BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ

Label: Varese Sarabande VCL 1106 1054
Date: 1962
Tracks: 39
Time = 64:30

Original soundtrack from perceptive John Frankenheimer examination of lifer Robert Stroud with Burt Lancaster as famous prisoner, Karl Malden as warden. Elmer Bernstein approaches tale of prisoner-turned-bird disease authority with symphonic score emphasizing wonder of discovery. Gentle woodwind flurries, piccolo snippets, harp glissandi, piano tinklings, other intimate ideas follow birth of birds, medical experiments. Solos for alto flute, clarinet, cor anglais, trumpet also get spotlights. Sad moments for solitary oboe, cello over harp during "Runty Dead", "Apie Dead", "Peggy" are unforgettable. They bring tears! But composer has much more to say than mere chamber writing: dark cellos, basses identify sturdy prison surroundings, grim lifestyle behind bars plus intense brass help incite climactic riot sequence. In further contrast, Bernstein even allows rousing moment of bustling optimism for entire orchestra during symbolic construction of bird cage. Still, when all is said and done, it's composer's incredible gift for sensitive woodwind writing that lingers. Varese Sarabande CD premieres entire score from composer's own surviving mono master elements. Heard for first time ever is powerful ending cadence (deleted from finished movie) that finds Bernstein declaring usually minor-key main theme in massive fortissimo statement for orchestra - now in resounding major key - for powerhouse finish. Wow! Elmer Bernstein conducts. Limited edition of 3000 copies. Bullseye!

1. Main Title (3:09) 2. The Letters (2:13) 3. The Courthouse (:39) 4. Washington (:45) 5. Idleness (1:38) 6. Flight (1:10) 7. Bird Cart (:33) 8. Canaries Arrive (2:36) 9. Bottle Bath (1:12) 10. Apology (1:36) 11. Cage Preparations (:57) 12. Cage Building (1:36) 13. Godfather Feto (2:18) 14. Runty Returns (1:41) 15. No Cure* (1:33) 16. Runty Dead (1:46) 17. Apie Dead (:42) 18. Peggy* (2:11) 19. Oldest Enemy (3:25) 20. Second Prize (:55) 21. Partners (1:52) 22. The Tigress* (1:39) 23. No Parole Fight (2:23) 24. Stroud Drunk (2:54) 25. Book Montage (1:26) 26. Transferred* (1:40) 27. To Alcatraz (:54) 28. “D” Block (:52) 29. Bon Vivant* (1:15) 30. 23 Years* (:42) 31. The Visitor* (:58) 32. Saving Face* (:46) 33. The Parting* (1:35) 34. Riot (2:15) 35. Transfer Boat* (:37) 36. Like A Bird (1:37) 37. To Springfield* (:45) 38. End Credits* (1:56) 39. The Birdman (2:28)
* These selections are not contained in the film