Elmer Bernstein By Elmer Berns

Elmer Bernstein is one of the most prolific and talented film composers ever, and some of his best soundtracks are on this CD. "To Kill a Mockingbird" will evoke images of the children in the film, Jem and Scout, to your mind. The soaring triumphant crescendos from "Hawaii" will bring tears to your eyes. I've often thought that the theme "Hollywood and the Stars" should be played at the Academy Award ceremony each year, because when I heard it, I thought it would be very fitting as a tribute to all the stars that had passed away, and it was very emotional. I wish that other Bernstein tracks were available in their entirety, such as "Desire Under the Elms". In the meantime, this one is excellent and one that will give you a great deal of enjoyment.

John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith and "Johnny-Come-Latelies" like James Horner and Danny Elfman, may get more recognition but Elmer Bernstein ranks among one of the great film scorers of all time. This disc samples some of his most memorable themes.

Beginning with the rousing Coplandlike like theme from "The Magnificent Seven", the compilation features a bevy of the familiar along with lesser-known but no less dynamic compositions.

Among my favorites are the jazz-influenced theme from "The Man with the Golden Gun", the sultry "Walk on the Wild Side", the lighthearted theme from "Ghostbusters", the opening theme/medley from "Hawaii" and the selection from the classic "The Ten Commandments".

Another find is the long-forgotten theme from the 60's television production "Hollywood and the Stars". This anthem harkens back to the days when movies were really something special and so were the people that made them.

Bernstein is indeed very special.

What I genuinely like about his CD is that Elmer Bernstein is conducting and his music sounds exactly as he intended it to sound. Elmer Bernstein was a very creative and dynamic film composer. His scores for many Western films is what initially attracted me having a distinctive and recognizable sound about them and always a great central melodic tune. I think he composed scores for six of John Wayne's Westerns. They so much identified Wayne that other composers emulated Bernstein's style whenever they got an assignment to score a Wayne Western. However, Elmer Bernstein's greatest score for me has always been THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. It is very majestic, noble and sincerely moving. I believe this is the first digital recording of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN conducted by Elmer Bernstein. It was later that I realized how prolific he was and how moving and tender his other scores were looking away from the Western film genre. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD can really touch you and bring tears to your eyes. It is just such a beautiful rendering like a yearning for some time that once was. WALK ON THE WILD SIDE and THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM are two incredible pieces of moving and powerful jazz scoring. They are just incredibly great and again moving in their own way. The list just goes on. THE GREAT ESCAPE is an iconic piece of determination of men fighting in war against all odds or for any just cause. It is pure, on target and very uplifting. One sentimental piece on the CD is HOLLYWOOD AND THE STARS. It captures the essence of Hollywood so endearingly bringing to mind many wonderful actors that have brought joy and sorrow and have moved us and touched us through the decades. Many of those actors have now left us but we still have their films to return to again and again. Elmer Bernstein has left us. I miss him but his music still remains. I will always return to his music again and again whenever I want inspiration, feel uplifted or just listen to good music for the sake of enjoyment. This particular CD has always been a favorite of mine. It has been on the shelf nearly ten years now and I am glad I rediscovered it. Godspeed.