Score Digger presents BERNARD HERRMANN's 1975 own recording of FOR THE FALLEN (A Berceuse)

A Human Tragedy. A few days ago, terrifying news revealed that in a three months period, the Covid19 pandemic caused more deaths of americans in their own territory than three years of conflict abroad during World War II… and its lethal activity is still growing, attacking every human being without any distinction of age, health or social condition. The enemy is terrifying! It is hiding behind the smiling face of a neighbor, a friend, a relative… even a member of the family. The virus has no flag, no religion, no belief nor empathy! His best allies are arrogance, stupidity and selfishness! Can someone imagine worst nightmare? Even LARRY COHEN (1936-2019), in his most paranoid stories, wouldn't have imagined a world as the one we now daily deal with… 1943, in the consuming heart of the second World War, BERNARD HERRMANN (1911-1975) wrote a concert piece to honor the memory of the soldiers who paid with their lives fighting far from home. Completed the 6th of November 1943 and first performed the following month, the work is solemnly entitled "FOR THE FALLEN" (A Berceuse). This heartbreaking orchestral lullaby is charged with all the pain and sincerity of the composer. Meaningfully, the mourning theme is first exposed by the bassoon, an instrument often representing old-age and wisdom, a reminder of long-gone memories of lost peaceful times. Rarely has BERNARD HERRMANN been so straight fully harrowing. "FOR THE FALLEN" is the epitome of symphonic dirge, the ultimate "lamento". The recording I chose is the version beautifully conducted by BERNARD HERRMANN himself, with the National Philharmonic Orchestra recorded at St. Giles Church in London during a single session that took place on a sunny afternoon, the 26th of June 1975; just six months before his passing (the night following TAXI DRIVER final sessions on the 24th of December 1975), and a few weeks before the recording by the same ensemble and in the same location for BRIAN DE PALMA's masterpiece "OBSESSION", some consider as the composer's premonitory requiem. BOB AUGER was the engineer for this program posthumously released on LP by Unicorn-Kanchana in 1976. I wish to celebrate the pure GENIUS of BERNARD HERRMANN (also composer of NIGHT DIGGER… an obvious inspiration) whose career has embraced the quintessence of film's History from his first feature, ORSON WELLES' CITIZEN KANE in 1941, to his last, MARTIN SCORSESE'S TAXI DRIVER in 1976; two emblematic portraits of shattered individuals (one obscenely rich and powerful, the other precariously surviving… ) victims of kindred egomaniac neurotic frustration. Both musical and cinematic masterworks are, in my opinion, the Alpha and the Omega of 7th Art. They deliver a cruel statement of the human condition. None other than BERNARD HERRMANN would ever had been able to musically explore, with such strength and accuracy, the turmoils of human soul. Score Digger P.S.: Considering the strongly "cinematic" tone of this concert work, I decided to make an exception in including this "non-film music" selection. My audio source is the Unicorn-Kanchana Souvenir Series 1993 CD release. It originally presented very few minor imperfections that I have carefully restored, offering an improved musical experience for whoever will discover this wonderful recording. Get and read the amazing BERNARD HERRMANN biography written in 1991 by STEVEN C. SMITH: A HEART AT FIRE'S CENTER, THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF BERNARD HERRMANN (University of California Press Berkeley 94720). The best book ever written about a film composer and his work.