Thursday 11 November 2010

The Conan Score That Could Have Been


Also a review, and a brief warning: lots of videos in this post.


Sonically, James Fitzpatrick has done it again, recreating the particular ambiance of a recording without falling prey to any of the problems of the original. The sound quality of Jan Holzner and Michael Hradisky's recording is fantastic, but it is consistent with the overall tone of Pedegro Savina's work on the original. The clarity of sound is aided by the more traditional orchestral set-up favored by Nic Raine.

The corrected orchestrations means that there are some passages, such as "Theology/Civilization" that sound quite different from their original soundtrack counterparts. The female choir during "The Tree of Woe" makes gives that cue a more religioso feel. Some pieces are vastly different; "Conan Leaves Valeria" goes off in a different direction from "The Leaving." Those are the main differences, but there are some cases where the performance on the new recording is just plain better, "Pit Fights" being the primary example (the most improvements in that arena to come from the cues that weren't included on the original album or the Varèse Sarabande expanded re-issue which was based on Poledouris' plans for a 2 LP set in 1982 that never materialized).

I'm sure that the differences between this set and the original recording will leave some fans of the original soundtrack recording cold, but I'm about as big a fan of this score as you can get and it's gotten me pretty fired up (and I'm I'm all sick and miserable too). I just think it's the bee's knees to have such an interesting variation on one of my favorite film scores of all time that reflects more what Poledouris intended than what he ended up with.



My excitement for the new score couldn't be higher.  The only thing I'm not loving is the cover, which is apparently from the Heroes in the Wind and The Robert E. Howard Reader school of cover illustrations.  But that's nothing: it's the sound that's important.  This looks like it could be truly special, and the idea that this is the way Basil Poledouris wanted his score to be... well, it gives me chills, to be frank.

It reminds me of Poledouris' own conducting for his Conan Symphony, a once-in-a-lifetime live performance which took place mere months before his death.  It's simply incredible.







This leads me to ponder: Howard Shore's score for The Lord of the Rings has a live show combining the music and imagery from the films.  A live orchestra plays, while a big projector shows scenes from the films without the heinous dialogue and infuriating changes (well, most of them), mostly using the sweeping vistas and glorious settings.



I see absolutely no reason why this can't be done for Conan the Barbarian too.  Arguably it would be less trouble: there's very little dialogue in the film, as many have noted, and there are some gorgeous visuals.  Some of the gore and nudity might have to be worked around for the sake of the tiddlypeeps, but some judicious editing and a bit of fading would sort that.

Another interesting idea would be to rerelease Conan the Barbarian with the new recording.  Such an idea might be controversial, but when the originals are damaged or even destroyed, sometimes it's a perfectly valid option.  If nothing else, have the option to use either through a menu: that's the power of Blu-Ray.  Back in 1994, RCA Victor/BMG released a laserdisc of Alexander Nevsky with a rerecorded soundtrack.  It was glorious.  Where's that DVD, movie people?



(All due respect to Basil Poledouris and Brian Murphy, but Prokofiev's score for Alexander Nevsky is my absolute favourite film score, and second place is miles away.  Second place... probably being Conan the Barbarian, actually.)

15 comments:

  1. Alexander Nevsky proves that, sometimes, even propaganda films can be great art. What an amazing piece of work -- and what an amazing score.

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  2. Thanks so much for pointing this out. I've just placed my order.

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  3. Not all soviet films was "propaganda".

    Actually, most of american epic movies of the time (AND THE YEARS TO COME) had a lot more propaganda than Alexander Nevsky.

    The new Conan soundtrack looks sublime, though ;)

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  4. Ah, Nevsky! I had that piece queued up during many of my game sessions, and would start it at the beginning of a battle.

    In addition to Poledouris, Mussorgsky and Holst, can anyone advise some classical composers with similar inherent power?

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  5. Alexander Nevsky proves that, sometimes, even propaganda films can be great art.

    I think Alexander Nevsky's as much a good-old patriotic epic as it is a propaganda film. It's definitely great art, though.

    Thanks so much for pointing this out. I've just placed my order.


    Brilliant, I've done the same!

    Actually, most of american epic movies of the time (AND THE YEARS TO COME) had a lot more propaganda than Alexander Nevsky.

    The Transformers movies might as well be army recruitment ads. "Join the army, and beat the snot out of alien invaders!" Heck, that could just apply to Michael Bay movies in general.

    Ah, Nevsky! I had that piece queued up during many of my game sessions, and would start it at the beginning of a battle.

    It really is perfect battle music.

    In addition to Poledouris, Mussorgsky and Holst, can anyone advise some classical composers with similar inherent power?

    Hmm, let me think...

    Well, there's Wager, of course. Aside from the obvious Der Ring des Nibelungen, Tristan und Isolde, Tannhauser, Lohengrin, Parsifal and Der fliegende Holländer are rollercoaster rides of power. The latter's overture is great naval accompaniment.

    I'm quite a fan of Sibelius' Finlandia, too: it would be great for heroes entering a dangerous area like an enemy citadel or great cave.

    Ooh, Stravinsky, particularly Rite of Spring. The last few seconds of Mystic Circle of the Young Girls leading into Glorification of the Chosen One is great, and not just because it was in the dinosaur bit in Fantasia.

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  6. Edvar Grieg, Peer Gynt, with pieces like Hall of the mountain king
    Anton Dvorak, in Spain called the 5 symphony, of the new world
    the russians
    Piotr I Tchaikovsky, 1812 overture
    Rimsky-Korsakov, Scherezade, The great russian eastern
    Borodin, War dances of Prince Igor
    Glinka, Russland and Ludmilla
    the armenian Aram Khachaturian, Gayayeh, Spartacus
    Ippolitov Ivanov, Caucasian sketeches
    by the way listen to the Waltz from Masquerade by Khachaturian
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPp3Qh-GRqs
    absolutely great
    Francisco...

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  7. Thanks, gentlemen, for the great suggestions!

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  8. Mine's on order, along with Patton, Kung-Fu, Red Sonja (Ennio!), a couple Doctor Who soundtracks I missed, and the Shaft Anthology (plus I get a free copy of John Williams' Poseidon Adventure CD.) Vooty!

    Rather catholic taste in music, yah?

    And the big-arsed order above is all Al's fault, folks, since he's the one running this joint! (Can't get just ONE soundtrack CD when I go shopping.)

    Now does anyone have a suggestion of the best version of Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky that's out there?

    Tex
    (geek soundtrack collector. Ya think?)

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  9. Fantastic suggestions, Francisco, especially Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov, can't believe I left them off my list.

    Thanks, gentlemen, for the great suggestions!


    No problem, Migellito!

    Mine's on order, along with Patton, Kung-Fu, Red Sonja (Ennio!), a couple Doctor Who soundtracks I missed, and the Shaft Anthology (plus I get a free copy of John Williams' Poseidon Adventure CD.) Vooty!

    Rather catholic taste in music, yah?


    Oh vey. Wait, wrong stereotype... :P

    And the big-arsed order above is all Al's fault, folks, since he's the one running this joint! (Can't get just ONE soundtrack CD when I go shopping.)

    Oh noes, I done it agains!

    Now does anyone have a suggestion of the best version of Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky that's out there?

    Well, I'm not a soundtrack collector myself, but I do have a few. This is my Alexander Nevsky collection:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Prokofiev-Alexander-Nevsky-Scythian-Suite/dp/B000025S1P/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1289689416&sr=1-5

    From the RSNO, who I enjoy immensely - and not just patriotically speaking, since they were one of Jerry Goldsmith's favourite orchestras. I went to his 75th birthday concert up at Glasgow, one of my favourite experiences.

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  10. ok boys I hope you like all the pieces
    some spanish works
    Manuel de Falla, the famous Dance of fire
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftd8tIdiYq4
    Isaac Albeniz, Asturias
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y8l4KijBA0&feature=fvst
    and
    the impressive Ravel's Bolero
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-4J5j74VPw
    Francisco

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  11. Huh, does a review mean the new Conan score has been released -- or is on the point of so being?

    Meanwhile, I can only second the recommendations of Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov (especially the Russian Eastern Overture), Prokofiev, Mussorgsky ... basically, anything by Romantic-era Russian composers. :) Holst, Grieg: excellent. Wagner seems a necessary recommendation, though a very different flavour, to my mind. I think Sibelius (also a different vibe) may be my favorite; the Karelia Suite is very fine, but I really love Kullervo, particularly either of the two Berglund recordings.

    BTW, I will confess to quite liking Knut Avenstroup Haugen's soundtrack for the Age of Conan game -- a game I have never actually played, but for which I have the soundtrack. Not Poledouris, of course -- a different feel, sensibly enough, but some nice bits.

    I must check out Khachaturian ....

    And the soundtrack to Patton is available? And there was a Poledouris "Conan the Symphony"? Argh, I'm behind the times!

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  12. Well, here's the link to the listing for it from Buysoundtrax.com...

    http://buysoundtrax.stores.yahoo.net/cobawoprreof.html

    (This is also where I ordered the complete Patton and the rest from my above post.)

    And here's discussion about it from the FSM board...

    http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/board/posts.cfm?pageID=21&forumID=1&threadID=73352&archive=0

    AND, for those who wonder what's on it...

    DISC ONE:
    1. PROLOGUE - FILM VERSION / ANVIL OF CROM 3:38
    2. RIDDLE OF STEEL / RIDERS OF DOOM 5:32
    3. THE GIFT OF FURY 3:25
    4. COLUMN OF SADNESS / WHEEL OF PAIN 4:09
    5. PIT FIGHTS * 2:45
    6. PROLOGUE - Original Version 1:03
    7. ATLANTEAN SWORD 4:00
    8. WOLF WITCH * 3:21
    9. THEOLOGY / CIVILIZATION 3:03
    10. THE STREET OF DEVIANTS * / HOPEFULS AT THE TOWER OF SET * 1:28
    11. THE TOWER OF SET * / SNAKE ATTACK * (Las Cantigas de Santa Maria) 5:20
    12. INFIDELS * 1:02
    13. THE TAVERN * 1:51
    14. THE WIFEING 2:19
    15. IN THE COURT OF KING OSRIC * 1:12
    16. CONAN LEAVES VALERIA / THE SEARCH 6:02
    17. THE MOUNTAIN OF POWER / CAPTURE * 3:59
    18. THE TREE OF WOE / RECOVERY 6:04

    Total Time: 60:21

    DISC TWO:
    1. THE KITCHEN / THE ORGY 6:22
    2. ORGY FIGHT * 2:52
    3. FUNERAL PYRE 5:15
    4. BATTLE PREPARATIONS / BATTLE OF THE MOUNDS Part I 5:58
    5. BATTLE OF THE MOUNDS Part II * 2:11
    6. BATTLE OF THE MOUNDS Part III / NIGHT OF DOOM 5:55
    7. HEAD CHOP * 0:53
    8. ORPHANS OF DOOM / THE AWAKENING 6:28
    9. EPILOGUE / END TITLES * 5:08

    Bonus Tracks:
    10. THEOLOGY / CIVILIZATION - Alternate Version 3:27
    11. THE TOWER OF SET - Alternate Cues * 3:36
    12. THE BATTLE OF THE MOUNDS Part II - Original Version * 2:10
    13. CHAMBER OF MIRRORS from CONAN THE DESTROYER 7:15
    14. RIDERS OF DOOM - Orchestral Version 4:06

    Total Time: 61:48

    * Previously unrecorded

    Tracks: 32
    Time = 123:09

    Tex
    (TBTTF's biggest soundtrack geek)

    PS--Buysoundtrax.com didn't pay for this endorsement -- and probably wont!

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  13. hey Carl Anderson,and the rest of you Khachaturian most famous piece is Sabre dance,
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg3l3r_DRI
    the adagio from Spartacus is absolutely great
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZLMKkEGFRo
    Francisco

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  14. Hey, those are my videos! (I mean the Conan The Symphony ones)So far I think I´m the only one who has uploaded the entire concert on YouTube (though with some technical problems, sorry about that!)I still have to upload a documentary also included in the dvd , in which his family and some friends tell how it was a real miracle that Basil was able to give that concert.

    So I got my copy of this new release of the soundtrack and I´d like to make some comments:

    It´s a minor flaw but the artwork sucks big time. What kind of sword is that on the cover?? It´s nor the father´s neither the Atlantean...
    And the illustration on the back of the booklet is just lame. Besides, not a single picture from the movie...

    One thing that baffles me: James Fitzpatrick says in the booklet notes that because Basil had lost the original Latin texts some "oohs" and "aahss" had to be inserted (O_o)(and this is very noticeably in Riders of Doom, which sounds much less bombastic than the original) But... the lyrics for Riders of Doom can be found easily on the Internet! Ok, maybe they are not accurate but at least the words resemble what the choir voices are singing! Ohhs and aaahs? Why??

    Why does Battle Preparations (track 4 on disc 2) starts with the drums of wolf witch?? In the movie as soon as Funeral Pyre ends the next piece of music heard is that which starts starts at 1:04 on track 4. I mean, what are those 64 seconds of the witch´s theme doing here?? The added scene with the dialogue between Conan and Subotai has not music at all!!! Is this a mistake or what?

    BTW, speaking of the witch´s theme: listen to the first 60 seconds of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYMNz2xETKU

    I think that the great Basil went a little too far here with this copycat...and I wonder why Frank De Wald didn´t point this "inspiration" in his notes...

    Also, I can understand why they put together the two tavern themes, but... why did they have to change the order in which they are heard in the movie?? Anyway, some of the tavern music was also inspired by the same spanish "cantiga" (old Spanish-Portuguese word for modern Spanish"canción" = song) which was used for the Tower of Set scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dcnuszm_fA Quite a similar mood.
    And, btw , I used to find very ironic the fact that Milius didn´t want the music to resemble anything Christian but the movie ended up using music from a song in honor of Virgin Mary! I had assumed that Poledouris hadn´t tell Milius about this, but Frank DeWald writes here that Milius chose the Cantiga! Wow... :P

    And my complaints end here. Except for the noted above, I LOVE this edition. I never thought we´ll ever have something like this!

    A doubt: Do you know if Chamber of Mirrors in this edition is taken directly from the Conan the Destroyer soundtrack or was it also recorded again by the Prague Philharmonic? (I don´t have here the CTD soundtrack to compare both)

    Regards

    norrim2000

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  15. Hey, those are my videos! (I mean the Conan The Symphony ones)So far I think I´m the only one who has uploaded the entire concert on YouTube (though with some technical problems, sorry about that!)I still have to upload a documentary also included in the dvd , in which his family and some friends tell how it was a real miracle that Basil was able to give that concert.

    Ah, norrim2000! I have to extend my sincere gratitude for you uploading it: truly Basil's music is a treasure, and it's wonderful for everyone to hear this concert.

    I'm afraid you know more about the recording than I do (I still don't have it), but if those are your only criticisms, I'm sure I'll still love it.

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