Customer Reviews

Three Worlds of Gulliver 9score)

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Varese Sarabande presents the second assignment of Bernard Herrmann from Ray Harryhausen's filmmaking enterprise - "The 3 Worlds of Gulliver", it is the most multifaceted in Herrmann's chronology.

The score groups roughly into two oppositional pairs of music - the first pair is masculine and feminine - marches, love theme, English folk songs, nocturnes and overture, all are inclusive.

The second pair - small and large - is the music of Lilliput and Brobdingnag, the musical potential is enormous - as with a satire of monarchial pageantry - outstanding orchestration focusing especially on winds and percussion. The Brobdignag character alters the score completely, looming, ominous residents are captured in a simple chordal movements of low winds and brass.

Herrmann once again achieved his goal of scoring to the films story-line - is nothing less than perfection, truly a gifted composer. Director Jack Sher and Arthur Ross exciting script...with Ray Harryhausen's superb Dynamation special effects - but it was Herrmann's score that put the icing on the cake!

None of this would be possible, but thanks to The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conducted by Joel McNeely - Robert Townson (producer), Jonathan Allen (recording engineer), Richard Hale (asst engineer), Varese Sarabande records...and of course the legendary icon and our favorite composer - BERNARD HERRMANN!

Total Time: 49:56 on 37 Tracks...Varese Sarabande 302 066 162 2...(2001)

When I was growing up THE 3 WORLDS OF GULLIVER was one of my first films that I became enchanted with when I started making the transition from cartoons to live action movies. One thing that always stood out in this movie was the music. When I listened to this recording it really brought back memories. I really like Bernard Herrmann's scores that he wrote for fantasy films. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra did a fine job on this recording. I think what sets this recording apart from Herrmann's other fantasy scores was that he was able to develop music for the different fantastic settings that Gulliver was confronted with, yet he always reminded us musically of Gulliver's love of country and his fair lady in these various interludes. Joel McNeely seems to have captured Herrmann's intent ever so fervently and reverently.

Once again after earlier achievements, such as "Psycho," "Vertigo" and "Marnie," Joel McNeely and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra deliver another definitive digital recording from composer Bernard Herrmann. This recording is excellent and stands alongside their recording of "Marnie" for the sheer poetic interpretation of Herrmann's scoring. "The Overture" and "The Lovers" are central to the score as they keep Guliver's love of his homeland and his beloved lady central to his convictions no matter where the winds blow him. This recording reveals brilliant color and subtleties so precisely and eloquently that you are able to recall the exact scenes from the film, as was the case with their previous recordings. "The Crocodile" and "The Pursuit" are brilliant examples of Herrmann's ability to breathe life and reality into the world of fantasy filmmaking by delivering mystery and urgency with an undercurrent strain to a simplistic forefront melody. The recording of this complete score has been long overdue, but it was worth the wait. I highly recommend it.

The Gulliver cd is a beautiful recreation of one of Herrmann's most varied scores. The recording is nicely balanced stereo wise and the miking is quite fresh and alive. The score seems better handled and performed than the earlier Sinbad score which, itself, was inferior to the Colpix original of "58.The Gulliver score is in mint condition and was delivered in a matter of days.Bravo!