Nosferatu [SOUNDTRACK]

Popol Vuh (Composer, Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Popol Vuh
• Composer: Popol Vuh
• Audio CD (November 9, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: SPV Recordings
• ASIN: B00042YKUA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #142,341 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The new issue of Nosferatu contains more than 20 additional minutes of material left off the original release and for the first time appears as the complete soundtrack in the correct running sequence. Nosferatu contains four pieces which rank among the best in the Popol Vuh catalogue, thanks to a serene, mystic, deeply personal stance that basically transposes Hosianna Mantra into gothic music.

All Popol Vuh re-releases are manufactured as high quality collector's series with stickers indicating the bonus tracks. The Digipak spines have a design and when all are put together they form one big picture.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost Complete , June 20, 2005

By	MusicMan - See all my reviews

This is currently the most complete soundtrack album to Werner Herzog's 1979 movie remake of "Nosferatu." It has all of Popol Vuh's recordings that are associated with the film, BUT with the exception of the first track "Bruder Des Schattens." The album is also missing some other songs from the film.

On this disc, "Bruder Des Schattens" is an exception because it is not the complete song version. Popol Vuh's CD, "Tantric Songs/Hosianna Mantra," is one cd that features the complete 16 or so minute version of "Bruder Des Schattens." The CD's tracklist may list it as "Brothers of the Shade-Sons of the Light."

Music that ALL soundtrack albums to Herzog's 1979 remake of "Nosferatu" are missing:

"Prelude" from Richard Wagner's "Das Rheingold" conducted by George Solti and performed by the Wiener Philharmoniker. The Wiener Philharmoniker is also or perhaps formerly known as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Sanctus" from Charles Gounod's "Messe Solennelle" (ALLEGEDLY the version featured on the cd, "Gounod: Messe Solennelle de Sainte Cécile; Petite Symphonie for wind instruments." The conductor, Jean-Claude Hartemann, is associated with that cd.)

"Zinskaro" by the Vocal Ensemble Gordela. Song sometimes listed as Tsintsharo, Tshintsharo, Zinzkaro, etc. Group sometimes listed as the Vocal Ansambl Gordela. Both Extremely rare.

A diegetic song performed by a little boy in the film. I'm sorry but I don't know anything else about it. Note: "Diegetic" means sounds picked up by the movie camera during the shooting of a scene.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bruder des Schattens truncated, July 19, 2005

By	J. Taylor (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I was in 8th grade I saw Herzog's Nosferatu. I ran out and bought the only soundtrack I could find, which turns out to be the inferior "second" soundtrack, reproduced here in full beginning with track 5. I was disappointed that while it did contain the track On the Way (track 13 here), which featured the men's choir motif that is heard over the main credits (and at other points in the film), it was not orchestrated as the film version was, and did not include the lovely acoustic guitar/piano section. Later I found another soundtrack that featured the same movie poster art as this CD, and featured the first four songs on this CD. I preferred that soundtrack much more because it did contain the entire "Bruder des Schattens" which translated into English means "Brothers of Darkness." (The second part of the title, and I am assuming this signifies the acoustic guitar/piano section, is "Sons of Light."

A warning...this CD edits the Brothers of Darkness/Sons of Light" track right after the acoustic guitar and piano begin. The whole thing ought to be about 16 or 17 minutes, and this is only 5:41. It is a real shame. I will tell you that if you really want the entire track, you can buy a wonderful CD entitled Tantric Songs/Hosianna Mantra, which contains works from two other albums, and does include the entire "Brothers of Darkness/Sons of Light." That is what I did.

Overall this is a good CD and the songs are just as I remember them on the LP. Be aware that if you have seen the film but not heard these soundtracks before, very little of the soundtracks are in the movie. Granted, there are rather lengthy exceptions, but as someone else has pointed out, there is quite a bit of Wagner and Gounod, and many of the Popol Vuh tunes are not used in the movie at all. All in all, however, this is a very good compilation of Popol Vuh's style.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Graceful and moving, March 23, 2006

By	Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Piano, guitars, sitar, oboe, tamboura and a church choir create the most beautiful music on this remarkable album. Höre, Der Du Wagst starts with the gentle sounds of sitar and piano for a slow brooding buildup, then the pace picks up with Das Schloss des Irtums where the guitars gain prominence and likewise on Die Umkehr. The real masterpiece is Brüder des Schattens, Söhne des Lichts with its hypnotic, repetitive melody line and its gorgeous sitar, piano and guitar. This magnificent piece is more classical than popular music and would not be out of place on a Steve Reich album in its minimalist textures. There is also a spiritual quality about it that evokes feelings of loss, sorrow and redemption. Together with the album Until The End Of The World, Nosferatu is my favourite soundtrack of all time. The music is never less than deeply moving, the epitome of grace and elegance.