The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad (1998 Re-recording)

A Good Recreation and Reperformance of Herrmann

Despite what some of the other reviews claim, this recording appears to be a performance by the Scottish National Orchestra conducted by John Debney using the original score to this movie. Perhaps some are noticing the faster tempo used in the treacherous "Battle with the Skeleton" music. . .or maybe the added prominence of the cast bell used during the "Cyclops" music. . .These things sound slightly different here than in the original motion picture.

Nonetheless, this is the majority of actual score of the movie. Of course it is TRULY Bernard Herrmann's work. . .some here perhaps do not realize how different BH could be from score to score. Journey to the Center of the Earth is completely different than Fahrenheit 451, which is absolutely different from North By Northwest.

I am a longtime fan and a freelance musician, so perhaps I can point out the truth in earlier reviewer comments about Williams and Herrmann. They are definitely related to each other. BH worked in an era when film scores were expected to routinely use the "leitmotiv" method to adhere to changes on screen. Thus, here in the 7th Voyage, we have a Princess's theme. . .just as there was a Princess Leia theme in Star Wars.

Herrmann also used both "classic", and more "modern" effects and harmonic devices for a very basic purpose (e.g. extensive percussion work for fight sequences or "barbaric" content. . . .static, "tritone" distant chords or clusters slowly alternated to establish no key whatsoever, but to keep a level of tension going) and with a sense of "staying out of the way". . .that the best scorers routinely exhibit. Williams does this too.

This is quite a dramatic score, since the movie features fantastic Ray Harryhausen clay animation figures. There is a dragon, a cyclops, a multi-headed bird, and chick. There is a dance of a "half snake-half woman". Herrmann uses percussion and brass to great effect here, yet the material is quite accessible to a wide audience.

I'd heartily recommend this, though I've got a vinyl recording here, of "The Fantasy Film World of Bernard Herrmann" which has a better performance of the "Battle with a Skeleton".

This should definitely be in your film score collection.

Chris Tune October 6, 2005

better than Benny...

I bought this on impulse. But what was the point? I already had the original soundtrack (one of the all-time-great film scores), conducted by the composer (or was it Muir Matheson?).

Boy, was I surprised. Not only is this the complete score, but the performance is livelier and more imaginative.

Strongly recommended. February 7, 2005

Adequate but no cigar!

I decided to revisit this soundtrack after viewing my VHS copy of the film from which the music came. Because of my fondness for Herrmann, I actually didn't think that there would be that great a difference.

Man, was I wrong! While the music is definite Herrmann, the tempos and orchestrations on this recording truly fall short of the composer's original intent. Debney and company obviously didn't do their homework well.

This release reminds me of Mona Lisa reproduction that might adorn a diner's wall.

It "looks" like the real thing but everyone know's it's a fake. April 3, 2004

Musical Treasure Beyond Price

The original soundtrack recording of this score has long been highly prized by collectors for it's uniqueness, imagination and brilliant orchestral color. It is Herrmann at the height of his powers. This 1998 re-recording by John Debney sparkles a little less vibrantly than Herrmann's original recording, but it is powerful and lovely none the less, and contains far more musical selections. Some of the tempos are a bit off, and some liberties were taken with the final selection, and a complete presentation of the entire score would have been preferable, but given the unavailability of that, this album is still very worthwhile - a delightful listening experience. September 28, 2002

Disappointment

I found that I was not disappointed by any of Herrmann's works, until this one. The first track is good, but much of the others do not sound like the Herrmann I know. March 6, 2002

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