Customer Reviews

El Cid

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the Producer of this CD, most would think I'm the least qualified person to review the disc. In addition, my wife performs the finale's thundering organ solo: the dramatic moment when the gates open and the dead Cid mounted on his horse rides to his last battle. Even more so, I knew the composer. Despite having produced and edited this CD, I still love this record and this music, from the extraordinarily tender love music -memorable oboe playing by John Snow- to the choral finale (with organ), this is the music of epic from the last of the Golden Age of Hollywood composers. Rozsa endorsed James Sedares previous two recordings of his works but died the day I finished editing this recording. He would have loved it.

The composer, Miklos Rosa, describes this score as his greatest achievement. That is saying a lot, because he composed some great scores. This is an excellent recording of that achievement. Even if you are not familiar with the movie, it is enjoyable romantic music, powerful at times, and tender and peaceful at other times, but always moving, musically and emotionally.

There is an excellent booklet with the CD, telling about the composer (with a list of movies he scored), the making of the movie, the history upon which the movie is based, and a commentary by Martin Scorsese.

Sadly, Rosa died shortly before this was released.

"El Cid" is for me a great movie. It depicts one of the greatest episodes in Western history: the Christian "Reconquista" of Spain from the Moors, which lasted eight centuries. During this period there was a high degree of cultural intercourse, and today, for instance, the Spanish, or properly named Castilian, language, has around 12% of Arabic words, beginning with "ojalá" (May God wish it). There was religious war, of course, but also coexistence between Moslem and Christian states, and Moslem, Christian and Jew communities. Sometimes problems arouse when fanatic non-Spanish Moslem tribesmen from North Africa invaded the civilized Moslem Spanish emirates and threatened the less cultured Christian states. This motion picture is centered during one of these invasions. It talks of Don Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador, his wife Ximena, and his relation towards the succesive Kings of Castile and León, showing him, as he was, a loyal subject who nonetheless did not hesitate to force his new king to swore on his knees to have no connection with his brother's assassination. Also a man who commanded as an independent Warlord both Christian and Moslem troops, revered by his soldiers, and named by the Moslems themselves "El Cid" (from Arabic "Sidi" or "lord"). Then come the epic aspects of the music: the Christian-Spanish and the Moslem-Spanish influences, the legend of a hero, the wonderful love theme between Doña Ximena and Don Rodrigo, all music asociated with El Cid and his campaigns, and close to the end, the Death of El Cid in Valencia, the capital of his own short-living State. But, unlike other movies, History does not end there: after his death, El Cid, tided to his horse Babieca, leads his men into his final victory. It is said that he is the only general who has won a battle after his death. And the exit music depicts quite well the passing of El Cid into legend.
In summary, the recording is wonderful. The producers, among them the late Christopher Palmer, and with the approval of the composer himself, assembled a great suite for future generations. And the orchestra and the conductor did a great job. If one day the whole original soundtrack is issued for public release, it will not overshadow this recording, because this one can be understood as a suite for concert performances, in contrast to the Soundtrack, that will present the music in other form. Both presentations of the music will surely coexist side by side in a collection.

Miklos Rozsa again scores big with his immense musical score for "El Cid." Rozsa beatifully weaves in rousing and moving Spanish themes to underline this epic film of knights, honor, courage and love. The courtly marches of kings and princes are wonderful and spirited, the battle marches are patriotic and larger than life, the love themes are beautiful and touching. It is a great tribute to the considerable composing ability of Miklos Rozsa that he can carry large spectacles with his musical genius. "El Cid" is very different than his other wonderful scores for "Ben'Hur" and "King of Kings" but share themes and variations. "El Cid" is different with its Spanish themes yet just as inspirational as his other epic music. As usual, Rozsa was able to scale down the music for the human side of this tale of a warrior and legendary hero of Spain, music of his wife and family, and quiet moments, all too few, away from battle to keep Spain free from the Moors. Rozsa was the master of this genre and very few composers were his equal. Even through the bombast, Rozsa could compose moving, memorable melodies that inspire, lift the human spirit, and stir the blood during massive battles. This is another classic film score that needs to be heard in its entirety. Highly recommended and buy Miklos Rozsa's other film scores. Most are great to listen to and many are classic additions to any film soundtrack library.

El-Cid ranks along with Miklos Rozsa's score for Ben-Hur as his very best. He carefully studied medieval Spanish music before writing his score to bring to it a more authentic sound. This medieval influence is most evident in the palace music, particularly the more intimate scoring of the latter two.

Certainly, without knowing the name of the film behind this score one can easily guess that it belongs to Spain. There are the recognizable romantic themes (sometimes sounding very close to Ben-Hur) that makes this music unmistakably that of Miklos Rozsa, but there is the Spanish element that separates this from his other large scale scores and makes this one more memorable. The scope and grandeur of the music fills the larger than life subject of El Cid admirably.

Although this is not an original soundtrack recording, James Sedares and the New Zealand Symphony play with the passion of the original. The orchestra has a long association with the music of Miklos Rozsa, and it shows here. The booklet is very informative about the scare and the film and has many stills from the movie and some interesting pictures of Mr. Rozsa. Obviously, this was a labor of love for those involved. An absolute must for Rozsa fans.

This recording brings into play almost every emotion. There's passion in each piece. If you've seen the film, the music brings forward great memories of the glorious victories and the sad moments of the film. It has become a family favorite.

Dr.Miklos Rosza was by far one of the most gifted and remarkeable geniuses of our times. This score is no exception of his prodigy.It is a major accomplishment. Being my 2nd score after Ben Hur I have to admit that this is even better!

The themes are just too memorable and are full of richness in texture invoking stroing spanish and arabian rythms. Rosza spent a great deal researching the authenticity of the music and would later inspire Jerry Goldsmith on his WIND and THE LION score.

This re-recording is a gem, superbly conducted by James Sedares and warmly recorded with the New Zealand Symphony Orchetra. The sound is crisp and packing is wonderful with extenstive liner notes and essays.

The album is superbly produced by Michael fine and he is damn right to be biased in his review above! This album is now almost out of print so go get this before it disappears for ever.

This CD is superb. The score for this well-made but over-long movie was the best part of the film. Everyone involved in this CD has done a great job at reconstructing the score. Whenever I listen to the CD, I get shivers up my spine at several moments.

Something I have to say ... I'd sure like to buy that keyboard you can obviously buy in Copenhagen that gives you a "synthesized sound from what could be a cheap 300$ keyboard", as described by another reviewer. The last track obviously uses a REAL pipe organ - I listened to the organ part five times, and you can hear the entire concert hall/studio vibrating from it. Maybe its his cheap hi-fi that gives the cheap "synthesized sound"?

A must-have addition to any Miklos Rozsa fan's collection.

As a postscript 3 years on after I first wrote this review - pass on this version and wait for the new 3 CD set (yes folks, that's right ... 3 CD set) of every note of this score due to be released sometime in 2008. Why not this version - its a single CD of 60-odd minutes, not 140 minutes, and prices for this single CD start at $95??!!! For a USED copy? Pass on being ripped off by greedy people out there!

Miklos Rozsa. I found that this may have been a work done in earnest but I'm afraid this album just doesn't cut it as this is one of film's greatest scores and it deserved much better. And it finally happened with the Tadlow recording of the complete score. Buy this one if you want but the Tadlow is the definitive one to get and definitely worth the money. Sorry, but that's how I feel.

Miklos Rozsa's beautiful music accompaniment for "El Cid" may have been his best film score for a movie that was certainly an epic work with a great cast and direction. The three hour movie is filled with thrilling cues that capture the flavor and romance of 11th century Spain, with Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren starring in the exciting and colorful production. The CD was recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.