Film Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold, Vol. 1 [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Malcolm Arnold, like Dmitri Shostakovich, wrote a wide range of music, including music for film. But while Shostakovich's film music is generally looked down upon (having been mostly commissioned by the state), Arnold's film music aspires to the same level of seriousness (and delight) as his "important" works. Most familiar here is the music from The Bridge Over the River Kwai, which features Kenneth Alford's "Colonel Bogey's March." Fortunately these works are all orchestrated by the late Christopher Palmer; they would otherwise likely have languished in obscurity. Fans of Arnold's music will want this exceptional collection. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

The Bridge On The River Kwai - Suite For Large Orchestra: Prelude: The Prison Camp
The Bridge On The River Kwai - Suite For Large Orchestra: Colonel Bogey
The Bridge On The River Kwai - Suite For Large Orchestra: The Jungle Trek
The Bridge On The River Kwai - Suite For Large Orchestra: Sunset
The Bridge On The River Kwai - Suite For Large Orchestra: The River Kwai March
Whistle Down The Wind - Small Suite For Small Orchestra: Prelude (Whistle Down The Wind Theme)
Whistle Down The Wind - Small Suite For Small Orchestra: The Three Kings
Whistle Down The Wind - Small Suite For Small Orchestra: Finale
The Sound Barrier - A Rhapsody For Orchestra, Op. 38
Hobson's Choice - Orchestral Suite: Overture And Shoe Ballet
Hobson's Choice - Orchestral Suite: Willie And Maggie (Theme And Variations 1)
Hobson's Choice - Orchestral Suite: Wedding Night (Theme and Variations II)
Hobson's Choice - Orchestral Suite: Finale
The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness - Orchestal Suite: London Prelude
The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness - Orchestal Suite: Romantic Interlude
The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness - Orchestal Suite: Happy Ending (Mountain Crossing - The Children)

Amazon.com

Malcolm Arnold, like Dmitri Shostakovich, wrote a wide range of music, including music for film. But while Shostakovich's film music is generally looked down upon (having been mostly commissioned by the state), Arnold's film music aspires to the same level of seriousness (and delight) as his "important" works. Most familiar here is the music from The Bridge Over the River Kwai, which features Kenneth Alford's "Colonel Bogey's March." Fortunately these works are all orchestrated by the late Christopher Palmer; they would otherwise likely have languished in obscurity. Fans of Arnold's music will want this exceptional collection. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

A Walk Down Memory Lane.......2007-01-18

I purchased this CD about three years ago primarily for the Bridge on the River Kwai music. I had bought the original soundtrack album very soon after seeing the film (in 1957). The thought of having another copy recorded with modern-day technology made the purchase irresistable. One slightly negative (for me) comment about the music is that this is not a re-recording of the original soundtrack. This is a concert suite arranged by Christopher Palmer. The music is "basically" the same. Mr. Palmer has re-arranged much of it and the sequences of events are out of sync with the original. Apart from these differences the music is still awsome sounding! The other pieces on the disk are all well worth listening to for Arnold enthusiasts. Whistle Down the Wind is charming. The Sound Barrier has that Arnold juxtapositioning of the stern and dramatic with the bubbling and warm-and-fuzzy tunes that he is known for. The Hobson's Choice music has a lot of Arnold's humor in it. Upon first hearing, I thought the music was rather "corny" but repeated listenings have allowed me to find the deeper things in it. The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is pure Arnold from beginning to end. The grandiose London Prelude opening, the tender Romantic Interlude section, the stirring and ominous Mountain Crossing, and the "This Old Man" tune at the end make this piece, as well as the entire album, a joy to listen to. If you are a Malcom Arnold fan and would like a sampling of his film music, this CD should meet your needs very well. Five stars!

Amazing! .......2006-11-16

This music is amazing! I gotta admit that I bought this Cd mainly because of the tracks from "The Bridge on the River Kwai", but all the other tracks are also very good. My personal favorites are "The Bridge on the River Kwai March"( last track of the Bridge on the River Kwai section of this Cd), the Overture/Shoe Ballet from "Hobson's Choice", and the last track on this Cd, the "Happy Ending: Mountain Crossing-the children". That track is one of my favorite pieces of music ever. One comment on the orchestra that is playing it all: They are great. They play really clean, stay on the beat, and I am sure that they play the music just like Sir Malcolm Arnold intended it to sound. The London Symphony Orchestra is doing a great job on this Cd. This Cd rocks and well deserves five stars!

Classic Film Scores.......2001-04-17

Malcolm Arnold's film scores stand on a par with his concert music; they are of equally high quality. Of the five films represented on this CD, the most prominent would have to be the 1957 best picture Oscar winner, The Bridge on the River Kwai. But, having said that, it would at most have to be considered as first among equals, as the other scores represented are also well-done and well-performed. For film score buffs, this CD should be a keeper.

Jolly Arnold jinks.......2001-01-17

This album will be a delight to baby boomers like me who were taken to the movies during the late fifties and sixties to see these films. The films seem a little dated now but the scores of Arnold bring out tear jerking emotion, nostalgic pangs and jolly japes, all in the blink of an eye. The heavyweight David Lean 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' item is probably the movie you are most likely to see repeated on TV; who can forget the defiant and physically broken Alec Guiness standing up to the Japanese Camp Commander? Yet, paradoxically, although the Colonel Bogey March was very popular when the movie was relaeased, it probably will not be the most played item on the CD if you buy it. Arnold's fecund imagination comes into its own with the 'Hobson's choice' with the brilliant orchestral character sketches of the grumpy and drunken Charles Laughton character on the deep brass, or the thrilling optimism as our hero sudenly realises he can make it. The 'Whistle Down the Wind' offerings are sheer musical poetry that underline the pathos we all feel of our lost childhood vision of Jesus and the haunting theme stays in your head a long while afterwards. The 'Inn of the Sixth Happiness' and 'Sound Barrier' items are wonderful and will be enjoyed again and again as Arnold's imagination jumps around the orchestra in its different tones. A brilliant buy!

Unforgettable Classics: Great British Music, Vol. 2 2

Average customer rating:

A "Whitman's Sampler" of British Music

Unforgettable Classics: Great British Music, Vol. 2 2

Manufacturer: Classics for Pleasur
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Tracks:

The Planets: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
Cello Concerto In E Minor, Op. 85 - Adagio-Moderato
Trumpet Voluntary - The Prince Of Denmark's March
The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Op. 34: Fugue - Allegro molto
'Spitfire' Prelude And Fugue
Suite In F, 'Lady Radnor's Suite': Prelude - Vivace
Pineapple Poll Suite: Grande Finale
Enigma Variations: Nimrod
The Sea: 'Seascape' - Allegro ben moderato
An English Suite: 'Frolic' - Molto vivace
On Hearing The First Cuckoo In Spring
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves'
Guitar Concerto - Allegro
Summer Night On The River

Customer Reviews:

A "Whitman's Sampler" of British Music.......2002-04-11

This budget collection contains selections from various popular British composers ranging from Clarke (Trumpet Voluntary) to Malcom Arnold. This is the kind of music that would (and often is) played on BBC "light" classical radio. Many of the pieces are familiar but the inclusion of Bridge's "The Sea" is a happy exception. The performances and sound are uniformly good and at this price you can't really go wrong. I enjoyed these musical bon-bons and unless you're looking for deep and serious works, I suspect that you will too.
Recommended.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Best of the 60's [Import]

El Cancionero Musical de Palacio

Fats Is Back

70 Miles Young [Import]

The String Quartet Tribute to Janet Jackson

Fear of Flying [Import]

Eternal Rhythm (Limited Edition) (Remast

Debussy: Quartet In G; Ravel: Quartet In F

Heroes

Delicate Moves

Hell's Ditch [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Eye [Import]

Essential Garage Selecta [Box set] [Import]

The Best of Jenny Oaks Baker

It's Christmas Time