Customer Reviews

Sainton: Moby Dick

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I have been waiting for someone to offer the soundtrack to this motion picture for a great many years, and the Moscow Symphony Orchestra has finally done it! The effort to bring this album to being is faithfully documented in the 23-page booklet that comes with the CD. It includes the recollections of Barbara Clark (daughter of the late Philip Sainton), Ray Bradbury's comments on the music (Bradbury wrote the screenplay for Moby Dick), the story of how the music came to be written, and a scene-by-scene analysis of the music itself. If I could have had the producers of this album do one thing differently, that would have been to have them include a recording of the whalers singing the whaling song in the pub (which occurs early on in the film). Admittedly, this was a non-orchestral portion of the film's music, but I have fond memories of that song as well. The video of this film, of course, has been available for some time. I suggest you buy both!

I remember when my father made me stay up late one night about 30 years ago so that I could watch this film on TV. I have been in love with the films music ever since.

An enormous amount of effort went into what could have been criminally lost forever, and thankfully the Moscow Symphony (King Kong, Son of Kong, Treasure of the Sierra Madre) give a vibrant performance of the original parts (which are longer than the film's cuts).

The early stages of the score are effectively a travelogue as Ishmael's narrative sets the scene before sailing out to sea. One pleasant interruption is the "Hymn" that accompanies Orson Welles's inebriated scene-stealing pulpit preacher. Once the Pequod launches, the unmistakable sound of the mysterious ocean creeps in, as does an increasingly darker tone for Ahab's obsession. The great white whale itself is portrayed as both monstrous and tragic. "Eerie Calm/He Rises" (10 minutes of amazement) exemplifies this in the final battle between the old enemies.

As a bonus there is a hugely comprehensive booklet that takes almost as long to read as the CD does to play. Fantastic!

The soudtrack for Moby Dick had to be reconstructed for this recording from the incomplete parts that Mr. Sainton's daughter had that were completed by listening to the original recording. It was worth the effort! If you like the film you will want this recording of the music, beautifully played by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.

This 1956 production starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab, directed by John Huston is considered a minor classic. Critics say Peck seemed to be miscast as Ahab, looking more like Abe Lincoln. Huston recruited Ray Bradury(Martian Chronicles)to undertake the screen play of the mammoth Herman Melville novel.
It is unclear for sure why English composer Phillip Sainton was chosen to write the score. Huston wanted someone that was connected with the sea and coast as many Brits are.(Vaughan Williams etc.) To top it off, Sainton had never composed a film score before and his primary income came as a violinist. Huston supposedly was convinced on Sainton after he heard his sea themed symphonic poem "The Island". Though a truly memorable theme is absent from the score, Sainton works in several themes. He gives us fine musical expressions of Ahab's obsessions, the monster whale, seafaring themes, a suspenseful ending; completed in just six weeks. This score flows like a well crafted tone poem, as reconstructed by John Morgan and William Stromberg(conductor). It does not match the John William's score for "Jaws", but that is from a different era. This is something that grows on you with repeated listenings as great symphonic music should. The recording is very good, but lacks of ripeness, though has decent bass. Extensive notes and interviews are included, making any student of film music very pleased. All in all, worth owning.

It's pure beautiful sea music: exactly the same music that you imagine in your mind while you read a sea adventure book.

Sainton is one of the greatest british composers. He is to Moby Dick film what Constance Lambert is to Anna Karenina 1940's film.