Doug said:
We did commission this from Rozsa and his orchestrator-of-the-time, Dan Robbins. That was right after we prepared JULIUS CAESAR. We completed the scores and at one point were ready to have Kathleen Mayne help us prepare individual parts (as she did for our other Rozsa re-recordings.) Unfortunately - or fortunately, depending on how you look at it! - she became heavily involved in her own projects for MMM.
Robert replied:
It's both fortunate and unfortunate, just like real life.
Doug said:
Related note. Prior to recording IVANHOE, Rozsa gave us a concert suite for VALLEY OF THE KINGS he had specially prepared for the recording sessions. Due to many reasons, not the least being time, we were unable to include it. It's like what he had been doing for his Polydor albums, several minutes long with a newly-composed finish. It'll make a great item to open a newly-recorded Rozsa compilation someday.
Robert replied:
Fascinating information, Doug. I do hope you get a chance to realize a new Rozsa compilation, including VALLEY OF THE KINGS; a score I listen to often. I have a preference for Daniel Robbins' reconstructions of Rozsa's music. His work on IVANHOE and JULIUS CAESAR replicated those scores superbly, along with Broughton's conducting. I also thought his recent reconstruction of KING OF KINGS for Telarc did a great job with that score. Do you know if he had any access to Christopher Palmer's reconstructions for the projected London re-recording of KOK which was not recorded by Rozsa back in the 70s? Again, fascinating stuff!
Best,
Bob
--Doug[/quote]