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Available From: Monday, November 15, 2004 |
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The Film Music of Ron Goodwin
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Once heard, Ron Goodwin’s film music themes are etched indelibly onto the memory. He is famous for the music he wrote for military films – especially those with a flying theme – such as Those Magnificent Men in the Flying Machines, Battle of Britain and, of course, 633 Squadron; you only have to hear its opening bars to think immediately of soaring and swooping planes!
Chandos has enjoyed a long association with Ron Goodwin – he and Chandos’ founder Brian Couzens were firm friends and colleagues for many years, and Brian actually orchestrated some of his film scores. His death last year came as a great shock. One of Britain’s finest film composers, described in his obituary as a ‘unique and unrivalled talent’, Ron Goodwin is deeply missed. It is with pride that we now add Ron to the roster of great film composers featured in our best-selling Movies label. We think these spirited performances capture the essence of Ron’s infectious compositions. We hope he would have been pleased.
Latest recording in our hugely popular and highly acclaimed Film Music Series.
Premiere recording of the Battle of Britain Suite, and the only available recordings of Whirlpool, Ron’s first film score, and of Submarine X-1.
A very nearly comprehensive survey of Ron Goodwin’s output for film, containing all of his most famous film music, including the main theme from The Trap, better known as BBC TV’s ‘London Marathon Theme’.
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"633 Squadron, with a theme based on six beats and three beats, is probably Ron’s
most famous film theme.Always a challenge for French horn players, the theme is now played by orchestras all over the world.
Initially William Walton was commissioned to do the score for Battle of Britain, but
the music he provided was too short. Ron Goodwin was then approached. Most of the final film has Ron’s music, with the exception of some of the air battle scenes for which Walton’s music was retained. This is the first commercial recording of the suite that Ron put together of his music from the film.
The film Beauty and the Beast never did very well, but Ron was especially proud of the music he wrote for it. His stirring march for Force Ten from Navarone is still performed today by military bands worldwide.
Frenzy was Alfred Hitchcock’s penultimate film. It concerned a serial killer murdering women in London with his necktie.To accompany the opening scenes, shot from a helicopter along the Thames before the camera finally pans down to a naked body floating in the river outside County Hall, Hitchcock wanted a ‘travelogue’-style piece of music, so that the audience would not know anything nasty was about to happen!
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines featured a host of stars from the world of film and comedy. The suite of music from the film contains the various characters’ themes and concludes with the main theme from the film.
Miss Marple was an old fashioned lady, but she was always one step ahead of the police, and surprisingly ‘with it’. Ron wrote the theme for the ‘Miss Marple’ films in a gavotte style but with a 60s rhythm-section feel to reflect her character.
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Reviews
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'…sumptuously recorded, Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic do Bax proud…'
Classic FM Magazine ‘Best Buy’ on CHAN 10126 (Sir Arnold Bax)
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'…this is a fine, beautifully played and recorded celebration of Addinsells underrated contribution to British film.'
BBC Music Magazine on CHAN 10046 (Richard Addinsell)
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'…the high level of playing and interpretation to be found throughout this ever fascinating and altogether quite delightful selection of Addinsells film music.'
Gramophone on CHAN 10046 (Richard Addinsell)
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''Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic tackle all this material with great relish, while the Chandos sound-engineers have a field-day. Altogether a terrific tribute - and great fun too!''
Gramophone
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'This program offers a wide-ranging cross section on Goodwin’s work on several successful films as well as a few obscure but very appealing themes from minor films…This inherently positive, cheerful, and good-humoured music reflects the beloved Goodwin’s own personality and is given a rousing and thrilling send-off by Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic. A real treat for all lovers of ‘light’'
Fanfare
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'Rumon Gamba’s spirited, enthusiastic conducting and the spectacular playing of the BBC ensemble are beyond cavil. The sonics are resplendent… It was interesting to learn that Brian Couzens, Chandos Chariman, was Goodwin’s orchestrator.'
American Record Guide
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'For the Ron Goodwin fan this album is absolute must. The quality of the music and the arrangements is brilliant, preserving the panache and enthusiasm that is a hallmark of any Goodwin score. The inclusion of rare themes and new suites add immensely to the listening pleasure…the music is brilliant. Bravo! Wizard!'
Music from the Movies
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