BORN FREE (FSM)

Label: FSMCD Vol.7 No.10
Date: 1966
Tracks: 12
Time = 39:55

Original soundtrack from popular drama based on Joy Adamson's true-life effort to raise orphan lioness named Elsa in Kenya wilds. Hugely successful project for John Barry earned him not one but two Academy Awards: Best Score, Best Song. Famed main theme has interesting architecture: begins at top, works down, remains largely within single octave. Variations on theme appear often but score is by no means mono thematic: two other ideas create balance. Major key horn fanfare for opener emphasizes interval of fourth, becomes bedrock throughout score. Equally important is minor key melody heard first on violins during "Death of Pati". Tune becomes primary dramatic idea for several later cues, on oboe for "Killing at Kiunga", cor anglais for "Fight of the Lioness", others. Orchestral color is also unique: twin marimbas enhance the standard symphonic array. Upon completion of film recording, composer held special session to record famous MGM album in 1966. Incredibly, this definitive version has never been released on CD until now. FSM presentation features identical contents of original issue but adds detailed liner notes chronicling interesting movie production history, photos of composer at work plus shots of lyricist Don Black, singer Matt Monro. Original LP liner notes included as bonus. Few composers have voices as unique as Barry's, even fewer have his melodic gift. Both assets are displayed in this cornerstone of film music libraries. John Barry conducts. Needless to say, this one rates a bullseye!