Bernard Herrmann's The Giant Crab

[boneeatingsilicate]

Ha!, you think this orchestration is unique, on one Herrmann scoring assignment 4 Trombonists walked into the scoring stage to find only 4 chairs. I believe it was for HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL TV show.

[peppersax]

I'm Back. The funny thing is, that the first two notes identify BH. For more low brass scoring, listen to Jason and The Argonauts (particularly...TALOS).

[jf1057]

I went to school with a contra bassoon in 3rd grade or was it a contra bafoon

[WearyMusic]

I HATE COMMENTS WRITTEN IN CAPITALS!!!!!!

[beedoe51]

Bernie was and IS a composing and orchestrating genious! 8 french horns, 4 harps, 2 contrabassons. peppersax is right. No one else before or since has scored brass and particularly low winds in such beautiful but terrifying ways. Great post!!!!!

[RogueRotting360]

@beedoe51 Igor Stravinsky for one. This cue is clearly a loving homage to Stravinsky's Danse Sacrale from Le Sacre Du Printemps from the great Benny Herrmann. Though as you say, Herrmann's unique orchestration (i.e. 4 harps, 3 English horns, 4 tubas, 8 timpani, huge percussion section and a Hammond organ) truly makes it his own.

[beedoe51]

@RogueRotting360 Ok, ya got me there!! :)

[tenocella]

Anything with two contrabassoons gets my vote :)

[wstromberg1]

Full CD Available at Screen Archives SAE.

[Maurice1340d]

good job!

[stardappledgreen]

this piece was based on battles that took place in ancient Japan

[GoblinXXX]

@stardappledgreen With giant crabs? I thought they only had giant lizards.

[peppersax]

THIS WAS A COMPOSER WHO HAD HIS OWN IDENTITY. WITH JUST ONE NOTE, I COULD TELL YOU THAT IT WAS A HERRMANN SCORE. He is still the best film composer today.........................­.EPIC!!!!!!!!

[radiootoo]

Whoa! FOUR harps!

[Thefuturelooksbright]

Love Mysterous Island. Oh yeah, Nice video on the orchestra too!

[jslasher1]

Great to learn that these fine Herrmann scores will be available soon. Unfortunately, based on previous releases, neither the orchestra or the conductor have been in top form performing Herrmann's demanding material.

[peppersax]

No one wrote brass parts like Herrmann. The french horn players probably walked into a Herrmann session 'cringing'. No film composer today can touch Bernard Herrmann. He started it all!!!

[musicnerd225488]

@peppersax It's the only piece I know, so far, that has parts for 4 tubas. That right there, makes me proud as a low brass player. :D

[Niraviv]

good stuff

[djmomo17]

I love these rerecordings - thanks Mr Stromberg.

Would love to hear rerecordings of "The Bride Wore Black" and "On Dangerous Ground" (tho the Gerhardt Death Hunt would be tough to top!). Also White Witch Doctor and It's Alive (maybe as suites.?).

[kwaumane]

Bernard Herrmann is genius!! And these videos of his orchestral pieces being performed are great. He can take something so simple and make it into a masterpiece, and complicated.

[pylgrym]

Citixen Crab! Awesome! Second maybe only to the skeleton warrior attack jig from

"Jason and the Argonauts"!!

[bandwagonretards]

this music is based on actual events from ancient japan. you can attack the weak notes for massive damage.

[clarenina]

Wow! Thanks for this.

Always great to get a look at Herrmann score, too!

[rubisco1981]

Please, details on the album release, anyone?

[Algarvi0]

BRAVOOOOO!!!! BRAVOOOOO!!!!!

[davidh0187dc]

what a treat!!

[PizzaGolf2003]

I just got this and Fahrenheit 451 on CD. They are among the best film score rerecordings I have ever heard (in many ways superior to the original performances). Herrmann would have been pleased, I'm sure!

[wstromberg1]

The CDs of the complete Mysterious Island and Fahrenheit 451 will be released early in October.

[CalhounPictures]

EXCELLENT! When is the release date?

[dalek7]

Bravo!

[mwford1701]

Mr. Stromberg, I am a great fan of yours and John Morgan's film score contributions, but I'm just ecstatic about your re-recording of Mysterious Island. This score and Journey to the Center of the Earth were the most influential pieces of music in my childhood musical development back in the early 60s. I called the sound Jules Verne music until I discovered who B. Herrmann was when I got a little older. I can't wait for the release. Now perhaps Journey some time in the future?!

[Cramnella]

Brilliant! Can't wait for the CD.