Customer Reviews

The Thorn Birds [Original Television Soundtrack]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

FINALLY, a soundtrack is released!!!! How extraordinary!

YES YES YES YES, I agree with most of the critics written here, the quality of this soundtrack is exceptionnal. They did a fantastic job remastering the music score, and the stereo effect is astonishing (you must listen to the soundtrack with your headphones at least once, it's worth it, you will really get the dept of the sound).

And... after having discussed with a few people, I came to the conclusion that back in 1983, Mancini decided to record the soundtrack not with an orchestra, all at once, as usual. Nope, for the Thorn Birds, it seems he recorded the instrument groups individually, on different tracks, and he mixed them afterwards. Maybe he wanted to get the best out of every musicians? Personnaly, that's perfection. You may have noticed there is no orchestra mentionned on the CD...

The sad thing is that it seems the people who remastered the original soundtrack for the CD ommited (or lost?) some instruments during the final mix. The dulcimer that was suppose to play the main title theme of the very first track is indeed missing (yes yes it IS missing, i compared it to the opening credits from the DVDs), and the guitar seemed to have been filtered through something, it's not as clear as the original (as if they "cleaned" it too much!). Also, they ommited the dulcimer in the track "Drogheda" (track 3), where it was supposed to start the score, for the first 15 seconds (on the CD you only get the background music, guitar and harp). And... I've also noticed on the track 'Vacation's End', compared to the original score on the miniserie, there was suppose to be an electronic harpischord taking over the violins at 1 min 52 sec for a line or two. It's missing...

It's too bad... but hey... what can we do. Besides these little mistakes, I believe this music is still one of the greatest score I ever heard.

Besides, I would have like to get a few more scores : the piano when Ralph sees Meggy for the first time at the train station, or when he sees Meggy slowly coming down the stairs at Mary's birthday party... a few scores are missing from the CD... maybe they could give us a 'bonus' CD with new scores and the ones that were not mix proprely on this soundtrack CD set? That would be fantastic. Just a thought...

PEOPLE:

The DULCIMER is not here but it is on other cd which is accompanying a book. You can buy here on AMAZON. The book with the 16-track cd calls:

"CASE HISTORY OF A FILM SCORE - BY HENRY MANCINI - EDITED BY ROY PHILLIPPE.
WARNER"
IT SAYS: "the book and cd are specially rewarding for Thorn Birds fans who spent $25 on Varese Sarabande's 2-CD soundtrack only to discover that the dulcimer- the central instrument of the score - was inexplicably missing from the main-title track and that the extensive liner notes barely discuss the score (and don't include a single quote from the composer about his music, despite the fact that a little resarch would have turned up three extensive interviews that Mancini gave about the music of The thorn birds). Both of these omissions are rectified by the book and accompanying CD. The main title is intact, complete with dulcimer overlay, and Mancini's discussion of the project is so thorough that all of our questions about this remarkable score are answered at last."

Plus the Dulcimer the book "Case History of a film score" has more: the piano when Ralph sees Meggy slowly coming down the stairs at Mary's birthday party... . This music is missing from the Varese cd, but it is here on this extra cd - Case History. It's wonderful!!

It's clear something is 'wierd' about Track 1 on Disc 1. It almost sounds like part of the track is playng in the background when the volume should be turned up! But still, I'm thrilled that this is finally available. Totally thrilled. It's such a beautiful score. In life and especially in music I find we rarely get 100% when trying to find what we hear on a tv show (try being an x-files Mark Snow music fan) or a movie. But I'm sooooo glad to have whatever I can get. Plain and simple. It's a shame that something is 'off' about certain tracks but again, I'll take it. Beautiful stuff.

Despite the naysayers, based on my memory of the score, this release has every single soundtrack element used. The only possible error may have been that they either mislabeled certain tracks or put them out of order. However, having listened to it, I really do believe it to be complete. There are at least FOUR different versions of the Dulcimer Backed Theme on these two discs. Also, remember, soundtrack elements sometimes sound slightly different outside of their original film application.

It took more than twenty years, until there appeared a soundtrack album for "The Thorn Birds". Originally, Warner wanted to issue a double LP, when the series had its first run. The budget was afterwards cut down to a single LP and finally, the album never got released. Although, "The Thorn Birds" theme appeared on numerous Mancini compilations over the years, this new Varese Sarabande album is the definite winner!

Although Henry Mancini is best known for his scores for romantic comedies ("Breakfast At Tiffany's"), he seldom, if ever, got the chance to create a symphonic romantic score. The score for "The Thorn Birds" combines symphonic elements to underscore the melodramatic events of the storyline, Mancini's unique melodic gift and the famous duclimer sound to characterize Australia's giant extension (although the camera for the series never saw Australia). Of course, the two disk set can't reproduce the underscore for eight hours of classic television, but everything that's here is pure magic. Interestingly, the producers tended to include most of Mancini's underscore, rather than the source cues (a wise decision!). In addition to the great score, the booklet includes great liners, that tell the story of the score and give you some information about its composer.

So, all I can say is: get this one! "The Thorn Birds" is far more than just the two themes that appeared on the old 45's and on various CD incarnations.

This is a wonderful reproduction of The Thornbirds score. The unhappy reviewer who has returned 3 copies of the CD because track 1 was missing the dulcimer should listen all the way through and will find the dulcimer on disc 1 - track 14 entitled "Thorn Birds Theme."

What I've been looking for so many years,absolutely excellent recording.

Like probably millions of others, I was completely captivated by the music of "The Thorn Birds" from the first few minutes of its 1983 premiere. I had to have this soundtrack! Little did I know that I would have to wait almost 25 years to get it. At the time - and this was way before the Internet - I called all over the country trying to find out why this most incredible soundtrack was not being released. I finally reached one of Mr. Mancini's publicists, who gave me a vague explanation about the work being tied up in legal wrangling amongst multiple parties. Reluctantly, I gave up. It was just by happenstance that I recently learned it was released in 2004, and of course I ordered it on the spot! It is marvelous to experience this music once more, and with 2 CDs, all the themes are here - Main Title/Drogheda, the haunting Meggie's Theme, what I call "Paddy's Theme" which first appears on Track 7 (break out the tissues) and repeats at some of the tenderest moments, and even the delightful sheep-shearing theme on track 19. The more you listen, the more you appreciate the thread of cohesiveness that runs through the entire work, and the genius of Henry Mancini. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that I, too, found the first track & a few others to be mysteriously "flat", as though something was missing or it was poorly mastered. On first listen, I was severely disappointed, but fortunately those questions have been answered by other reviewers on this site, for which I am most grateful! I have ordered "Case History of a Film Score" with the accompanying CD, and am really looking forward to hearing the main "Thorn Birds" theme with the dulcimer intact, as Mr. Mancini intended & all of us fans remember. Incidentally, I found the producers' notes included with this CD to be fascinating and almost as much fun as the music. Buy this CD and beam yourself back to life on Drogheda and the powerful love between gorgeous Rachel Ward and her handsome Father Ralph.

It certainly has all the songs in the show, but if you're looking for the theme song you are better off buying that separately .

At long last the soundtrack to The Thorn Birds is available on disc--I have been waiting for several years! This is one of the best scores for a tv movie that has ever been produced. It seems that all of the music from the film is on the album, including many wonderful interpretations of the main theme. The orchestrations are lush and have much depth, particularly in the cues for the love scenes and the other dramatic scenes. If you enjoyed the Thorn Birds, or if you are a film score fan in general, this album is highly recommended.

Henry Mancini outdid himself!