Prometheus version of "Preparations - Battle of the Mounds Part I" by Basil Poledouris. Performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Nic Raine. Released Nov 2, 2010.
Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And onto this, Conan, destined to wear the jewelled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!
The man who suddenly appeared was nearly a giant in stature. He was thickly muscled from his neck and chest to his thighs and legs. His arms glistened with steel-cabled muscles. But for all his massive muscularity he had the stature of a panther and glided across the floor like a leopard. His blue eyes burned through a shock of straight black hair and his scarred face grinned wolfishly with white teeth. - Robert E. Howard
Crom! I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that today, two stood against many. That's what's important! Valor pleases you, Crom; so grant me this one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!
The bandit Olgerd Vladislov rode his horse up to the cross where the Cimmerian hung crucified. He looked back at his fellow rouges and bellowed: "It looks like Queen Taramis is getting rid of all her old favorites, including," looking with a knowing smile at the crucified man, "this dying dog here." Conan, shaking the blood and sweat from his eyes growled at the bandit: "If I could come down off from this cross, I'd make a dying dog out of you, you Zaparoskan thief! - Robert E. Howard, A Witch Shall Be Born (1934)
"There is no hope in the here or hereafter. Men after struggling and striving in life in vain - dying - enter a gray, misty realm of icy winds, gray skies and barren hills to wander cheerlessly throughout eternity." - Robert Howard - Queen of the Black Coast (1934).
We won again ! This is good. But what is best in life? The open steppe, a fleet horse, falcons at your wrist, and the wind in your hair. Wrong !!! Conan ! What is best in life? To crush your enemies. See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women! That is good !
2:09 *I pick up my saber, stand from my kneeling position, and face the rising sun as my enemies approach for the final confrontation* 4:35 *Strikes down all the villains like there's NO sunrise tomorrow!!*
I really like this orchestra's timing and pacing. The orchestra is great. And the acoustics and mixing make it sound really big, which is also great. It's too bad the male voices at 5m12s and 5m18s singing those two "counterpoint" notes can't be heard distinctively, while in the original they pierce through the wall of sound so well. This version is great nevertheless, but I still haven't found the definitive version of this song !
