The Film Music of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett


Chandos (0095115986721)
Movie | Release date: 01/23/2001 | Format: CD, Download
 

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# Track   Duration
1.Murder On The Orient Express11:22
2.Far From The Madding Crowd15:33
 
Lady Caroline Lamb
3.I Molto vivo - Lento - Alla marcia - Lento8:03
4.II Maestoso - Andante con moto - Poco Agitato - Alla breve9:43
5.Tender Is The Night2:09
6.Enchanted April19:24
7.Four Weddings And A Funeral3:27
 69:40
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The Film Music of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett - 08/10 - Review of Tom Daish, submitted at
Despite having scored over 50 films, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett hasn't quite achieved the fame of his Hollywood peers, but in Britain at least, he is still highly regarded as part of the contemporary composing gentry. Indeed, he still does the occasional score, recently contributing some fine music to the BBC's lavish adaptation of Mervin Peake's Gormenghast. On the big screen, Bennett is perhaps best known for his romantically strident waltz for the Agatha Christie classic, Murder on the Orient Express and a brief suite from that score opens this album, sampling some of Bennett's finest film music. I think it was Bernard Herrmann who made some offhand comment on how frivolous Bennett's main waltz theme was, presumably Herrmann feeling that it should have had something a bit more edgy, more like North by North West or Torn Curtain. However, Bennett emphasizes the period more than the mystery, with a splendid evocation of the 1930's, for which he garnered an Oscar nomination.
Being something of a literary ignoramus, the name Thomas Hardy always conjures up miserable people and sheep. Make of that what you will. In any event, Far from the Madding Crowd is a typically depressing Hardy work and Bennett gives the film version a low key, Vaughan Williams style underscore that avoids turning the drama into melodrama and incorporates folk tunes for a little period and location authenticity. Whatever Herrmann thought of Murder on the Orient Express, he might well have approved more of Lady Caroline Lamb, or at least the Elegy for Viola and Orchestra featured here, the viola being one of Herrmann's favourite solo instruments. The film is yet another period piece that was evidently something of a failure, however Bennett's romantic music is utterly wonderful, with a splendidly romantic main theme, made that little more intimate with the rich tones of Philip Dukes' viola.

Had I not known the composer, I could have sworn that Enchanted April was by Elmer Bernstein. The presence of Cynthia Miller on ondes martenot is certainly a clue, but beyond the orchestration, there is something familiar seeming throughout the suite - nothing specific, but anyone who enjoys Bernstein's more intimate works, ondes martenot included, will certainly enjoy every minute of Enchanted April. The remaining two selections are the rather brief 'premiere recording' of Nicole's Theme from Tender is the Night - nice, but too brief to make much of an impression - and the Love Scene from Four Weddings and a Funeral. The latter seems the last place one would find a composer of Bennett's stature, especially given the number of pop songs within the film. However, despite a slightly cheesy vibraphone electric piano in the background, it turns into a pleasing slice of low key, contemporary romance.

As with all their British film music collections, The BBC Philharmonic under the baton of the sensationally enthusiastic Rumon Gamba (anyone who saw him at the 2003 Proms will know what I mean) produce fine results. Bennett's music doesn't quite reach the gravitas or stature of his contemporaries, Bax and Bliss in particular, it's a little too low key overall, but that is little detriment to its enjoyment factor. The notes on the films and music are brief, but informative and Chandos' splendid sound is in evidence throughout. A fine album, well worth discovering.

Soundtracks from the collection: Re-recordings

Firefly : Music For Solo Piano (2014)
Best Of Motion Picture Scores : Dmitri Shostakovich Vol. 1 (2000)
Rebecca (2002)
For the Record: Craig Armstrong (2007)
Spellbound (2007)
Quo Vadis (2012)
Confetti (1958)
New Ebb Tide, The (1964)
Out of Africa (1997)
Hollywood Action! (2002)


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