Symphonic Poems by James Forsyth Based on Franz Waxman's "The Spirit of St. Louis" and "Ruth"

On this CD:

1. The Spirit of St. Louis, A Symphonic Suite
Composed by Franz Waxman
Performed by Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Lawrence Foster

2. Ruth
Composed by Franz Waxman
Performed by Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Lawrence Foster

Symphonic Poems by James Forsyth Based on Franz Waxman's "The Spirit of St. Louis" and "Ruth",Franz Waxman,Lawrence Foster,Berliner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester,Capriccio,Classical,Classical Composers,Classical Music,Orchestral,Orchestral Music
Symphonic Poems by James Forsyth Based on Franz Waxman's "The Spirit of St. Louis" and "Ruth"
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Do you want a narrator over the music?
  • The Spirit of St. Louis:Waxman's Music Soars
 Symphonic Poems by James Forsyth Based on Franz Waxman's "The Spirit of St. Louis" and "Ruth"

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by WaxmanAll Works by Waxman | Waxman, Franz | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001WTP
Release Date: 1996-10-30

Tracks:

  1. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 1: Building The Spirit - 'Charles A. Lindbergh...'
  2. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 1: Building The Spirit - Building The Spirit
  3. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 2: In Flight - 'There She Sat...'
  4. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 2: In Flight - 'Now - Beyond That Manic Nightmare...'
  5. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 2: In Flight - Asleep
  6. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 3: Arrival - 'We Did Not Fall From The Sky...'
  7. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 3: Arrival - Ireland
  8. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 3: Arrival - Plymouth: 'We Two - The Spirit And I...'
  9. The Spirit Of St. Louis (A Symphonic Suite): Part 3: Arrival - 'Could This Now Be To What I Am Lead...'
  10. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'I, Boaz, Of Bethlehem...'
  11. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): Prelude
  12. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'Who Is This Woman...'
  13. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'And The Answer To This Was Yet Only Her Song...'
  14. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'Then - As Naomi In Time Told It To Me...'
  15. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): The Great Dance Of Tribal Time
  16. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'Then Naomi, In Praise Of Ruth, Told Me...'
  17. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): Boaz And Ruth: Sleepless Nights
  18. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'Oh, Only Too Well I Knew...'
  19. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'So, I Prepared...'
  20. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): The Marriage Feast Of Boaz And Ruth
  21. Ruth (Symphonic Poem): 'And Out Of Our Loving Union...'

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Do you want a narrator over the music?.......2001-10-14

Waxman is from the tradition of romantic Hollywood film music that flourished from the 1930s to the early 1960s. He is a very fine, often inspired craftsman, on a par with Max Steiner, Alfred Newman and Dimitri Tiomkin (not quite reaching the genius of Korngold, Rozsa or Herrmann). The two suites on this disc are good examples of his music, well-played and well-recorded.

BUT be aware that an actor speaks over most of the music, reciting a narrative about themes from each film. The narration was added after Waxman's death and intended for performance. Don't buy the disc unless this is what you want to hear.

My own feeling is that the narrator might have added something to a concert performance, but gets in the way of repeated hearings. The actor takes himself very seriously, and the writing is full of cliches. I wish they'd released the music on its own.

A better introduction to Waxman's film music is "Sunset Boulevard: The Classic Film Music of Franz Waxman" (excerpts conducted by Charles Gerhardt on the RCA label). The best recording I've found of a full Waxman score is "Rebecca" (conducted by Adriano on the Marco Polo label). I think "The Spirit of Saint Louis" is also available in its original mono from the film soundtrack, but I haven't heard it.

5 out of 5 stars The Spirit of St. Louis:Waxman's Music Soars.......2000-07-10

Frans Waxman has written many beautiful film scores but none with more lasting beauty than "The Spirit of St. Louis," film music that portrays probably the most famous flight in history: Charles Lindbergh's non-stop solo fight from New York to Paris in 1927. He was the first man to do it and Waxman captures the raptures and poetry of flight with soaring string music with a lovely French tag in the score to tell the liseners about the ultimate destination of the flight: Paris. Waxman, through flashbacks , writes music about Linbergh's earlier barnstorming days, and flying the mail when air travel was extremely dangerous. Waxman's score blends well with the narrative of the film and I once had the LP of this score but lost it and I am glad to see it out on CD. Waxman did many notable film scores("Rear Window" for Hitchcock an excellent example)and others that rank high among film composers but I feel "The Spirit of St. Louis" is his masterpiece, a score on CD to listen to over and over, be inspired by, thinking back to times when "The Lone Eagle" was flying into lengedary status through his brave flight. here, In San Diego, where the famous plane was built by the Ryan Aviation, at the San Diego Aerospace Museum, there is a replica of Lindbergh's plane and memorabilia. Every time I see the silver beauty of the Spirit, I hear Frans Waxman's wonderfully evocative film score, which lifts one's spirit of adventure and longing to fly in the deep blue skies. Highly recommended.

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  1. Symphonie Concertante / Toccata / Improvisation
  2. The Secular Solo Songs of Henry Purcell, Vol. 1
  3. The Spirits of England and France - 2: Songs of the Trouvères - Gothic Voices
  4. The Study of Love: French Songs and Motets for the 14th Century
  5. The Sweet Look And The Loving Manner - Trobairitz, Love Lyrics and Chansons de Femme from Medieval France / Wishart, Sinfonye
  6. The World of Rondo Classico [Import]
  7. Thomas Linley: Lyric Ode
  8. Tippett: Songs for Achilles; Songs for Ariel; Boyhood's End
  9. Virtuoso Strauss Transcriptions
  10. 541, Vol. 1: Music from Stratford

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