The Fred Karlin Collection, Volume 1
Label: Reel Music
Catalogue No: RMFK5701
Release Date: 1995
Total Duration: 73:40
UPN:
Among recent composer collections from specialized and promotional labels is this notable Fred Karlin CD. Another underappreciated composer, Karlin’s work has graced screen and tube since 1967, and has included several excellent works. Karlin also authored two major texts on film music appreciation. This CD, rather than collecting brief excerpts from a wide range of films, includes near complete scores from three television films, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN, VAMPIRE and INSIDE THE THIRD REICH.
JANE PITTMAN (1974) is pure Americana. Opening with very period-sounding, tuneful march for the Confederate soldiers, Karlin counterpoints with a sorrowful, intimate violin soliloquy for the slaves, accentuated by the clanking of chains embellished onto the rhythm. ‘River Scene’ is about as Americana as you can get, a pure traditional banjo and fiddle and winds piece that perfectly sums up the excitement of the old West. ‘The Dye Plantation’ is a short, bluesy cue for harmonica, acoustic guitar and muted horns. The rest of the store moseys on in similar fashion; very folksy, very Americana, acoustic guitars, harmonica, banjos, fiddles ‘To Clyde Ranch’ is an excellent example, moving from one jaunty tune to more somber tonalities.
The music for VAMPIRE is full of somber, brooding, malevolent atmospheres of evil. This stylish 1979 TV horror film starred Richard Lynch as a high class vampiric art collector, a film that was quickly forgotten when the more earthy SALEM’S LOT was broadcast a month later. Built around a theme for string and brass accentuated by oboe, electric harpsichord and electric violin, this well-colored score is an excellent one, moodier and more deliberate than most TV -movie scores of the day. ‘Vampire Released’ is a very good cue, menacing tendrils of violin spiralling out of a froth of harpsichord, piano and low bass chords. ‘Research Montage’ takes the hitherto quiet and subdued main theme and launches it through a surge of strident violin notes over pounded harpsichord and percussion into a rhythmic pursuit of danger. ‘Find Vampire’ contains innumerable variations on the main theme and this same pursuit music during its nearly 4-minute length, powerful violin strokes over low rumbling harpsichord and piano, percussion and bass, a well-colored and well-integrated cue. ‘End Scene’ carries the style through to a relieved crescendo.
INSIDE THE THIRD REICH (1982), a semi-documentary based on Albert Speer’s autobiography, is mildly militaristic, though more somber and dismal in tonality, underscoring this story of Hitler’s intimates with disquieting music. ‘Nightmare’, though, gets positively lush near its end, when the relentless, high-register violin notes give way to buoyant strings melodies. ‘Champagne’ is a likewise uplifting cue, a pretty theme for violins. ‘Works Montage’ is a very effective cue, richly orchestrated for trumpets over percussion, heraldic and dynamic in style and texture. ‘Snow/ Mountains’ is likewise effective, dynamic travelogue music. Much of the rest of the score is pessimistic, secretive, tempted to reveal the dark nature of Speer’s personality.
Three noteworthy scores from an underrated composer – a most welcome CD, attractively put together with a 12-page booklet featuring photos and descriptive notes about Karlin and the three scores here represented.
Randall D. Larson – Originally published in Soundtrack Magazine Vol.14 / No.54 / 1995
