
The Stolen Fleece/The Teeth
The Path/The Cure
Hydras Teeth/Skeletons/Attack
Scherzo Macabre
Finale

Album Description

Intrada is proud to announce the third album in their Excalibur Collection of classic film score rerecordings. Following the intricate reconstructions of Ivanhoe and Julius Caesar (both by Miklos Rozsa), Intrada presents the world premiere recording of Bernard Herrmann's Jason and the Argonauts, one of the four films on which Herrmann worked for Ray Harryhausen. Herrmann wrote some of his most impressive music for Harryhausen's fantasy films in the years from 1958 to 1963. Jason was the most extravagant in that Herrmann omitted strings and created a huge ensemble of brass, woodwind, percussion, and harps. The number of individual instruments required was tripled and in some cases quadrupled from that of the standard orchestra.

This sonically brilliant new 20-bit digital recording conducted by Bruce Broughton and performed by the augmented Sinfonia of London presents a full hour of Herrmann's most impressive masterwork.

Customer Reviews:

the best...........2007-06-11

this is without question,the finest rerecording of any herrmann score-it seems to be the only one that the conductor and musicians actually listened to the original soundtrack to the film-and the fact that the original soundtrack session tapes no longer exist makes this beautiful recording that much more valuable-a must have!!!

Excellent. Includes New Music!.......2005-01-31

I agree with the other reviews. The recorded sound here is outstanding, the musicians are excellent and the conductor Broughton comes close to the composer's own performance on the original soundtrack. There is even a beautiful new theme not heard in the film, used for the final moments of the film.

For me the opening credit's big theme is slightly dissappointing. As with Bernard's own later recording, this new performance slows down the tempo slightly and the result is a little more massive but with less forward drive. I prefer the original recording.

Otherwise I greatly enjoyed this performance of the score. The mysterious sound of brooding low woodwinds with harp are just right. Then for Mt. Olympus, the bright brass harmonies, again with harp are, well, heavenly!

For another great score I would add "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" to the list. It is perhaps his most subtle score.

The TRIO is complete!.......2002-12-01

Over a career of forty years or so, Bernard Herrmann composed some of the movies' best scores. There remain three that are must-haves for any fan of the composer, as well as fans of film music: "The Day the Earth Stood Still," a revolutionary score that influenced countless other films that followed it; "Psycho", a score unlike anything that preceded it, or for that manner, came after, and "Jason and the Argonauts," possibly the composer's finest work.

This recording, by Bruce Broughton and the Sinfonia of London, is a faithful rendering, with additional cues, of the masterful composition for the 1963 film. While the album in its entirety is a treasure, two cuts ("Hydra's Teeth/Skeleton/Attack" and "Scherzo Macabre") near the album's end are breathtakingly intricate and wondrously performed.

These young composers need to take a listen to this one. This is the way movie music SHOULD sound.

Must have!.......2001-11-27

2 words: simply magnificent! A great and faithful rendition of this classic Bernard Herrmann score. Kudos to Bruce Broughton; a job well done, Herrmann would be proud. 'Nuff said!

After 5 complete listening :o).......2001-07-10

Ok, this recording is really good. More in term of interpretation, the symphonia is good and under Bruce broughton it's almost perfect.His knowledge ( bruce Broughton) in term of Movie music is perfect for that kind of recording, Magical,emotionnal etc... When it's loud, it's LOUD, when it's calm, it's c...a..l..mmm... humm I love that way ! Maybe one thing is a problem ( well a little one...): the recording Studio seems to be too small, the acoustic is a little too concentrate,mate, Digital reverb in the mix are not well choosen...not "SO" important... a really good choice to buy ;o)with a special orchestration work made by Hermann ( without strings I think...)which made this music so special. Igor Bolender

Average customer rating:

The Fantasy Album
nice release from Silva
Outstanding Fantasy Scores from Hit Fantasy Movies
"successful formula from Silva spells Classic all the way"

The Fantasy Album
Jerry Goldsmith , Kenneth Alwyn , Nic Raine , Paul Bateman , Randy Edelman , Danny Elfman , Bernard Herrmann , and James Horner
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Science Fiction Album
Film Music by John Williams
Great Film Fantasies
Day the Earth Stood Still (Score)
Simply the Best Movie Themes

ASIN: B00006GOEG
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone - 'Hedwig's Theme'
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring - 'The Fellowship'
The Mummy - 'Sand Volcano/Love Theme'
The Mummy Returns - 'Main Themes'
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon/The Eternal Vow'
Conan: The Barbarian - 'Suite: Prologue/Anvil Of Cron/Riddle Of Steel/Riders Of Doom'
Dragonheart - 'Main Themes'
The Seventh Voyage Of Sinbad - 'Overture'
Mysterious Island - 'Prelude/The Balloon'
Mysterious Island - 'Giant Bees/The Giant Crab'
Jason And The Argonauts - 'Prelude'
The Valley Of Gwangi - 'The Forbidden Valley/Pterodactyl Attack/Death Of Gwangi'
The Three Worlds Of Gulliver - 'Overture'
The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad - 'Prelude/Sinbad Fights Kali/Finale'
The Witches Of Eastwick - 'The Dance Of The Witches'

Tracks:

Gladiator - 'Suite'
Fleash And Blood - 'End Titles'
Willow - 'Willow's Theme'
Beetlejuice - 'Main Theme'
Edward Scissorhands - 'Main Title/Ice Dance'
Batman - 'Suite'
Highlander - 'Training Montage'
Mad Max - 'Suite'
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome - 'Thunderdome Fanfare/I Am Captian Walker'
Excalibur - 'O Fortina From Carmina Burana'
The Thief Of Bagdad - 'Overture/The Market At Basra'
Legend - 'Faerie Dance/Re-united'
Raiders Of The Lost Ark - 'The Radiers March'

Customer Reviews:

The Fantasy Album.......2007-05-09

You can't have too many Sci-Fi albums. This is a good addition to anyone's collection. A good crosssection of SF music. It even has music from The Thief of Bagdad from the 30s(?)

nice release from Silva.......2005-08-15

As with most of the recent Silva America releases, Silva Screen has compiled older recordings from previous CDs and added some new material exclusively for this release. In this case, Silva has recorded music from The first Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings films, both Mummy films and Gladiator. I'm not sure what else is new, but combine these excellent tracks with golden age material from Hermann and Rozsa, and some Elfman (Batman, Edward Scissorhands) and Williams (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Witches of Eastwick) for good measure, you have a heckuva compilation.

The performance is first rate with only the Raiders March being a subpar track.

Outstanding Fantasy Scores from Hit Fantasy Movies.......2003-04-05

If you're looking for some fantasy role-playing game backround music to play or just like mostly classical fantasy-esque music, this double CD contains excellent scores wrapped in whopping total of 140+ minutes worth of music.

Classic music from your favorite hit fantasy and action movies are found all over this huge, quality collection. You'll hear suites and sounds from outstanding films like Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, Willow, The Mummy, Harry Potter, Excalibur, Conan, Highlander, Batman, Edward Scissorhands and more.

A recent (2002) and impressive collection of musical scores, and by far the best CDs I've personally bought for fantasy themed music.

"successful formula from Silva spells Classic all the way".......2002-09-24

History repeats itself with this latest compilation from Silva Screen "Fantasy Album:Adventure & Fantasy at the Movies", a heap of music to digest within the twenty-eight tracks. All beautifully arranged and conducted by Paul Bateman and Nic Raine with the City Of Prague Orchestra in full force...with the helping hand of David Temple (choir master) of the Crouch End Festival Chorus. A perfect blend from brew master James Fitzpatrick(producer) who has impeccable foresight and taste in film music.

What I most enjoy about Silva, is the fact they always have the lesser recorded selections within the big picture...take for instance "THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD"(1958), "THE THREE WORLDS OF GULLIVER" (1960), "MYSTERIOUS ISLAND" (1961) and "JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS" (1963), all four composed by Bernard Herrmann who is in a class by himself, they'll never be another.

But for my money the highlight picks are "GLADITOR"(2000), Hans Zimmer's recreation of the spectacle that was Romes, with man against man, man against beast and the armies that clashed and fell under the powerful story that unfolds within this suite from the film ~ "BEETLEJUICE", "EDWARD SCISSORHANDS" and "BATMAN", each from the films of Tim Burton still ring true within the realm of great direction and storytelling, this can only be topped by composer Danny Elfman who adds the frosting to an appetizing treat ~ "LEGEND" (1985), can faeries, goblins, woodland spirits mix well with the Lord of Darkness...only the legendary Jerry Goldsmith can conjure up a tune to drive the entire cast into a frenzy with "FARIE DANCE/REUNITED", this is the stuff nightmares are made of with a happy ending of course.

With composers like Tan Dun, Randy Edelman, Danny Elfman, Jerry Goldsmith, Bernard Herrmann, James Horner, Maurice Jarre, Michael Kamen, Brian May, Jerome Moross, Carl Orff, Basil Poledouris, Miklos Rozsa, Howard Shore, Alan Silvestri, John Williams and Hans Zimmer...one can only hope this will last forever. Silva, I don't know how you do it, but keep them coming...gotta love it!