Bob Hertz's Music Festival

MOVIE SCORES….

1. Cavatina….score of The Deer Hunter

I remember sitting in the back row of a small movie house at the end of Deer Hunter, and crying my eyes out at this piece. It somehow evokes all the aspirations of each main character in the movie – and the terrible disappointments for each and every one of them. There were so many tragedies in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, we forget them so easily.

2. The Big Combo, title sequence by David Raskin

For me this is a marvelous, unknown musical achievement…incredibly evocative.

3. Godfather theme, orchestral suite

I found this rendition thrilling, but then I found the movie thrilling also. This is a lavish orchestral production, with superb solos by key instruments and even a chorus.

4. Badlands theme, by Carl Orff

When I watch this movie, I am transported to 1959…..and it feels great.

5. Days of Heaven, by Enrico Morricone

6. Farewell My Lovely, opening score by David Shire

I walked into a movie theater showing this film in 1974, and when I heard the score I was hooked on film noir.

7.. Someone To Watch Over Me……Jean Louise Kelly, in Mr Holland’s Opus

The whole movie is fantastic. Almost everybody watching cries nonstop the last half hour. When Jean Louise Kelly sings “I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the woods,” it’s all over!

POPULAR SONGS… WITH A SOULFUL TOUCH

8. Walk On By….Dionne Warwick, composed by Bert Bachrach

Captures the sadness of a love affair gone bad — a girl puts in her all but is heartbroken……

9. I Say A Little Prayer for You…. Aretha Franklin, composed by Bert Bachrach

I heard an amateur sing this in a local musical last year, and it still knocked me out.

The chorus in this version is a little loud, but when Aretha hits the melody it is golden.

10. Today I Started Loving You Again……Merle Haggard and Tammy Wynette

Tammy is a real “belter,” which for me is a compliment. (Barbra Streisand would say “beltuh”…)

11. What Am I Going to Do With the Rest of my Life……Merle Haggard

There is a white man’s blues, and Merle is the best at it. This rendition has about three minutes of instrumentals at the end, not as much singing as I would like.

12. Crazy….Patsy Cline

This song was actually written by Willie Nelson. Patsy’s voice is really haunting; I always feel sorry for the women in country-western music.

13. I Heard It Through the Grapevine……Gladys Knight and the Pips

The song is great, but the setting is what kills it for me. The Pips are performing for charity in 1970 in a ward for Vietnam-wounded patients. Watch the end of the clip, when the Pips go out in perfect style.