PHASE 4
Bernard Herrmann - The Film Scores On Phase 4 [2021] (7 x CDs)
Bernard Herrmann’s music has a way of entering the bloodstream. It doesn’t decorate a film; it defines its emotional temperature. The Film Scores On Phase 4 gathers a vast sweep of his work, presenting it with clarity that lets you hear how deeply he shaped the sound of twentieth‑century cinema. Across seven discs, the set moves through psychological thrillers, fantasy epics, science‑fiction landmarks, Shakespearean drama and late‑career reflections, revealing a composer whose imagination never stood still.
The Hitchcock material remains astonishing. Psycho still feels like a shockwave, strings slashing, rhythms tightening, tension rising with every cue. Vertigo and North by Northwest show Herrmann’s mastery of melodic suspense, themes that circle and swell like the psychological states they mirror. Marnie adds a different shade, built on sweeping lines that carry both beauty and unease.
Elsewhere, the collection highlights Herrmann’s versatility. Citizen Kane moves between grandeur, nostalgia and fractured memory, its cues shifting like the film’s structure. The fantasy and science‑fiction scores, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, The Day the Earth Stood Still — reveal his gift for orchestral colour, using timbre and rhythm to conjure worlds of wonder, menace and mystery. These pieces feel alive, as if the orchestra itself were a creature moving through the story.
The Shakespearean selections show Herrmann as interpreter rather than composer, conducting Shostakovich, Walton, Rózsa and Bliss with weight and clarity. His reading of Hamlet is sombre and elegant, full of emotional gravity. The British film suites that follow add warmth, charm and a sense of mid‑century craft.
The box closes with Obsession, one of Herrmann’s final scores. Its music is haunting, romantic and filled with the sense of an artist nearing the end of a long, brilliant journey. The cues move between dreamlike beauty and sharp suspense, echoing the qualities that defined his career.
What makes The Film Scores On Phase 4 essential is its scope. It presents Herrmann not just as a composer of iconic moments, but as a master craftsman whose work shaped the emotional language of film. For collectors, it is a definitive archive of his orchestral imagination. For listeners, it is a reminder that Herrmann’s music does more than accompany images, it transforms them, giving cinema its pulse, its shadows and its soul. (B)
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Track lists
CD1
01 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) Prelude 4:25
02 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) The Madhouse 2:04
03 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) The Murder 0:49
04 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) The Water 0:57
05 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) The Swamp 1:52
06 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) The Stairs, the Knife & the Cellar 2:28
07 Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (A Narrative for Orchestra) (1960) Finale 1:53
08 Bernard Herrmann - Marnie (1964) Prelude 4:43
09 Bernard Herrmann - Marnie (1964) Hunting Scene) 5:26
10 Bernard Herrmann - North by Northwest (1959) Overture 3:07
11 Bernard Herrmann - Vertigo (1958) Prelude 2:51
12 Bernard Herrmann - Vertigo (1958) The Nightmare 2:06
13 Bernard Herrmann - Vertigo (1958) Scène d'amour 5:36
14 Bernard Herrmann - A Portrait of "Hitch" (from "The Trouble with Harry") (1955) 8:14
CD2
01 Bernard Herrmann - Jane Eyre (1943) Selections 13:17
02 Bernard Herrmann - The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) Interlude 6:39
03 Bernard Herrmann - The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) The Memory Waltz 4:18
03 Bernard Herrmann - The Snows of Kilimanjaro (1952) The Memory Waltz 4:18
04 Bernard Herrmann - Citizen Kane (1941) Overture 2:47
05 Bernard Herrmann - Citizen Kane (1941) Variations 5:42
06 Bernard Herrmann - Citizen Kane (1941) Ragtime 1:51
07 Bernard Herrmann - Citizen Kane (1941) Finale 3:03
08 Bernard Herrmann - Based on music from "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1941) Sleigh-Ride 1:59
09 Bernard Herrmann - Based on music from "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1941) Swing Your Partners 2:36
CD3
01 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) Mountain Top and Sunrise 2:10
02 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) Prelude 2:04
03 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) The Grotto 1:04
04 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) Salt Slides 2:44
05 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) Atlantis 2:52
06 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) The Giant Chameleon and The Fight 2:02
07 Bernard Herrmann - Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959) The Shaft and Finale 1:58
08 Bernard Herrmann - The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Overture 2:13
09 Bernard Herrmann - The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) The Duel with the Skeleton 2:13
10 Bernard Herrmann - The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Baghdad 3:58
11 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Outer Space 1:58
12 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Radar 2:23
13 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Gort 0:42
14 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) The Robot 1:55
15 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Space Control 1:18
16 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Terror 1:58
17 Bernard Herrmann - The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Farewell and Finale 1:26
18 Bernard Herrmann - Fahrenheit 451 (1966) Prelude 1:39
19 Bernard Herrmann - Fahrenheit 451 (1966) Fire Engine 1:17
20 Bernard Herrmann - Fahrenheit 451 (1966) The Bedroom 1:50
21 Bernard Herrmann - Fahrenheit 451 (1966) Flowers of Fire 1:53
22 Bernard Herrmann - Fahrenheit 451 (1966) The Road and Finale 4:02
CD4
01 Bernard Herrmann - Hamlet Suite, Op. 116a (1964) Introduction 3:23
02 Bernard Herrmann - Hamlet Suite, Op. 116a (1964) Ball at the Palace 3:05
03 Bernard Herrmann - Hamlet Suite, Op. 116a (1964) The Ghost 5:17
04 Bernard Herrmann - Hamlet Suite, Op. 116a (1964) Scene of the Poisoning 4:20
05 Bernard Herrmann - Hamlet Suite, Op. 116a (1964) The Arrival and Scene of the Players 2:51
06 Bernard Herrmann - Hamlet Suite, Op. 116a (1964) The Duel and Death of Hamlet 2:41
07 Bernard Herrmann - Richard III (1955) Prelude 10:00
08 Bernard Herrmann - Julius Caesar - Suite (1953) The Ides of March 3:21
09 Bernard Herrmann - Julius Caesar - Suite (1953) Caesar's Ghost 2:49
10 Bernard Herrmann - Julius Caesar - Suite (1953) Approach of Octavian's Army and Death of Brutus 6:14
CD5
01 Bernard Herrmann - Mysterious Island (1961) Prelude 1:59
02 Bernard Herrmann - Mysterious Island (1961) The Balloon 2:53
03 Bernard Herrmann - Mysterious Island (1961) The Giant Crab 3:36
04 Bernard Herrmann - Mysterious Island (1961) The Giant Bee 2:52
05 Bernard Herrmann - Mysterious Island (1961) The Giant Bird 3:10
06 Bernard Herrmann - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Prelude 2:35
07 Bernard Herrmann - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Talos 2:20
08 Bernard Herrmann - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Talos' Death 2:43
09 Bernard Herrmann - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Triton 3:22
10 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Overture 2:26
11 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Minuetto - Wapping 2:03
12 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Hornpipe 1:19
13 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Lilliputians 1 & 2 3:22
14 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Victory 1 & 2 1:28
15 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Escape 0:40
16 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) The King's March 2:00
17 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Trees 2:24
18 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) The Tightrope 3:02
19 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Lovers 2:53
20 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) The Chess Game 1:25
21 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Pursuit 1:48
22 Bernard Herrmann - The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960) Finale 1:04
CD6
01 Bernard Herrmann - Anna Karenina - Suite (1948) Overture 1:43
02 Bernard Herrmann - Anna Karenina - Suite (1948) Forlane 2:39
03 Bernard Herrmann - Anna Karenina - Suite (1948) Love Scene 2:10
04 Bernard Herrmann - Anna Karenina - Suite (1948) Finale 4:29
05 Bernard Herrmann - Oliver Twist (1948) Fagin's Romp 2:20
06 Bernard Herrmann - Oliver Twist (1948) Finale 4:40
07 Bernard Herrmann - An Ideal Husband (1947) Waltz 4:46
08 Bernard Herrmann - An Ideal Husband (1947) Hyde Park Galop 1:41
09 Bernard Herrmann - Escape Me Never - Suite (1935) Escape Me Never (Ballet) 3:20
10 Bernard Herrmann - The Invaders (1941) 49th Parallel 3:25
11 Bernard Herrmann - Things to Come - Suite (1936) Prologue 2:35
12 Bernard Herrmann - Things to Come - Suite (1936) March 4:42
13 Bernard Herrmann - Things to Come - Suite (1936) Building of the New World 2:08
14 Bernard Herrmann - Things to Come - Suite (1936) Attack on the Moon Gun 1:36
15 Bernard Herrmann - Things to Come - Suite (1936) Epilogue 3:25
CD7
01 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Main Title 1:55
02 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Valse Lente 1:30
03 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Kidnap 2:33
04 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Newsboy 1:44
05 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) The Tape 0:29
06 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) The Ferry 2:44
07 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) The Tomb 1:19
08 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Sandra 6:48
09 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) - The Original Soundtrack Recording (1976) The Church 1:55
10 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Court's Confession 1:52
11 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Bryn Mawr 2:01
12 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) New Orleans 1:01
13 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Wedding 2:34
14 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Court - The Morning After 0:30
15 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Court Signs Papers 1:38
16 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Sandra Finds Briefcase 1:42
17 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Court Arrives at Wharf 0:42
18 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) The Plane 1:04
19 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Court and LaSalle's Struggle 2:29
20 Bernard Herrmann - Obsession (1976) Airport 2:23
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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Hi BB,
ReplyDeletethank you!
Another musician to be discovered -
I didn't know that Hitchcok had a 'favourite' composer for the music of so many of his (famous) movies!
Cheers,
Giulio
Hi Giulio,
DeleteHerrmann really is one of those musicians you keep discovering layer by layer. Hitchcock trusted him, not just for mood, but for the psychological shape of the film itself. Once you realise how many of the director’s most famous movies carry Herrmann’s signature, it opens up a whole new way of hearing them.
It’s a pleasure to share sets like this, where the craft behind the films becomes its own world to explore.
Cheers.
Oh my God, what a fantastic collection! I discovered Hermann's music through these very CDs. They are true treasures. If you aren't familiar with this composer—or only know him a little—dive right in with your eyes closed and your ears wide open! Thanks a million, BB.
ReplyDeleteHi Hervé,
DeleteWhat a beautiful reaction, and I completely understand it. These Phase 4 recordings really are treasures. They open the door to Herrmann’s world in a way that’s immediate and immersive, and it’s wonderful that this very set was your introduction to his music.
Herrmann has that rare ability to make you feel a film before you even see it, and diving into these scores with “eyes closed and ears wide open” is exactly the right approach. Your enthusiasm says it all.
Thanks for sharing that joy.
Cheers.
I've only come lately to appreciate film scores/music so thanks for another addition BB
ReplyDeleteHi Dr Robert,
DeleteIt’s great to hear you’re getting into film music. Once it clicks, it opens up a whole new dimension of listening. Herrmann is one of the best places to explore that world. Every score has its own mood, its own architecture, and this Phase 4 set shows just how much character he could pack into a single cue.
Really glad this added another strong piece to your growing appreciation.
Cheers.