Music in black and white. Such is defined Bernard Herrmann his absolutely basic score for Psycho (1960), one of the greatest masterpieces of Alfred Hitchcock. His portentous ability for the harmonic and timber managing, especially memorable in this work composed for a great string orchestra (always in mute, except in the utterly famous scene of the assassination in the shower, The Murder, on the verge of not to exist in the movie by initial decision of the English director), and the peculiar reached sound, made of this music not only one of the most important works of the History of Film Music as gender, but reference of future authors and musical-theatrical gestures. A double celebration occasion if, as is the case, is offered to us, for the first time, the whole of the forty cues composed by Herrmann, many of them never available on record; furthermore, the version of the also composer Joel McNeely -who has recorded, for this same collection, the score composed by Herrmann for Torn Curtain, regrettably rejected by Hitchcock- at the baton of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is excellent, maintaining the original tempi of the own composer such and as can be listened during the film, and the sound is spectacular and stupendously compensated thanks to the labor of producer Robert Townson. Excellent, also, the presentation of the disk, with a succeeded analysis by Kevin Mulhall. What more it can be requested?.

PSYCHO (1960) - 60:53
Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Conductor: Joel McNeely
VARESE SARABANDE VSD-5765 / 61'

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