Your First Colonel Bogey March

 

Mine was from 1961.

The first time I heard the famous Colonel Bogey March wasn't from Bridge on the River Kwai. Instead, it was in The Parent Trap four years later - - -

Yes, the Haley Mills one.

Of course, Malcolm Arnold didn't write that March; he composed The River Kwai March. But if his fame as a composer rose in association with that music, who would pass up the chance for such publicity?

As to the recording at hand, five film scores are laid out for the listener. Actually, I should use the term concert suites, as these are not complete scores, nor do they contain the original soundtrack. Instead, Christopher Palmer has taken the most famous tunes and music sequences from these films, and arranged them into 15-30 minute suites with three to five movements afforded each. A modern-day LSO tackles the music in big Chandos sonics.

There is a lot of variety across these five films - military action, sweltering romance, exotic adventure, and low-brow comedy to account for every taste, and makes for a thrilling listening experience. Plus, universal melodies exist in the form of the Christmas carol We Three Kings (in a gypsy, dance-hall style!) and the nursery tune This Old Man, in addition to the aforementioned Colonel Bogey March.

The meatiest music comes from the three main features The Bridge on the River Kwai with its atmospheric jungle locale, Hobson's Choice in its bright comedy music, and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness' excellent London Prelude. The shorter Rhapsody from The Sound Barrier is a lot of brassy, timpani-laden fun too.

My only problem is with Whistle Down the Wind's rather monothematic layout, even if it is an absolute hoot to hear the music set in a lounge-act style, something I thought I would never hear from this British performing crew. As to the constantly repeating musical theme of Whistle, I simply get tired of hearing the same thing over and over again, no matter how many musical settings it receives, making its short 9 minutes nearly interminable.

However, I have no problem with the London Symphony Orchestra led by Sir Richard Hickox who make Arnold's music sound like magic. The orchestra provides a lush, colorful palate for the film suites, far from what I assume the scrappy original soundtrack would sound like. Hickox was always a dedicated Malcolm Arnold devotee in the concert hall. The conductor seems to relish the composer's populous music here without making the scores indifferently lightweight nor mere runthroughs. Unfortunately, as Volume 2 (BLOG) rolled around, Hickox and the LSO was substituted by Rumon Gamba with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the latter taking the lead in the Chandos film series.

The Chandos Movies Series officially began in the year 2000. This Arnold recording actually came out in 1992, well before that series was even a glint in Chandos' eye, followed by another film album dedicated to the composer William Alwyn in 1993, also with Hickox at the podium. When Chandos began their Film Series proper at the turn of the century, the Arnold and Alwyn recordings were both reissued at that time.

 

 

 

Works
Bridge on the River Kwai (28.58)
Whistle Down the Wind (9.04)
The Sound Barrier: Rhapsody (8.10)
Hobson's Choice (16.42)
Inn of the Sixth Happiness (14.08)

Performers
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 1992; 2000
Total Timing: 77.35

 

 

 

 

If you don't mind dipping your toe into film music, Malcolm Arnold won't disappoint.

Hickox and the LSO are great advocates in this music. Too bad we didn't get more from them.