HEIDI
Original Television Soundtrack
Music Composed and Conducted by John Williams
Limited edition of 1500 units
The 1968 television adaptation of Johanna Spyri’s classic novel Heidi, from Omnibus Productions and NBC, boasted many impressive names. Director Delbert Mann (Marty) was an Academy Award and Palme d’Or winning filmmaker. Writer Earl Hamner Jr. was a respected television scribe, who would go on to create The Waltons. The prestigious cast included Sir Michael Redgrave, Maximilian Schell and Jean Simmons, with Jennifer Edwards (daughter of director Blake Edwards) making her acting debut in the title role. And vitally, the film’s magnificent symphonic score was by an up-and-coming composer named John Williams.
For most of the 1950s and ’60s, Williams (billed as Johnny) was best known for jazz, genre television, and his spirited comedy scores for films like Mann’s 1967 caper Fitzwilly. Heidi was one of the first motion pictures to carry the more formal “John Williams” credit, and represents one of the composer’s earliest opportunities to show what he could do with a large-scale dramatic film. Heidi’s soulful heroine, coupled with the majestic backdrop of the Swiss Alps, led Williams to craft a score of remarkable power and beauty. Anchored by a lyrical main theme, his music showcases many of the elements that would come to define his signature sound: soaring French horns; dynamic counterlines; rich harmonies; and playful, intricate scherzos. The score even features a stunning early example of Williams’ religioso writing, for the film’s inspirational climax. Accordingly, Heidi earned Williams his first Emmy Award, for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition.
As Heidi was a joint production with Studio Hamburg, Williams recorded his score in Germany with members of the Hamburg Opera. He later recorded supplemental album tracks at CTS Studios in London (including the song “A Place of My Own,” with lyrics by Rod McKuen). Music from both sessions was combined with narration and released on LP in 1968 by Capitol Records. Until now, none of this material has been authorized for re-release by Capitol or rights-holder EMI. Quartet Records is proud to present the first fully licensed CD of Heidi, presenting all of the material from the original film tracks that is known to survive, adding bonus tracks from the London session, and finishing with the complete narrated album program. The original score has been newly remastered for improved sound, carefully sequenced for ideal listening, and several cues have been restored to their original length (with looped material removed). With a 16-page full-color booklet that includes an essay and detailed cue analysis by film music writer John Takis, this important early John Williams score can now be appreciated and enjoyed like never before.
FATTI DI GENTE PERBENE
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music Composed by Ennio Morricone
Conducted by Bruno Nicolai
Limited edition of 500 units
Expanded, definitive edition of Ennio Morricone's sixth collaboration with director Mauro Bolognini.
Starring Catherine Deneuve and Giancarlo Giannini, Fatti di gente perbene (1974) is based on a true story about the notorious Murri trials of Bologna. Linda Murri is stuck in a loveless marriage to Count Francesco Bonmartini. Her brother Tullio hatches an ingenious scam and kills the count who was known for having lovers by the side. Hoping that a prostitute gets charged, Tullio is soon targeted as the likeliest suspect by a ruthless investigator who tries to convict the enire family and some friends based on their political beliefes.
Also known as Drama of the Rich in English, the film contains one of the most beautiful and romantic scores Morricone ever delivered for Bolognini. Inspired by the picturesque locations like Bologna, Venice and Zürich, the melancholic love theme is actually written to represent the bond between Linda and Tullio. The memorable chime melody for the murder may be familar as a similiar theme was used as the pocketwatch song in Per qualche dollaro in più.
The score of Fatti di gente perbene has been issued numerous times, starting with an original Cinevox single in 1974. The soundtrack LP was first issued by Polydor in Japan in 1976 with a 19-track program. This release curiously forgets to mention Morricone on the front sleeve, but conductor Bruno Nicolai is properly credited!. The next LP (using the French title La grande bourgeoise) was released in America in 1981 by Cerberus Records containing a slightly different 18-track program. The Italian LP by Cinevox was released in 1984 with the same 18-track program as the Cerberus album. The CD debut came in 1991 when Cinevox paired up Fatti di gente perbene with the music to Divina creatura; the same dual presentation was used in Japan by SLC. After so many different presentations, Quartet Records is proud to present the first ever complete release of the score with the full original Japanese 19-track program followed by 14 previously unreleased tracks, including the single version of “Accade a Venezia”.
This album has been restored and mastered by Dàniel Winkler and Claudio Fuiano from first generation master tapes, courtesy of Cinevox, and the package includes 12-page liner notes by Gergely Hubai discuss the film and the score in detail. It’s dark, it’s romantic, it’s tragic – it’s done in a way only Morricone could do it.."
