Press Release from Varese Sarabande:
Varèse Sarabande presents a Deluxe Encore Edition of the 2CD soundtrack to The Thorn Birds, Henry Mancini’s television masterpiece.
The Thorn Birds became the second-highest rated miniseries of all time when it aired in March 1983, behind only Roots. Based on the 1977 book by Colleen McCullough, the four-part program told the multigenerational story of the Cleary family, settlers in the Australian Outback of the early to mid-20th century, and the forbidden love of matriarch Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward) and the family priest, Father Ralph de Briscassart (Richard Chamberlain). The all-star production won six Emmys, with a further ten nominations including Mancini’s score.
For a career full of landmark achievements in television—from Peter Gunn and Mr. Lucky to the miniseries The Moneychangers—The Thorn Birds is Mancini’s crown jewel. His score is as intimate as it is epic, with a lilting, Irish-flavored dulcimer theme for the Cleary family’s Irish roots and the beauty of the Australian countryside, as well as a bittersweet love theme, given lyrics by Will Jennings as “Anywhere the Heart Goes.” From the haunting moments of introspection to the large-scale setpieces, The Thorn Birds is as good as it gets.
Varèse Sarabande’s 2-CD Deluxe Encore Edition corrects the missing dulcimer melody of the main title from the original 2004 release, and is remastered for better sound and careful removal of sonic artifacts. Liner notes are by television music authority Jon Burlingame.
