Songs of the Heavens
Posted on April 5, 2005:
What follows are the track listing of a compilation that I made a few years ago that happens to be among those I am most proud of. I am backdating it to roughly when I created it and placing it in my "Creations" section of my Memories page. Under most circumstances, I include the credits and a track by track analysis of what I included and why, but this were made so long ago that memories of what I meant to do have dwindled. Suffice it to say that I feel that this was a case where I succeeded:
HOWARD SHORE
1. Evenstar (The Two Towers) 3:09
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and
the London Oratory School Schola Conducted by Howard Shore
Isabel Bayrakdarian, vocal
MICHAEL KAMEN
2. Summerland (What Dreams May Come) 3:32
The London Metropolitan Orchestra Conducted by Michael Kamen
JERRY GOLDSMITH
3. The Trees (Medicine Man) 4:17
The National Philharmonic Orchestra of London Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
BILL CONTI
4. Main Title (North and South) 2:29
The London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Bill Conti
MAURICE JARRE
5. Theme (A Walk in the Clouds) 2:58
Orchestra Conducted by Maurice Jarre
MICHAEL NYMAN
6. Drowning by Number 2 (Drowning by Numbers) 6:09
The Michael Nyman Band Conducted by Michael Nyman
MAURICE JARRE
7. Building the Barn - Orchestral Arrangement (Witness) 4:26
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Maurice Jarre
JAMES HORNER
8. Preparations for Battle (Glory) 7:25
The Boys Choir of Harlem and Orchestra Conducted by James Horner
AKIRA SENJU
9. Love Theme for Rampo (The Mystery of Rampo) 1:52
The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Mario Klemens
BERNARD HERRMANN
10. Farewell (The Ghost and Mrs. Muir) 3:18
Orchestra Conducted by Elmer Bernstein
ENNIO MORRICONE
11. Main Title (Cinema Paradiso) 2:54
El Unione Musicisti di Roma Conducted by Ennio Morricone
Enrico Pierannunza & Alberto Pomeranz, pianos
FRANZ WAXMAN
12. No Retreat (Taras Bulba) 2:26
The United Artists Studio Orchestra Conducted by Franz Waxman
JOSÉ NIETO
13. Arrival in Tahiti (Captain Cook) 4:27
Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid Conducted by José Nieto
GEORGE FENTON
14. Suite (Memphis Belle) 7:36
Orchestra Conducted by George Fenton
PATRICK DOYLE
15. The Day Is Yours (Henry V) 1:54
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Simon Rattle
ELMER BERNSTEIN
16. End Title (To Kill A Mockingbird) 2:31
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra Conducted by Elmer Bernstein
John Grant, flute
John Clark, accordian
JOHN BARRY
17. Gene Explores the Titanic (Raise the Titanic) 0:57
The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Nicholas Raine
BASIL POLEDOURIS
18. Wifeing (Conan the Barbarian) 2:07
Members of the Orchestra and Chorus of Santa Cecelia and
the Radio Symphony of Rome Conducted by Basil Poledouris
JOHN WILLIAMS
19. Fawkes (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) 3:40
The London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by William Ross
HOWARD SHORE
20. Farewell to Lórien (The Fellowship of the Ring) 4:32
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Voices and
the London Oratory School Schola Conducted by Howard Shore
Hilary Summers, vocal
THOMAS NEWMAN
21. So Was Red (The Shawshank Redemption) 6:48
Orchestra Conducted by Thomas Newman
In memory of Joseph "Ho" Miller, who would have enjoyed it.
The concept behind this disc was simple: make it pretty. I put it together for myself, and found that I really enjoyed the results. It was the last disc I assembled before my computer went bye-bye early in my leave of absence. I had a single copy that I had to restore at one point. The current edition is fully backed up and pristine, however. This is one of those cases where the blending came together rather perfectly. This disc is now close to three years old, and it is still one of my favorites.