Franz Waxman - The Spirit of St. Louis (LP)
- LP
- 1 piece(s)
- 2015
- 9 tracks
- 38 min
The Spirit of St. Louis
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In 1957, James Stewart brought to life the renowned aviator in Billy Wilder's widescreen drama, "The Spirit Of St Louis." Accompanying him was Franz Waxman, who crafted a grand score fitting for the story of "Lucky Lindy's" solo journey from New York to France. Though Stewart was portraying a much younger character at 47, his acting prowess and substantial experience as a fighter pilot in World War II brought a realism to the film that was hard to match. Initially released on the RCA label during the film's premiere, it was later reissued with some new musical pieces. In 1988, Varèse Sarabande released the complete score by Waxman, excluding the replacement music by Ray Heindorf and Roy Webb, which was added after a less than impressive preview at the request of Jack Warner. Once again leading the Warner Brothers Orchestra, Waxman's compositions are energetically performed, but the impact is slightly lessened by a somewhat muffled sound quality. This was a common issue with many film scores released on CD in the early days of the format, and hopefully, it will be fixed soon. The large symphony orchestra delivers a majestic and powerful score that largely avoids the Americana of Aaron Copland, opting instead for robust horns, strings that shift between tenderness and boldness, a female vocal quintet, and lively percussion. The use of an early synthesizer, the Novachord, employed by several composers of the era, including Jerry Goldsmith and Henry Mancini, also adds a pleasant touch to this vibrant opening. Released as part of Varèse Sarabande’s discontinued “Film Score Classics" series, which includes masterpieces like "55 Days At Peking," "The Guns Of Navaronne," and "The Lion In Winter," this recording begins with the "Main Title." After a brief propeller sound effect, it proudly emerges, dominated by noble horns. "Building The Spirit" is filled with eager strings and a variety of xylophone and strings that mirror the construction of Lindbergh's plane. The "First Test Flight" shines with a gentle awe of harp and soft percussion, complemented by the quiet organ and further enhanced by the surging strings of "St. Christopher." Playful percussion and strings dance and flail as Lindbergh reflects on his days of "Barnstorming." Initially discarded but later reused for Waxman's 1962 "Hemingway Suite," the determined and joyful "The Old Jenny" is a captivating piece. The extended "Le Bourget/End Title" is a rich depiction of achievement and strength, with Waxman providing an upbeat and stirring farewell for the brave pilot. Although the declining interest in Golden Age film scores has led to fewer releases from this remarkable era of music, this is one album that would greatly benefit from a 21st-century digital remake.
In 1957, James Stewart brought to life the renowned aviator in Billy Wilder's widescreen epic, "The Spirit Of St Louis." His peer, Franz Waxman, crafted a grand score fitting for the story of "Lucky Lindy's" solo journey from New York to Paris. Though Stewart was portraying a much younger man at his 47 years, his acting prowess—and substantial experience as a fighter pilot in World War II—brought a realism to the film that was hard to match. Initially dropped on the RCA label when the movie debuted, it was later reissued with some new pieces. In 1988, Varèse Sarabande shared the complete score by Waxman, minus the substitute music penned by Ray Heindorf and Roy Webb (as requested by Jack Warner after a less than stellar preview). Once more at the helm of the Warner Brothers Orchestra, Waxman's compositions are energetically played by the group, though the effect is somewhat lessened by a rather muffled recording. This was a common issue with many film scores debuting on CD in the early days of the format, a problem that one hopes will be fixed soon. The large orchestra delivers a majestic and powerful score that largely avoids the Americana of Aaron Copland in favor of robust horns, strings that shift between tenderness and boldness, a female choral group, and lively, spirited percussion. The use of an early synthesizer known as the Novachord, employed by several composers of the time, including Jerry Goldsmith and Henry Mancini, also adds a pleasing touch to this vibrant opening. Released as part of Varèse Sarabande’s now-defunct “Film Score Classics" series, which features masterpieces like "55 Days At Peking," "The Guns Of Navaronne," and "The Lion In Winter," this recording kicks off with the "Main Title." After a brief whirring propeller sound, it proudly emerges, led by dignified horns. "Building The Spirit" is brimming with eager strings and an assortment of xylophone and strings that mirror the construction of Lindbergh's aircraft. The "First Test Flight" shines with a gentle wonder of harp and soft percussion, complemented by the tranquility of the organ and continued with surging strings of "St. Christopher." Playful percussion and strings frolic and flurry as Lindbergh reflects on his days of "Barnstorming." Initially cut but later reused for Waxman's 1962 "Hemingway Suite," the resolute and spirited "The Old Jenny" is a captivating piece. The extended "Le Bourget/End Title" is a rich symbol of accomplishment and strength, with Waxman offering an uplifting and stirring farewell for the courageous pilot. Although the waning interest in Golden Age film scores has led to fewer releases from this extraordinary era of music, this is one album that would greatly benefit from a 21st century digital overhaul.
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