Customer Reviews

Bande originale des films de Roman Polanski (Tess / The Tenant)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Philippe Sarde composed the music of 3 Polanski films, THE TENANT (1976), TESS (1979), and PIRATES (1985). Though PIRATES is not available, these 2 soundtracks are more than enough, in my opinion, to cement Sarde's reputation as a genius film composer. He fills the mantle of Polanski's erstwhile composer Krzystof Komeda (who died quite suddenly in the late '60s) admirably well. Though nothing like Komeda's music from a stylistic standpoint, the proper feel is attained barely in the first strains of THE TENANT's opening title theme. The foreboding cellos, the sinister glass harmonica, the melancholy, slightly goofy clarinet and xylophone (the former instrument, according to Sarde's own liner notes, is meant to represent the main character, Trelkowski) all set up the perfect atmosphere, complementing the movie succinctly; it's scary and slightly comical (in a Theatre-of-Cruelty sort of way). And as far as TESS is concerned, Sarde writes that upon hearing the first pieces he wrote for that film, Polanski had tears in his eyes and told him, "I'm very happy, you know." A great composer offering 2 soundtracks to 2 great movies (one of which, THE TENANT, is my very favorite). Excellent liner notes, also; they contain both the English and the original French texts. Nice packaging, with stills from both films.

I was quite enchanted to find a copy of Tess' soundtrack available on CD. The music is as rich and memorable as it was back in 1980, when I first saw and fell in love with the film. The only thing stopping this album from receiving five stars is that I was disappointed not to find the alternate version of the film's main theme that although not in the movie, was on the LP soundtrack.

Also those looking to replace their old LP's need note that the track sequences on this CD differ from the orig. LP version and the titles of the tracks are not the same.

Despite these discrepancies, this CD is well worth having and its packaging is particularly fine.

Finally, music from two of Polanski's finest films by the brilliant and under-appreciated composer Phillipe Sarde ("Quest for Fire", "The Bear")is available for the collector. The music from "Tess" is deeply romantic and filled with melancholy. It seems almost futile to attempt to descibe it. The haunting score from "The Tenant" is vexing with mystery and subtle horror. The use of Ben Franklin's "glass organ" (or is it "harmonica"?)will send shivers up your spine! This disc is a must for Polanski and Sarde fans. I only wish they would release remastered versions of the films on DVD.

Great CD!!! If you love Roman Polanski's The Tenant, then this CD is for you. The sound of the The Tenant is simultaneosly hypnotic and tragic. I love listening to it over and over. Maybe because I love to watch the film over and over.

This soundtrack is very hard to find. I think your only best chance of owning it is through Amazon.com. I highly recommend this soundtrack to people who love Tess or The Tenant.

This movie lives in my mind.

I owned the soundtrack for Tess shortly after it came out, and played it for years. I think it got stolen when my portable tape player was ripped off in the early 80s. Over the years I've looked for this, recalling its hypnotic, mesmerizing theme, but until tonight, I could never find it. I just placed my order! Can't believe I finally found it!

Never in a million years did I ever think I would find this soundtrack! Tess is one of my all time favorite movies. I was quite young when it first came out and only recently found the movie was release on DVD. After seeing it again I longed for the music and just search for it for the fun of it! Well anyway, the soundtrack is perfect like the movie! It is a classic and sounds like it was released just yesterday and not over 25 years ago! The packaging is really nice and there is a booklet with beautiful pictures from the movie inside. I have never seen the Tenant so there's not much I can say about those tracks. I wish it wasn't on this CD but that's not a problem for me. I am putting the Tess tracks on my iPod so it doesn't matter. The music from the Tenant is nice too so maybe it will grow on me more later. But in the meantime I am enjoying listening to the Tess tracks! Woohoo!!

A Brilliant Underappreciated Masterpiece

While the music of Tess stands very well on its own, it is
extraordinary how the music fits so perfectly in every
detail of the movie, one of the best ever and the best of
its kind, based on the moody and tragic literature of Thomas
Hardy.

Soundtrack composers are probably not placed in the upper
echelons of the snooty world of music academia where it's
always always Bach, Mozart, R. Strauss, Bartok et al, never
Alfred Newman, Max Steiner and, dare I say John Williams. A
world of snobs who are afraid to admit they dig The Ramones?
I exaggerate: My father was a music professor and liked The
Beatles.

Movie soundtracks must be more precise than their "serious"
symphonic counterparts, because there is literally nothing
left to the imagination. If the music don't fit it becomes
immediately obvious. Yet with this limitation of their
palette, the great movie composers pull it off, as does
Mr. Sarde.