Jerry Goldsmith - Justine (Original Soundtrack Recording) '1969

Tracks list

Justine the movie was based on a classic literary work by Lawrence Durrell,
intended to be one of four novels to be filmed that made up The Alexandria
Quartet. But it wasnt to be and Justines lack of success on the big screen
assured its obscurity with only Jerry Goldsmiths memorable music surviving
amongst film music listeners.

Justine is a potent blend of love, intrigue and politics set against arms
dealing in Egypt. At the storys centre is the beautiful Justine who uses her
power over men to aid her husband into securing arms for Palestine to aid the
Jews. Jerry Goldsmiths score is an exotic blend of ethnic and western
instruments, a score full of eastern promise. At its heart is one of the
composers most delightful main themes for the storys heroine. Here Goldsmith
captures the beauty and mystery of this incredible woman and the power she
exhibits with tranquil strings, recorder and winds. At times sad, at times full
of love, Goldsmith manipulates his melody just like Justine manipulates her men.

The score to Justine remains one of the composers easy listening soundtracks
with near on every cue playing like some refined source piece. From the delicacy
of the opening cue; Alexandria to the Parisian sounding Melissa & Darley, the
Egyptian/Grecian phrases of The Camp, to the frolicking Dance of Death,
Goldsmiths cosmopolitan orchestra is a feast of ethnic and period instruments
with accordion, auto harp, sitar, darbouka, xylophone and electric flute just a
few of the odd delights playing away.

Justine was originally released on LP but featured a re-recording of the score
made by the composer in London. Vareses deluxe CD, includes both the superior
sounding re-recording along with the actual film soundtrack for the first time.
However, even though the sound quality for this rather old score is quite
respectable it fails to have the dynamics or detail of the re-recording. Add to
this, Robert Townsons informative and detailed notes reveal that Goldsmith wrote
additional cues and popularised a couple of score cues to enhance the listening
experience, which he does. Goldsmiths opening arrangement; Justine, along with
the latter cue; The Beach, remain the CD highlights as Goldsmith envelopes his
gorgeous theme with warm and tender strings extracting every ounce of passion
the musicians can muster.

Tracklist:
 01. Jerry Goldsmith - Justine (02:37)
 02. Jerry Goldsmith - The School (03:40)
 03. Jerry Goldsmith - The Farm (03:16)
 04. Jerry Goldsmith - Melissa (01:56)
 05. Jerry Goldsmith - Alexandria (01:39)
 06. Jerry Goldsmith - Carnival Happening (02:37)
 07. Jerry Goldsmith - Melissa & Darley (02:07)
 08. Jerry Goldsmith - Samba Chica (01:48)
 09. Jerry Goldsmith - The Beach (02:56)
 10. Jerry Goldsmith - The Telescope (01:51)
 11. Jerry Goldsmith - Ambush (01:17)
 12. Jerry Goldsmith - End Titles (02:37)

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