COBWEB, The/ EDGE OF THE CITY

This CD presents two M-G-M scores from Rosenman's early years. The Cobweb (1955) was Rosenman's second assignment and the first serial score written for film, in which he famously used the twelve-tone technique of one of his teachers, Arnold Schoenberg. Rosenman's avant garde writing accompanies a Vincent Minnelli/John Houseman film about a mental institution -- not a horror film, but a character drama where the problems of the patients are dwarfed by those of the staff. Rosenman's symphonic score evokes the inner neuroses of the characters with chamber-like colors and atonal counterpoint.

Edge of the City (1957) was a black-and-white film directed by Martin Ritt, based on a television play exploring corruption on the docks of New York City. John Cassavetes plays an army deserter who must learn that A MAN STANDS TEN FEET TALL (the television title) when he stands up to a corrupt boss to avenge his friend (Sidney Poitier). Rosenman's brief score features a thrilling, march-like main title in addition to his trademark atonal writing.

The Cobweb and Edge of the City were previously released on a monaural M-G-M Records LP. This premiere CD features the same 14:33 presentation of Edge of the City, reconstructed from the 17.5mm scoring masters and 1/4' album master (the film's master tapes are in mono), and the complete 36:41 score to The Cobweb, remixed in stereo. Edge of the City is presented first, as it was on the LP.
* Excerpt from FILM SCORE MONTHLY

Edge of the City
Conducted by Leonard Rosenman

Edge of the City (Main Title) 3:12
Love in the City 3:07
The City at Night 3:26
Violence in the City 2:07
Life and Death in the City 2:27
Total Time: 14:33

The Cobweb
Conducted by John Green

Main Title (The Cobweb) 3:47
Holcomb's Episode/Drape Trouble Began 3:15
Stevie's Analysis/Drawing 3:27
Cafeteria Scene/Sue's Secret 1:59
McIver's Fight/McIver and Son/McIver Fight End (Escape From the Cobweb) 3:11
Steve's First Violence/Stevie Apologizes/Stevie and Sue in Theater/Bang Scene 3:33
Karen Acts/Stevie and Sue's Goodnight (Caverns of the Brain) 3:55
Drapes Are Hung/Stevie Disappears/McIver Tears Down Drapes 2:50
Meg Leaves Stewart 4:35
Stevie's Return and End Title (Return to Reality)/End Cast 4:41
End Title/End Cast (alternate) 1:06

Total Time: 36:41
Total Disc Time: 51:14