Becket
Intrada Special Collection Volume ISC 478

Laurence Rosenthal’s magnificent Academy Award-nominated soundtrack appears on CD! Epic historical drama chronicles the friendship/rivalry between Saxon bishop Thomas Becket and Henry II of England during the 12th century.

Laurence Rosenthal’s magnificent Academy Award-nominated soundtrack appears on CD! Epic historical drama chronicles the friendship/rivalry between Saxon bishop Thomas Becket and Henry II of England during the 12th century.

Eleven additional Academy Award nominations were bestowed upon the powerful film, made by such prodigious talent as lead actors Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, John Gielgud, screenwriter Edward Anhalt, producer Hal B. Wallis, cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, Editor Anne V. Coates… and composer Laurence Rosenthal.

Paramount Pictures presented the film in 1964 to universal acclaim. Once boyhood friends, Thomas and Henry find themselves on opposing sides of a power struggle in various affairs between church and state.

Composer Rosenthal captures the gamut of historical drama and power, ranging from the playful and colorful adventures of youth through love, conflict, hate, trials and penance. It is incredible array of material to work with and Rosenthal gets inside all of it.
Opening with his dramatic main title for full orchestra and male chorus, Rosenthal quickly has trumpets declare his primary 3-note motif based on the interval of a 2nd in forte fashion, announcing the incredible drama about to unfold. As the dynamic piece progresses, Rosenthal brings in massive full orchestra major chords, fanfares and finally an extended misterioso section.

Late in this section of the lengthy sequence, Rosenthal introduces another 3-note motif, this one characterized by wider intervals, ultimately becoming the main Becket theme.
Energetic music for bawdy play and hunting next gets a say. In another lengthy cue, Rosenthal offers “Gwendolyn”, a haunting piece given distinction by melding period-sounding melodic ideas with the composer’s signature use of modernistic 2nds and major 7ths in the harmonic vernacular. Beautiful and striking!
Another highlight: King Henry’s “Triumph in France” is given a spectacular processional that would make William Walton proud. For all the great moments of this score, one must shine the spotlight on how Rosenthal brings everything to a conclusion: Following the violent slaying of Becket, Henry does penance for his friend’s death, then makes his exit. Rosenthal follows the scene with a building, harmonious statement of the main Becket theme for horns, followed by trumpets.

The orchestra crescendos and Rosenthal commands with three massive descending fortissimo major chords - an incredibly powerful sonority - landing on his initial 3-note motif in a powerhouse coda, arguably the composer’s most powerful finale ever. While the original album master itself has been lost, UMG was able to provide Intrada with a pristine condition tape copy of the composer’s generous 40-minute stereo album program.

Booklet features the original 1964 Decca cover artwork. Score recorded at Shepperton Studios in England, orchestrations by the composer, played by the Sinfonia of London. Muir Mathieson conducts, Laurence Rosenthal composes. Intrada Special Collection CD available while quantities and interest remain!

( - Intrada Records - )

More info at: Official Web Site Intrada Records

More info at: Composer Laurence Rosenthal Official Site

Intrada presents one of composer Laurence Rosenthal's masterpieces, the music to the 1964 Paramount film Becket. Perhaps his most distinguished score, it's hard to believe that it has not been made commercially available outside of its original LP issue until now.

Intrada presents one of composer Laurence Rosenthal's masterpieces, the music to the 1964 Paramount film Becket. Perhaps his most distinguished score, it's hard to believe that it has not been made commercially available outside of its original LP issue until now. While the complete sessions have long since disappeared, Rosenthal had assembled a generous 40-minute program that captured nearly all the highlights of the score.

Performed by the Sinfonia of London, Rosenthal's music does not attempt to literally recreate the music of the 12th century, although he did use authentic Gregorian chants.

From the days of youth when Thomas Becket and King Henry II share a warm friendship to the bitter transformation that results ultimately in murder, Rosenthal ingeniously crafts a musical journey that follows the pair through the years. While the score recalls the late medieval style of the period and incorporates a Welsh folksong for the character of Gwendolen, cues such as the boisterous 'Days of Youth' reflect a more modern approach when called for.

Although the original Decca master LP program was also missing, Intrada was able to locate a copy made from the LP master before it disappeared some years ago, in pristine sound quality, saving what is a classic score in the truest sense from languishing in obscurity any further.

Becket is the story of the friendship and eventual conflict between Thomas Becket and Henry II, King of England and western France from 1154 to 1189. As the picture opens, Becket has been murdered by Henry’s barons, acting upon what they thought was the King’s wish that they should “rid me of this meddlesome priest.” From there the story goes back in time, telling the story from their youth and moving forward as it transforms into enmity and how it evolved all the way to murder.

INTRADA ISC 478

( - Intrada Records - )

More info at: Official Web Site Intrada Records