July 10, 2007

  • Special "Orff" Treat & film music updates

    There was some BIG news today.  La La Land records (www.lalalandrecords.com) announced a 2-CD set presenting David Arnold's score for GODZILLA.  For a long time this was one of those big blockbuster films that never managed to get a commercial release.  This is a limited edition disc and the website is even offering a discount on another fan favorite, Trevor Jones' score for The Dark Crystal.  So there is a chance for you to sample another fine film composer that is generally appreciated by film music fans more than the general music public (personally, I love his score for Dark City).

    So it has been quite a month for limited edition and special club releases and re-recordings.  Today also marks the release of Nicholas Hooper's Harry Potter score.  I'm hoping to pick that up on vacation this week to enjoy along with a few other newer scores with any luck.  Then it will be back home to hear all the stuff arriving via preorder and whatever random review discs arrive.

    Today is Carl Orff's birthday, by the way.  A composer whose fame rests on special instruments and a single masterpiece, Carmina Burana.  My favorite recording was a stellar digital release on Decca/London with Riccardo Chailly.  A guilty pleasure is the budget Naxos release with a Czech orchestra.  There is something far more earthy and rough about the performance that just makes it more interesting.

    But, while I take a week or so away from the blog, here's a link to a hilarious commercial from down under that takes the opening music of Orff's classic to a new height.  Enjoy!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZslkC4y2qY