INTRADA Announces:
CERVANTES
Composed and Conducted by LES BAXTER
INTRADA Signature Edition ISE 1039
Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra is known the world over as the author of the famous picaresque seventeenth century Spanish novel Don Quioxte. What is less known is that the author himself led a fascinating life of hardship and adventure to rival that of his fictional doppelgänger. As a young man, Cervantes traveled to Italy, where he absorbed Renaissance culture and ultimately enlisted in the Spanish Navy. He fought valiantly at the Battle of Lepanto, witnessed the fall of Tunis and La Goletta, and spent five years as a slave in Algiers before he was ransomed and returned to Madrid.
For this 1969 film adaptation of Cervante's life, composer Les Baxter was hired to capture Cervantes' spirit and adventure in music. The score is composed in the classic Hollywood style…dashing, romantic and filled with movement and orchestral color. Contrary to convention, no clearly defined main theme binds the picture from beginning to end; rather, Baxter’s approach is more freeform, allowing his melodic lines to roam and explore within set boundaries. To convincingly establish Cervantes’ world, this means frequent use of musical modes traditionally associated with Spain and Arabia, such as the Phrygian flourishes that accent moments of dramatic action. Great attention is paid to creating an appropriate musical setting for each of Cevrantes' adventures, resulting in a strong, exotic, colorful work -- the kind of music Les Baxter brilliantly excelled at.
This premiere release features Les Baxters' score in clean mono from the original session masters stored at MGM and is limited to 1200 units.
INTRADA Signature Editions ISE 1039
Retail Price: $19.99
SHIPS 3/16/2010
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.6521/.f