[.ca] Battle Of Britain Original

One of the Great War-Film Scores:
Ron Goodwin is one of the most underrated film composers of his time. Single-handedly he made music for war films into something of an art form with "Where Eagles Dare," "Operation Crossbow," and especially "The Battle of Britain." His stirring main theme will always call to mind the soaring beauty of British Spitfires and Hurricanes, and the few courageous pilots who held the breach against the Nazi scourge in the summer of 1940. But equally worthy of note is his wonderful German march. Indeed, it ranks as one of the best in the genre. There was a controversy with the film that involved the music. Originally, Sir William Walton was to do the score and in fact he produced some very interesting music. In the end it was not quite what director Guy Hamilton and producer Harry Saltzman had in mind, however, and Goodwin was brought in. The current version of the film includes elements of both scores, oddly enough. Most of Goodwin's music is still there, but two elements of Walton's score are also evident ("Battle in the Air" and the "Finale"). The recent release by Varese is an updated version of the RKO CD of 1999 with new notes, artwork and updated sound. It is remarkable in that it includes both Goodwin's score (including his own "End Title" which is arguably the better ending)and the music written by Walton, as did the earlier version. This is a rare treat for film buffs. The new release is very nicely packaged with notable production values and a reasonable price.

At Last The 2 Battle Of Britains!:
After some 30 years we can finally hear the two complete scores written for the 1969 film "The Battle Of Britain". We have here on one cd Ron Goodwin's score that was used and Sir William Walton's that was mostly pulled. When the film was completed it had a score by Walton that was conducted by Sir Malcolm Arnold. About a month before the film's release Walton's score was yanked and replaced by a new one by Ron Goodwin. Why? Well it has nothing to do with the quality of Walton's score but the quantity. He composed only about 25 minutes of music for a film that is about 2 hours. He and director Guy Hamilton felt that the sounds of aerial combat was all that was needed in most places. The American studio that paid the bills wanted music through out and Hamilton reluctantly pulled the score. Among the angriest reactions came from one of the film's stars, Sir Laurence Olivier. A close friend of Walton's he demanded that some of Walton's score be kept or he would have his name removed from the credits. That resulted in Walton's piece "Battle In The Air" being kept in the film. Walton's score was not completely forgotten. As a birthday gift former British Prime Minister (and amateur conductor) Edward Heath bought the manuscript from the studio and gave it to the composer. From that manuscript Carl Davis prepared a short suite from the score in the 1990's. However a mystery remained; where were the tapes of the complete Walton score conducted by Arnold? The studio did not have them and until the early 1990's they were thought lost. It turns out that recording engineer Eric Tomlinson had them - sitting in his garage for 20 years! So we now have 2 very fine scores for one film. Goodwin's is overflowing with vigor and colorful orchestrations. It is even more remarkable when you consider he had less than a month to turn out a full symphonic score. Walton's score has its many moments of high drama but relies more on subtle tension to create its atmosphere. He also takes a dig at a composer he never cared for, Richard Wagner. He uses Siegfried's theme from the Ring operas as the basis for his music depicting the Luftwaffe pilots. In a section called "Young Siegfrieds" he treats the theme both cynically and sarcastically giving us a clear view of what he thought about them. If you are worried about the sound quality on the Walton have no fear. The tapes were in a cool, dry place and the sound quality is the equal of the "official" Goodwin score. Once again Varese Sarabande comes up aces. Both film and classical music lovers are in debt to them for this release that restores to circulation a work by one of Britain's greatest classical and film music composers of the 20th Century.

• Battle of Britain Theme
• Ace High March
• Lull Before the Storm
• Work and Play
• Death and Destruction
• Briefing the Luftwaffe
• Prelude to Battle
• Victory Assured
• Defeat
• Hitler's Headquarters
• Return to Base
• Threat
• Civilian Tragedy
• Offensive Build-Up
• Attack
• Personal Tragedy
• Battle in the Air
• Absent Friends
• Battle of Britain Theme- End Title
• March Introduction /Battle of Britain March
• Young Siegfrieds
• Luftwaffe Victory
• Few Fight Back
• Cat and Mouse
• Scherzo "Gay Berlin"
• Dogfight
• Scramble!/Battle in the Air
• Finale: Battle of Britain March