Intrada Soundtrack Forum

INTRADA
Announces:



CROMWELL
Composed and Conducted by FRANK CORDELL
INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 228


In 1970, following the lead of their popular 1968 soundtrack for Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, Capitol issued a 51-minute soundtrack LP of dialogue highlights from Columbia's Cromwell. Other than mere snippets of music contained within the dialogue tracks on Capitol’s album, Cordell’s dynamic and powerful score was never singled out for its own release. Now Intrada presents a 2-CD set containing the premiere of the complete original score in magnificent stereo on one disc and the original LP presentation on the second. Source masters for the scoring sessions were numerous ¼˝ 7½ ips two-track rolls of tape, stored for 40-plus years in the EMI Capitol vaults.

Cordell’s score was actually much longer than what appeared in the 140-minute picture. Not only had he composed “Overture” and “Intermission” sequences, but also several sequences subsequently dropped from the final production. These are all included on the CD. The original film structure places the action in the first half of the movie, with exciting sequences of soldiers and battle, all leading to the end of Act I. The second half stresses verbal confrontations between the two protagonists, the lengthy trial and the execution of King Charles. As such, Cordell necessarily puts his fanfares and battle music in the first half, and then writes more deliberate, involved dramatic underscoring for the second half.

The film opens in 1640. Oliver Cromwell (Richard Harris), a disillusioned Puritan farmer and former parliamentarian, plans to leave for America. Friends persuade him to return to Parliament and fight the flagrant disregard of justice displayed by King Charles I (Alec Guinness). Urged on by his queen (Dorothy Tutin) and Lord Strafford (Patrick Wymark), Charles demands money from Parliament to finance his war against Scottish rebels, but the assembly agrees only on condition that the king acknowledges their power. They also call for the execution of Strafford. The king complies, but later regrets his decision and sends soldiers to shut down Parliament. This confrontation leads to civil war.

INTRADA Special Collection Vol. 228
Retail Price: $24.99
Available Now
For track listing and sound samples, please visit
http://store.intrada.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7957/.f

Sounds great; you've sold me on this one. I'm not too crazy about the inclusion of the dialogue album, but I suppose I would have no business buying soundtracks if I couldn't swing the $5 incurred by including it. That, and it is wonderful when long missing elements show up.

Now this is the way to start off the new year! Excellent release! Thanks to all involved for this one. It just goes to show that you never know what might eventually get "found".

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Chris

I don't own any of this fellow's work but those clips... Wow! Absolutely ordered, along with my man Jerry. Great pair of releases!

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Randy Wilson
Dallas, TX

Doug/Roger,

The main post of this thread states the price is $19.99, yet the Store Page linked to from the main post states the price is $24.99. Which is the real price?

Sounds *pretty* intriguing. I'm very pleased with the inclusion of the LP program so all in all: Thanks, Intrada!

Thanks Roger!

Thank you for this release! I have been waiting for this one since ages! YOU ARE DEFINITELY THE BEST!!!
(Well, if the new year starts with such an awesome release - what else may come.... any hope for the original EL CID score???)

Flight from Ashiya blew me away by complete surprise, so this is an automatic buy for me.

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HOLY GRAILS
Twice Upon a Time
Rock & Rule
Sunbow/Marvel cartoon scores (Johnny Douglas)
The Big Picture
Blame It on Rio
An American Werewolf in London/Thriller
The Last Boy Scout
My Science Project
A Brief History of Time
Troy (Yared)
The Withces

I just wanted to mention that I am very pleased with this release. The cues that showcase Cordell's more avant-garde side are just as enjoyable as his conventional, but exciting battle music.

This and FSM's release of Cordell's Khartoum/Mosquito Squadron are most worthy presentations of important scores.