Search - Jerry Goldsmith, National Philharmonic Orchestra :: Legend (Original Soundtrack Recording)

"Goldsmith's 1985 score of LEGEND is Brilliant!"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 05/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, all I can say is "it's about time" ~ one of Jerry Goldsmith's musical journey scores takes us to a land of Faerie's, Goblins and Unicorns ~ right up to the Dark Lord (Tim Curry) face to face. Silva America, with the help of Mike Ross-Trevor (recording engineer) and James Fitzpatrick (producer) has taken pieces from here and there for a complete (with all the additional material included) cues that will bring back the true powers of light and darkness,
are we ready for this? Just in time for the releasing of "LEGEND" on DVD(5/21), which will contain both versions of music (American and European)from the film.. We have the score that was destined to be heard by fans of this cult favorite. Jerry Goldsmith is no stranger to fantasy, adventure and folklore. He captures a darker mythology tone within each cue, keeping in mind the director Ridley Scott's film theme is of the conflict between darkness and light. Giving life to each character are the players ~ Jack (Tom Cruise), Lili (Mia Sara), Honeythorn Gump (David Bennent), Blix (Alice Playten), Screwball (Billy Barty) and played to the hilt The Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry), very convincing I might add. From the opening cue, Goldsmith's score has got you hook, line and sinker ~ and he's reeling you in to enjoy the entire course. Guaranteed to appease the appetite of all "film-score-buffs" today, tomorrow and days to come. The main theme "MY TRUE LOVE'S EYES"(Lili's Song), is throughout the soundtrack, with interwoven sounds of brass and percussion, blends of trumpet signal danger, strings spreading the forest of green foliage. Anyone who has ever seen the film will without a doubt, visualize the story as it unfolds with Goldsmith composing each cue with love and care. My stand out picks are ~ "SING THE WEE"..."FAEIRE DANCE"..."THE DRESS WALTZ", as The National Philharmonic Orchestra rolling up their sleeves with arrangements and an unforgettable performance, that sends the listener into a realm of "pure fantasy", they have only dreamed of. The highlight of the score has to be "REUNITED(End Title)", our composer reaches into his black bag of magic and the spell is cast. All film music tries to take the audience and place them within each character or the plot, well music connoisseurs of the world(film-score-buffs)...Goldsmith has done it again! Total Time: 70:57 on 14 Tracks ~ Silva America SSD-1138 ~ (2002)"

The Stuff Of LEGEND.

Michael F. Hopkins | Buffalo, NY USA | 10/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over the years, I've come to respect the theatrical release of

Ridley Scott's LEGEND, even though it was clear that the film

had been corporately tampered with. The integrity of Scott, his

cast and crew was so powerful that even a version as truncated

as the mid-1980s release proved to be a grand piece of Fantasy

brought to film.

Just how butchered LEGEND had been, however, becomes crystal

clear with two relatively recent revelations. The first, of

course, is the double DVD set, releasing the U.S. Theatrical

release along with the long-awaited fully-restored complete

LEGEND as Scott filmed it. Where the American release is

cute and jingly (especially at its climax), Scott's original

is far moodier and, in its play upon absolutes, stirs a

far murkier blend with striking ambiguities, and

a radiant upholding of the deepest values at all costs,

against all odds. As such, it embraces the heart of true

fairy tale and folklore far more than vested studio

interests, whose greater concern was with dumbing-down

the film for Pop-minded U.S. audiences.



Which brings me to the second revelation. I happen to be

fond of TANGERINE DREAM. They make solid esoteric music.

In particular, the best work of DREAM co-founder Christopher

Franke is epic and innovative, especially when one hears

the grand blend of electronic/symphonic music he's prepared

for BABYLON 5 over the years.

Yet the score DREAM composed for LEGEND never seemed to fit,

coming off as a misty-colored New Age quencher, serving

to dilute an effort which needed a strong brew of Folk

and/or Classical composition. The outright Pop/Rock voicings

of Bryan Ferry and Jon Anderson (as nice as the tunes might

be by themselves) are even more ill-fitting and obtrusive

to this obviously period presentation.



In more recent years, it became known that acclaimed

composer Jerry Goldsmith had composed the original

score for LEGEND, and that this score had been among

the greatest victims of iron-fisted studio ineptitude.

For years, that score had been released only in

portions on CD. Only in 2002 did Silva right a

tremendous wrong, and issue Goldsmith's complete

soundtrack on disc for all to hear.

What a feast for the ears! A compelling tableau of

expressionist vision and impressionistic focus, the

symphonic wonder is abetted by just the right touch

of electronic instrumentation to evoke the awe of

the unknown, along with a stunning use of voice and

choir to touch the soul. This is music to conjure

woodland muse and twilight wonder, summoning both

the rainbow and the thunder.

Those who loved Goldsmith's imaginative scores for

the NEXT GENERATION trilogy of TREK films will be

floored by the power, passion, and pure beauty

to be found here.



Putting one in mind of the water music of Debussy,

and the ethereal rhapsodies of Auric (composer for

Jean Cocteau's classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST),

LEGEND's true score is a landmark in the lifeworks

of a great American composer. LEGEND is yet

another sterling example of Goldsmith's importance

(along with John Williams) in bridging the gap

between founders of the film score such as Herrmann

and Korngold, and the newer breed of film scorist

such as Elfman, Shore, and Horner.



Best of all, Goldsmith's music captivates serious

attention, and is just as delightful to experience

by itself as it is a perfect fit for a now-complete

film which is, along with BLADE RUNNER and

GLADIATOR, a signature statement from a fine

director.



Listen, here, to the work of a true LEGEND.



"

Not the soundtrack of the "American version" of Legend

EquesNiger | Prague, Czech Republic | 05/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Goldsmith's soundtrack is excellent, but is more orchestral, (like his contemporaries, John Williams or Howard Shore). It is sweeping, epic and engrossing, but viewers of the American release of Legend in 1985 will no doubt be disappointed, since the soundtrack to THAT film was composed by Tangerine Dream (and is currently, as of this writing, unavailable for purchase). Why a decision was taken to have two scores for the same film, using one in the UK/European release, and another in the US release, is a mystery. However, if you are searching for the haunting, evocative and almost eerie version you will hear accompanying the DVD currently for sale by Amazon, this is not the CD you are looking for."