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VIVA ZAPATA! / THE 13TH LETTER
Label: Varese Sarabande VCL 0208 1074
Date: 1953 / 1951
Tracks: 39
Time = 71:59
Original soundtracks from two early fifties films scored by Alex North. VIVA ZAPATA! is highly regarded Elia Kazan picture about Mexican peasant-turned-revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata, starring Marlon Brando, Jean Peters, Anthony Quinn. Alex North creates striking meld of authentic-ish Mexico music with signature dramatic scoring in advanced harmonic mode. Rhythm is keynote. Highlights are numerous but increasing orchestral density & crescendo of celebrated "Gathering Forces" is deserved. Note also powerful trombone climax to impressive "Morelos", charged opening of "Zapata Falls". Dynamite film score! 13TH LETTER is Otto Preminger small-town drama with Linda Darnell, Charles Boyer, Michael Rennie. North scores for full orchestra but displays gift for chamber-like use of instrumental groups, sensitive colors, intricate smaller ideas. Note frequent use of muted trumpet, unison upper string lines, sophisticated harmonies bordering on dissonance without crossing over. Exciting "Main Title" actually plays in direct contrast with interior portion of score. Neat cue! Both scores mastered from surviving (and great-sounding) stereo elements combined with mono sequences to create complete presentations. Nick Redman produces with customary love, Julie Kirgo adds intelligent notes, dramatic original 20th Century Fox poster artwork completes sensational package. Alfred Newman conducts former score, Lionel Newman conducts latter. Needless to say, important CD hits the bullseye! Limited edition of 2000 copies.
VIVA ZAPATA! 1. Main Title (1:42) 2. What’s Your Name? (:36) 3. Zapata (:59) 4. Zapata’s Love (1:36) 5. Innocente’s Death (1:23) 6. Gathering Forces (3:25) 7. Huerta (3:35) 8. Pablo (2:39) 9. Conscience (2:39) 10. Zapata and Villa Meet (:49) 11. Morelos (1:45) 12. Eufemio (2:37) 13. Zapata Lowers His Hand (1:12) 14. Josefa’s Love (1:38) 15. Josefa (1:02) 16. Zapata Falls (End Title) (2:23)
THE 13th LETTER 17. Main Title (1:23) 18. The Ferry (3:11) 19. Pearson (4:34) 20. Post Office (3:15) 21. The Letter (1:09) 22. Paul Exits (1:30) 23. What You Said About Me (:50) 24. Driving (1:10) 25. Doc Leaves (2:10) 26. Laurent (2:16) 27. Rochelle (:41) 28. Watching (:28) 29. Apartment (2:21) 30. Drummers (2:53) 31. Graveyard (1:26) 32. Country Road (:49) 33. Street (:53) 34. Prosecutor (:38) 35. Gautier’s Wallet (1:42) 36. That’s All (1:40) 37. About Doc Pearson (3:06) 38. Doc and Cora (2:39) 39. No More Mail (1:30)
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