Jerry Goldsmith: Timeline – Music Inspired by the Film

by | Jun 1, 2005 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

JERRY GOLDSMITH: Timeline – Music Inspired By the Film –
Hollywood Studio Symphony/Goldsmith  – Varese Sarabande
Multichannel SACD 302 066 600 2 ****:

The reason for the subtitle above is that after test screenings of the
film using Goldsmith’s sumptuous original score, the studio decided to
the opening scene of the film and to replace Goldsmith’s entire score
with one by Brian Tyler which they felt would sell better with
audiences. (It didn’t do any good, the film was still a loser.) 
Not wanting to let another rejected score for a film  – as did
Alex North’s original score for 2001 and several others –  get
lost, Goldsmith and Varese got together and here is his original score
on an SACD release.

There is no synopsis of the film and I don’t recall seeing a review of
it, so I can only surmise this is a medieval adventure which somehow
involves some time travel.  The book is by Michael Crichton, who
also was the source of the other Goldsmith soundtrack released on SACD
at the same time – The Great Train Robbery.  This score is not as
much fun as that one, but is certainly  a magnificent Goldsmith
effort.  There are some hints of ancient modes and polyphony but
this is in general a late-Romantic orchestral score continuing and
updating the tradition first established in Hollywood by Erich
Korngold. The surround sound mix is effective without completely
surrounding the listener with instruments.

Cues:  The Dig, Cornflakes, No Pain, To Castlegard, Find Marek,
The Rooftop, A Hole in the Wall, Move On, Be Careful, Ambushed, Setting
Up, Greek Fire / Light the Arrows, Prepare for Battle, / Victory for
Us, To My Friends.

– John Sunier

Related Reviews
Logo Pure Pleasure
Logo Crystal Records Sidebar 300 ms
Logo Jazz Detective Deep Digs Animated 01