I think you must be referring to the Varese Sarabande recording made in 1997.
I'm referring to the incredible 1974 recording, which is currently available as the CD "Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann" [Mobile Fidelity $$] on Amazon.
This version was actually conducted by Herrmann. (Sadly, he died the following year)
This was also available on "GREAT FILM MUSIC": Decca/London (LONDON 443 899-2)
The newer Varese Sarabande 1997 recording is nowhere near as good, IMO.
Nope, I have never heard the Varese Sarabande recording. I am referring the the album that you have, which I first purchased on 12" vinyl in 1974. It was titled "The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann" even back then, issued on London Phase 4. There is a number in the lower left hand corner of the back cover, SP44207, which is also on the label of the record where there is a copyright by "The Decca Record Co. Ltd." 1974. My record was pressed in England. I was very excited when this came out, and even though I liked it I found it disappointing. I had a good system by then and the dynamic range that I talked about really sux in the place I mentioned in the first track on side one. It still sux in the CD version of this recording which I also own, but I seem to remember it was a bit improved. This was titled "Film Fantasy" and issued by Decca in 1989. Heck, even 16mm optical soundtracks have a better range in that scene. I actually bought a "compander" to put some range in it way back in 1975. Built it from a kit. This helped a bit despite the "breathing" effect it introduces. I found the tempo to be too slow in many tracks, such as "The Giant Chameleon and the Light"
The best tracks on this recording are those for "Fahrenheit 451" in my opinion. The worst track by far is the monotonous and boring "The Duel With the Skeleton" from "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad"...
I did like the record better than the follow-up in 1975, "The Mysterious Film World of Bernard Herrmann" with all Harryhausen stuff. I have that one as well, with Herrmann once again conducting the "National Philharmonic Orchestra. Its cover art is bizarre and rather stupid, with a human skull on a dragonfly's body, etc.
Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...
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18 years ago
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geode
18 years ago
1. A compander is usually a noise-reduction tool, not a stand-alone dynamic range expander.
This unit was not designed for noise reduction. It works in either direction, expansion or compression. It will either expand the dynamic range or compress it. It basically just detects an increase in volume and magnifies it, or just the opposite. There is a split second delay that causes the "breathing effect" I mentioned. One of the selling points was for use in compression for use in car audio systems....sort of like such use in elevators or dentist's offices where there is little or no dynamic range. Not really much need with pop music, but classical music has much more range and if you crank up the volume in soft parts to get past the background noise in a car then the louder parts blast in way too loud. The other use described was restoring the range to be more like a concert, since many LP's were compressed intentionally.
2. How would it be possible to expand only the organ's range in your signal processing?
It isn't possible. All instruments are given a boost. Herrmann's liner notes talk about how important the use of five organs was in the score, and that he did not use strings. So in this track the organs are very important, and way too flat compared to the use on the film's soundtrack. It is obvious to me that the range has been quite compressed. Herrmann's comments really were not completely true as compositions such as "The Faithful Heart" have fine use of strings....but that track in not included in this recording.
Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...
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mrrobinson16
17 years ago
You guys rule! Can you build me a surround sound ultimate home stereo? haha.
I was driving in my fathers car today and he has XM Radio. I was by myself driving flipping throught the channels looking for an alternative rock station. I am not familiar with XM. So I kept searching until I got to ch 27. Once I heard the music I couldn't dare change it. Very powerful. On the display of the radio it said Journey To The C. That is all I got. Then I pressed the display button and saw Bernard Herrman's name. I put Journey TO The C on here and luckily found it. It was refreshing to see yout messageboard right away as well. It was so cool driving with it. Very inspirational music. I guess I will have to see the film now. But defnitly can't wait to get the cd.
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