Monday 20 April 2015

The Alamo – SOUNDTRACK****

Overture/Main Title/De Guella/The Green Leaves Of Summer/David Crockett Arrives/David Crockett’s Speech Raid For Cattle/Tennessee Babe/Here’s To The Ladies/Ballad Of The Alamo/The Green Leaves Of Summer/ General Santa Anna/David Crockett/The Green Leaves Of Summer/Charge Of Santa Anna/Death Of David Crockett/Final Assault/Finale

The western The Alamo starred John Wayne as the legendary Davy Crockett. The rousing score was composed by Dimitiri Tiomkin. The soundtrack LP includes the much covered Green Leaves Of Summer. (US:7)

“Dimitri Tiomkin has written the film music of some of my favourite movies and westerns. I think The Alamo is his masterpiece. Mixing Spanish themes with other western standards it captures the period of the Alamo perfectly. When he introduces Davy Crockett, riding to immortality with his ragged bunch towards the Alamo with a funny accordion theme, or the bombastic fanfares of Generalissimo Santa Anna, or the exciting battle music, history comes alive. His beautiful Green Leaves Of Summer, perfectly captures the sadness of a noble stand and regret.”

“There are many others but The Alamo is as good introduction to Dimitri Tiomkin's wide range of film scores as any, and still stands the test of time.”

“Tiomkin beautifully captures the many moods and themes of the film in his haunting and reflective Overture. These themes play out again and again in the natural setting of the movie, from the plaintive guitar and harmonica to depict the south western flavour of the mission near San Antonio, to the stirring brass to introduce Davy Crockett, or the imperial trumpets to announce Santa Anna. The music is varied, rich, robust and teeming with excitement.”

“Tiomkin is a master. He can at once soothe the soul with The Green Leaves Of Summer on the eve of the final climatic battle. This LP evokes the many memorable scenes from the movie and is timeless and enduring.”

“Dimitri Tiomkin's rousing score is one of the film's major assets. Whether bittersweet, whimsical, inspiring, Tiomkin's mastery of musically defining key moments onscreen has never been matched. He gives a musical grandeur to the movie, as well as providing a very necessary pace, essential for a long narrative. As a composer for films, Tiomkin is unsurpassed in terms of his ability at orchestration, harmonics, melody, et al. As a writer of movie music, no one is better, and this album is an example of Tiomkin at his very best.”

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