I was lucky enough to meet Elmer a few times at the beginning of my scoring career. He once told me that he was stumped a bit on this score until he realized that the story was about grownup events being told from a child's perspective and score had to do the same. He also told me that early in his career he would spend two weeks thinking about the score and ten weeks scoring. Later, he'd spend ten weeks thinking and two weeks scoring. I, who was doing 24 episodes a season TV at the time, responded incredulously, "You get twelve weeks?!"
I think maybe John Williams might have done that with JAWS+Star Wars+ Raiders of the lost Ark+ E.T. All the great ones can do it. Elmer Bernstein is definitely one of those great ones with a huge Range. The 10 commandments+Great escape+ Ghostbusters+ True Grit+ The Shootist + Animal House+ a ton more.
Yes, "haunting"; I've offered for such a very very long time?! My wedding gift to our oldest (daughter), some years back; which I have most recently "renamed", obviously without any permission, "my Little Child (Daughter) Rebecca", in dedication! you can well, so clearly, 'ear Bernstein's "signature" therein!...
The person playing the piano is John Williams. He mentioned it in an interview, that as a young man, he was hired by Elmer Bernstein to be his pianist in his orchestra.
For a long time I got several requests about Elmer Bernstein’s legendary “To Kill A Mockingbird”. However, as much as I wanted I had to turn down the requests, because no original recordings of the score are released, yet. Of course, there are plenty of re-recordings, even conducted by the composer himself, like the 1997 one, released by Varèse Sarabande Records or the Elmer Bernstein Collection one from 1976. That were of course fine recordings but not what we really wanted. But what I had forgotten about was the original soundtrack album that came out in 1962 by Ava Records. It is in fact a re-recording, but let me quote what is written in the booklet of the 2014 re-release of Intrada Records’ “Elmer Bernstein - The Ava Collection”: “The score has been re-recorded several times over the years, typically with larger-than-needed orchestras […]. No later recording has ever conveyed the transparency, clarity of texture and intense power of this amazing work as this original LP recording, the first one made by the composer for release. The accuracy of feel and tempo is partly due to the number of players who recorded the music at Universal for the picture and then followed Bernstein over to United Recording to make the record. No doubt, the fact that Bernstein had just scored the picture itself was a factor as well.” Also, it is a well-known fact that John Williams played the famous piano phrases in the original recordings, however for this album recording Raymond Turner stepped in. So here we are, the closest as possible to the original recordings and in a fine presentation. Thanks to the people at Intrada Records, who made a perfect sounding- and deserved release. You might check it out for more details… so far, enjoy! store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.8567/.f
My favorite movie - Robert Mulligan director, favorite screenplay - Horton Foote, favorite film score - Elmer Bernstein composer, Favorite cinematography - Russell Harland, and favorite actor - Gregory Peck. A masterpiece in every way! Atticus Finch is my HERO.
I have always loved the film and the book. The sound track has always been stuck in my head. From when I first sat down with my mum, as a little girl to see this wonderful film. 💖💖💖💖💖💖
One of all time favorite scores; no one could evoke childhood In music like Bernstein. Great book, great movie, Peck was perfect as was everyone else. Thanks, Fred.
Oh! Man I Heard this song again this morning and was totally taken aback on what an amazing song this truly is. Almost like it lays your whole life out right in front of you through the melody. From the wonderment of birth through the beauty of adolescence and grandeur of existence where in the middle refrain, with a kind of sadness it tears out your guts and spills your entire life out on the ground in front of you,,, and then to the ultimate calmness of death. I wept!!!!!!
From one of my "Top All-Time Favorites" that I enjoy seeing now and then...this recording seems to follow right to the "mood-flavor" that Elmer Bernstein & the production company wanted in this score. The "child-like simplicity " of the two main children characters: "Jem" (Phillip Alford), "Scout" ( Mary Badham), and nearby neighborhood boy, "Dill" (John Megna), make this version of the movie score great. Greg Peck was well into his prime and a great choice as the children's father, "Atticus Finch". The female American author, Harper Lee, was praised by literally all the cast after and many years after the movie release for her good insight of the life & times of the Great American Depression of the early and mid 1930's in the "Deep South". I went to see this movie in its release year, 1962. I was 11 years old...went with my parents. Of course the two frightened scenes to all of us was the kids exploring the home of "Boo Radley"; and, the walk back from the school's Halloween costume party and being attacked by "Bob Ewell". As to the composer, Elmer Bernstein...what a gifted composer in TV and film scoring! One of my "Top 20 All-Time Favorites" in cinema music scoring.
This Sound track was Magically, Beautiful..!!! Every scene Elmer pitch in perfectly beautiful..!! Though "To Kill a Mockingbird" is an awesome movie, but the sound track displayed just goes with it like peanut & butter or like Strawberries & Whip Cream..!! Thank you Mr. Elmer Bernstein. "To Kill a Mockingbird & Your Creation were truly the perfect Marriage, with all Sincerity.
Thanks for the download it was worth the wait. I understand what you mean by the many variations of the score over the years. Herrmann, Mancini and others have done it too. For historical reasons getting the original soundtrack, knowing that you're hearing John Williams playing the piano, is a good reason to try and wait to present it here.
I love the novel, movie and soundtrack and that doesn't happen often with me. Thank you for sharing this, truly enjoyable to listen to... 🎶 Ruby* Edit; I can hear Scout humming, lol.
The movie would not have been as good without the musical mastery of the great Elmer Bernstein. I would say that you hear a lot of echoes of the musical styling here in the later compositions of John Williams and a few others. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so homages to this score just shows how great it is overall.
Elmer Bernstein studied composition under Aaron Copland, so a Copland homage wouldn't be a surprise in the soundtrack. Elmer was also friends with Leonard Berstein, so a little musical cross-pollination might be present here as well. Back in the day, Leonard and Elmer Bernstein had nicknames in the music world; Leonard was called "Bernstein East" and Elmer was called "Bernstein West."
Wunderschöne Leistung dieses fein komponierten Meisterwerks mit gut harmonisierten Töne aller Instrumente. Der geniale Komponist/Dirigent leitet das funktionelle Orchester im inspirierenden Tempo mit effektiver Dynamik. Fast ein klassisches Tongedicht!
Just discovered your channel. Fantastic!! I've been avid collector of film music since the age of about 12 (1960), when I first heard Bernstein's theme for Riverboat (which is the ring-tone on my mobile phone). Bernstein has always been my favourite FM composer, and TKAM is still my all-time favourite EB score. When I met him after his 1997 concert in London, this was the CD I asked him to autograph. Speaking as someone who transferred many of my LPs to CD, cleaned them up, did my own "expanded" versions from tapes and movie tracks, including my own 2-CD set of the 1997 concert, I salute you sir! You are doing a terrific job. Have given you about a dozen thumbs up already. Carry on the good work. Please!
Hello Count, it must have been terrific to have met an idol. Last year in November John Williams was off to perform in Vienna. Unfortunately the concert was cancelled, because of illness. I am happy anyway to know I would have been there. :-) Thank you for the kind words! Best always! Fred
Hello Fred, Are you in Vienna? I ask because I will be in Budapest for 6 weeks in October-November, visiting relatives. After Budapest, Vienna is my favourite European city. Last time I was there, in 2014, I saw The Third Man four times. Cheers, Steve (Istvan in Hungarian)
I'd like to share a little story about Gregory Peck and our friend Ramblin' Jack (Adnipos) Elliott that Jack shared with me, husband, two stepchildren and US Coast Guard son Ethan in December of 2009 when we visited Jack in his NorCal home when Ethan was stationed at TRACEN Petaluma and so I could give Jack a little stained glass boot I made for Jack right before he got his second grammy post open heart surgery. After Jack shared with Ethan how he and a pal as teens scarpered up the mast of the NY-docked BARQUE EAGLE unbeknownst to the on-duty watch, Jack then enraptured us about the day he met Peck in 1998 on their bus ride to the White House to receive their National Medal of Arts. Jack was in the back of the bus; Gregory was in the right front seat. When Jack was last to alight, he paused next to Gregory and said in his soft slow lovely drawl, "Atticus Finch, as I live and breathe!" and Gregory, always soft-spoken gentleman, gently replied, "Why Jack, how the heck are you? It's good to see you." It's a little thing to many, but it wasn't to Jack, and it wasn't to us. Having James Cagney tip his hat to me and wink, three yrs before he passed, when he came to talk with my insurance employer in Newport Beach, and as I'm a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ, few things impress me anymore, but we really appreciated this story about Jack and Atticus. I hope it brought smiles. God bless everybody.
Dear Fred This score is indeed a true classic from Elmer Bernstein. I remember owning the original recording on vinyl. I purchased the 1997 recording which isn't bad on CD. Elmer Bernstein had a club that I joined probably over 40 years ago. It was all about film scores that's all I can remember, maybe someone on this channel remembers the name of the club. I also own a recording of his soundtracks which includes Hawaii another beautiful score and the theme to Hollywood And the Stars, plus Age of innocence so beautiful. Thanks again
Hello La Sharown, wasn't the name of the club simply "Bernstein Film Music Club"? However, over that you could purchase the "Elmer Bernstein Collection"-labled LP's. Best! Fred
Original AVA recording features the track '5' "To Kill A Mockingbird ALT take' that never appeared in the film. For unknown reason this cut was never put on later releases. You can buy this rare beautiful and amazing track on Amazon. Look for Original AVA 1962 album, stereo.
Impressionante a influência de Aaron Copland nessa obra de Elmer. Em alguns trechos lembra El Saloon México, Rodeo, Apalachians Springs..... Maravilhosa 🎼❤️🌹
For years it was very hard to find the original soundtrack. My dad owned it on vinyl back in the day. There was some dIsc that came out a few years ago. The score was performed by some orchestra....But it didn't sound good at all. Overly miked and reverbed. So glad the original is available again. Pure heaven!
The music is perfectly fine for the movie, appropriately touching for a character-driven story. Some parts are so derivative of Aaron Copland I expect a ballet to break into the scene with Rodeo or Billy the Kid at any moment!
Hello Stephen, the music was written by John Barry, unfortunately there was no album release on any kind of medium, LP or CD of his music. But when, I surely will check it out! Best! Fred
Oscars that year the music award and just about everything else went to "Lawrence of Arabia" except Gregory Peck won best actor for "To Kill a Mockingbird" beating out Peter O'Toole from "Lawrence of Arabia".
I remember some 40 years ago this movie was cancelled by the Bayerischer Rundfunk. I wrote a letter of regret to the broadcasting company. In fact they answered and wrote the new date of broadcasting some weeks later. No comparison to today. Only propaganda of the government.
You've got to be kidding. It's a masterpiece, a parable of the most important book in human history, Holy Bible. Boo Radley represents God. The way he was looking after the kids, leaving presents for them, yet they were scared of him. That's a picture of the world, where God longs for His children to know His love for them, giving them blessings and protection, yet the majority of His children don't recognise it, and are deceived and scared. It's an inspiring, life changing book that teaches the reader to be courageous. In the end Boo Radley reveals himself to the children, just like soon at the end of human history God will reveal Himself to His children, it's a question of whether or not they'll be ready.
@@brendanbullen8964 It's also a parable of humans, and the importance of coming together to overcome struggle! And fightingfor the principles we believe in, even if we have to go against the current for a while. Love the novel and the film!
