And The World Was God/Trumpets Announce The Dawn/The Three Magi
The Nativity/The Infant Massacre
Flight Into Egypt
Ophel Quarters
Hosanna
I Will Make You Fishers Of Men
Lillies Of The Field
Jerusalem, Jerusalem/Jesus On Lazarus' Porch/Matthew The Tax Collector
Rise And You Shall Walk
Misty Night/Triumphant Return To Capernaum
Who Do Men Say That I Am?
Jesus And His Mother
Jesus Leaves Nazareth
Prayer By The Jordan
Lazarus, Come Forth
Track Listings (7) - Disc #3
Entre'act
Judas And Caiaphas/Judas Leaves Caiaphas
Garden Of Gethsemane/Aram, The First Witness
I Am the Son Of God/Jesus Before Pilate/Crown Of Thorns
Via Dolorosa
Resurrection And Ascension
Exit Music
Soundtracks to the life and death of Christ have always been a mixed bag, but Alfred Newman had at least set the dramatic parameters by composing music for previous Biblical films. This is among Newman's last underscores, ... more »which he wrote under ailing health and much production pressure. Like its subject, it is grand, somber, ceremonial, but at times so epic that it is off-putting. The sheer size of this carefully assembled collection--three discs--can also make it dull to listeners who are anything but ardent film-music scholars or rigid fetishists. Not much loud fanfare here; instead a more gentle adoration. It is a classically Hollywood string sweep with flutes and harps as well as a noticeable nod to Samuel Barber's "Adagio" on the "Jesus of Nazareth" theme. --Joseph Lanza« less
Soundtracks to the life and death of Christ have always been a mixed bag, but Alfred Newman had at least set the dramatic parameters by composing music for previous Biblical films. This is among Newman's last underscores, which he wrote under ailing health and much production pressure. Like its subject, it is grand, somber, ceremonial, but at times so epic that it is off-putting. The sheer size of this carefully assembled collection--three discs--can also make it dull to listeners who are anything but ardent film-music scholars or rigid fetishists. Not much loud fanfare here; instead a more gentle adoration. It is a classically Hollywood string sweep with flutes and harps as well as a noticeable nod to Samuel Barber's "Adagio" on the "Jesus of Nazareth" theme. --Joseph Lanza
"I was at first apprehensive to buy this set, as I own the original LP, which -as beautiful as it is- is a re-recording in mono. This set I feared would just be a polished digital version of that LP, augmented with some laserdisc/DVD-soundtrack derived cues (people who own a copy of the ALdebaran Productions 3+ hours soundtrack CD set of Ben-Hur will know what I'm talking about: it's very disconcerting to have a sudden stereo-to mono shift in mid-track...not to mention truly barbaric fade-outs, cut-ins and cut-offs...and I also paid a LOT of money for THAT one).However, I was pursuaded by the review below to try this set anyway, and OH MY GOD! It's worth EVERY PENNY! It contains not only the originally released soundtrack (the afore-mentioned re-recording) in glorious stereophonic sound, but two (TWO!) discs containing the original movie soundtrack cuts never ever heard before (as far as I know). These were apparently saved by famous Hollywood choral director Ken Darby (a long-time associate and friend of Alfred Newman) and God bless him for it!.The tracks have been lovingly rearranged in a symphonic segue in brilliant stereo sound. This collection gives a great insight in the original intention of Newman as the tracks flow flawlessly one into another to create an amazing musical tapestry of introspection and quiet grandeur, far more a unity than in the original release. That this quiet power comes off so clearly is even more remarkable considering the movie itself (in my opinion) is gargantuan and patchy at best. Newman's score (by far the best part of it) is in complete and utter juxtaposition to it.(Collector's note: compare this score to Miklos Rozsa's 'King Of Kings' -unfortunately not (yet?) available through Amazon- for a completely different, musical as well as spiritual, take on Jesus)A lovely last surprise: this set is a multimedia project: it even contains the original movie trailer! If this isn't getting your money's worth, I don't know what is.Highly, HIGHLY recommended."
THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD
Carlos Eduardo Da Silva | Zurich Switzerland | 11/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Recently I discovered a rare motion picture score of a long forgotten monumental film "THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD".
I don`t know if the movie is still "being show on tv circuits" nowadays. The film soundtrack however unfortunately is no longer available, only in certain antique shops perhaps. What fascinates me here is the breathtaking way the composer illustrates each scene so brilliantly. As if one could actually see what happens on the screen. Close your eyes, listen to the sound and you actually can "see" "THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD"
A masterpiece by Alfred Newman"
SIMPLY PUT
gary sturrock | dayton, Virginia United States | 03/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"SIMPLY PUT......IT IS THE BEST OF THE BEST!!..SIT BACK,TURN THE LIGHTS DOWN,PUT ON THE HEADPHONES AND I PROMISE YOU,...YOU WILL FIND A PEACE THAT YOU COULD NOT FIND ELSEWHERE!!...SIMPLY PUT..."
PEERLESS
G. A. | California | 04/10/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the most lyrically soaring soundtracks a film composer has ever brought out, The Greatest Story Ever Told belongs in a class of its own.After almost forty years, Alfred Newman's masterwork retains all of its beauty and majesty. I think it is possibly the finest music the movies have ever produced.HIGHLY recommended."