Psycho: The Complete Original Motion Picture Score

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Music reviews of Psycho: The Complete Original Motion Picture Score

Music Review: Finally Free Of The Fruit Cellar
Rating: 5 Stars

The 1975 Unicorn-Kanchana recording, conducted by
Bernard Herrmann, (the 1989 cd is a VERY difficult
import to acquire) has been the definitive version of
the entire soundtrack -- until this 1997 recording.

Much as I respect many of Danny Elfman's original scores -
particularly Dolores Claiborne, Black Beauty, Mars Attacks
and even the amusing MIB II prelude - his treatment of
Herrmann's masterpiece is only a nice try.

With all that out of the way, and after considerable time
spent comparing the recording Herrmann finally had the
opportunity to make shortly before he died, (which I have
been listening to regularly for over 25 years) with McNeely's
version which I have been avoiding for a few years, my advice:

This is now the definitive version and will likely remain
so for decades. Barring a much needed remastering of the
Naional Philharmonic-Herrmann cd, you will NEVER hear this
score, which is simply one of the finest musical compositions
of the 20th century, the way it must be heard.
Depth, clarity and separation between the various strings -
particularly the celli and basses - is exceptional. Like
listening to the music for the first time! The prelude has
most - though not quite enough - of its frenzy back. The
two missing cues are very interesting and most welcome.
There is a nice inversion at the start of The Window which
makes it more interesting. Every track is engineered impeccably,
with a nice sustain and ring-off to the strings just the way
it ought to be. Originally I found certain cues, like The City,
The Curtain, and even The Water uninspired, too measured and
lacking spirit. Likewise, I still find Herrmann's conducting
usually has more of the flow and flavor of the music's essence
which McNeely sometimes seems to lose track of. However, the

overall dedication to craft and total respect for the quality
of this score is perfectly obvious. I regret having waited so
long to purchase this recording.

Lastly: The liner notes, though decent, really deserved to be
more detailed and technical. You can hear maestro Herrmann
doing such simple yet sublimely subtle things with his score
now, and it would have been so helpful for us non-musicians
if there had come included a bit more explanation as to what
compositional elements they are.
And why not have a companion video recording of this
recording session?
Now THAT would finally free Herrmann's masterpiece even more
from its neglected past!

Description of Psycho: The Complete Original Motion Picture Score

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