The Film Music of Brian Easdale

[Steve Crook]

Brian Easdale: Film Music (The Red Shoes / Battle Of The River Plate / Black Narcissus)
Released on 29 January 2011

These are new recordings, from the full original scores, played by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with the BBC National Chorus of Wales. Conducted by Rumon Gamba and with Cynthia Millar as soloist on the Ondes Martenot on the music from The Red Shoes

I'm not sure exactly what's on this CD yet. Amazon don't offer a full track list and there's still no information on the Chandos site. But the cover highlights The Red Shoes, The Battle of the River Plate & Black Narcissus

My order is in already

Steve

[Steve Crook]

I just got my CD of The Film Music of Brian Easdale, as recorded by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with the BBC National Chorus of Wales, and very good it is too

1. Ballet from "The Red Shoes"
Cynthia Millar on Ondes Martenot

2. Suite from "Kew Gardens (1936)"
For Chamber Orchestra

3. Suite from "Black Narcissus"
For Chorus and Orchestra
3.1 Main Titles and the Palace of Mopu
3.2 Irish Song
3.3 Sister Ruth and Mr Dean
3.4 Hunting Song
3.5 Death of Sister Ruth

4. Prelude and March from "The Battle of the River Plate"
For Orchestra
4.1 Prelude
4.2 March

5. Suite from "Adventure On! (1957)"
For Orchestra

6. Suite from "Gone to Earth"
For Chorus and Orchestra
6.1 Titles
6.2 The Hunt of the Death Pack
6.3 The Prayer
6.4 The Shropshire County Fair
6.5 Hunter's Spinney
6.6 Undern Morning
6.7 Finale

The ballet music from The Red Shoes isn't performed exactly the same as it is on the film, but it is from the original score. The differences are very minor and are just in a particular phrase here and there. They seem to have moved Cynthia and the Ondes more to the front than the Ondes was in the version recorded for the film. But that's all to the good as the version in the film doesn't make it obvious how much it's used.

There's a good booklet to go with it explaining (in English, German & French) about each film and giving a potted biography of Brian. It mentions quite a few of the other pieces he wrote that weren't included on the CD. Not just other film music like the soundtrack to Peeping Tom but also his chamber music and his opera.

Steve