Wings/Zamecnik arr. by Dominik Hauser
December 15, 2012
LIMITED EDITION OF 2000 UNITS #LLLCD 1206
To help celebrate Paramount’s 100th anniversary WINGS, the very first best picture Oscar, was given the royal restoration treatment including the J.S Zamecnik material written specifically for the film. J.S. Zamecnik (1872-1953), who studied under Anton Dvorak, not only used original material but music from Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Sousa, DeFrancesco, Verdi and others for this project. The source music was absolutely necessary for the time period of this film.
Having had the opportunity to discuss the process with Gregg Nestor who was responsible for the music preparation, I learned what a labor of love this project turned out to be for Jeannie Gayle Pool, Dominik Hauser and La-La Land Records. What seemed to be a synthesized sounding recording to this reviewer’s ear, one that I almost put it into the pile of one and done CD’s, has turned out to be a real gem for me upon repeated listens. It is a mixture of live recordings as well as MIDI tracks which were edited to incorporate live and synthesized.
Filmed with assistance from the War Department, who supplied over 200 planes with Army airmen, the film cost a staggering 2 million dollars but the result was a runaway release for two years in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles in addition to a touring roadshow production. The sound effects and aerial battle scenes were used for years and years by Paramount which contributed in helping to recoup losses.
Highlights include the overture which consists of the main title, a theme with shimmering strings which builds to a crescendo and introduces the love theme an uplifting melody which is light and airy. The military theme takes front and center and the track concludes with the love theme which you’ll hear several times during the listening of this CD. You’ll also hear the main title as well as the theme for Mary and Jack. “A Small Town” is a very typical sounding silent theme which is being played to daydreaming Jack and the flirtatious Mary who has a crush on Jack but he is oblivious to her feelings. “In Military Camp” is a comical cue using Little Brown Jug, which also mixes in the patriotic Star Spangled Banner. One of the more popular classical compositions used by Hollywood is Franz Liszt’s Les Preludes which is used as a battle is going on. Frederick Hodges performs ragtime and classical piano in a nice compilation of melodies as Mary confides in Celeste, a restroom attendant, from the film.
Would this release have benefited from the use of a full classical symphony orchestra? As a CD listening experience I would say yes without reservation. However, silent films used pit orchestras and these ensembles are certainly not in the 100 piece size, far from it. It needed the smaller ensemble to achieve the right kind of sound for the restoration of the picture. Perhaps at some point there will be another release for CD with a large orchestra giving the sound full impact to the listener. As you give this recording repeated listens you’ll come to appreciate the combination of live orchestra and sound samples. The liner notes were written by the producer of the project Jeannie Gayle Pool and she provides inside information of what was necessary to bring this restoration forward. Recommended.
Track listing
Total Duration: 01:15:26 |
Film and Classical Music: Neglected Art 