Caldera Records proudly presents David Shire's unused score for the 1970s classic "Kramer vs. Kramer."
The late 1970s were hectic for David Shire professionally and stressful in his personal life. He and his wife, Talia Shire, separated, and it was while going through divorce proceedings that he was asked by producer Stanley Jaffe to write the original music for "Kramer vs. Kramer," a film that deals in excruciating detail with the pain and horror of a relationship coming to an end and a son getting lost in the ensuing divorce battle. Yet the composer was apprehensive, as he says: "I told the producer that I thought the picture was great and obviously moved me. But I thought that a score would actually harm the film by pushing the drama over the top. I told him I would try anyway."
Shire developed a score for strings, woodwinds, and brass. He carefully spotted the film: there would be long stretches without music. Silence was meant to convey the characters' isolation. Still, during test screenings, audiences and the producer found that the music pushed the film over the edge. Jaffe removed piece after piece. David Shire's instinct had been correct. His score was not used.
One year before his experience on "Kramer vs. Kramer," Shire had been nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his musical contribution to the celebrated television film "The Defection of Simas Kudirka." It is one of his proudest achievements, and for good reason: he developed an outstanding theme for the titular young man that elaborately captures his charm (sometimes bordering on naivety), and which Shire weaves in and out of the score. There are shades of that melody even in the more tense, dissonant suspense pieces that underscore the threat posed by the KGB.
Five years later, in 1982, Shire was hired to provide the score for "The World According to Garp," an adaptation of John Irving's bestselling quasi-Bildungsroman. It was one of the first prominent big screen roles for Robin Williams and his first dramatic role, one that required him to show his full emotional range. It is difficult for any composer to find just the right tonal balance for a film that veers between satire, romance, tragedy and broad comedy, with dream sequences interspersed throughout. David Shire managed to find the balance, though: his music being a complex, intricate composition that plays with the conventions of both diegetic and non-diegetic soundtracks throughout.
We are grateful to Warner Bros. for allowing us to release over 20 minutes of the latter score.
The 70th CD-release of Caldera Records features a detailed booklet text by Stephan Eicke and elegant artwork by Luis Miguel Rojas. The CD was mastered by Richard Moore and produced by Stephan Eicke and David Shire.
The Defection of Simas Kudirka 11. Main Title (0:53) 12. Flashback & Soccer Game (1:37) 13. “Is This True?” (1:25) 14. “First Approach” (2:11) 15. Radio Room (0:54) 16. “Jump to Freedom” (1:57) 17. “You Must Go Back” (1:12) 18. “No!” (1:47) 19. In the Cell (3:22) 20. “On Your Soccer Team” (0:40) 21. “Simas, Come Home” (2:23) 22. Reunion (1:08) 23. Finale and End Credits (2:23)
The World According to Garp 24. Main Title (2:16) 25. Roof Sequence / “And Then He Died” (2:59) 26. Chase Chaser (1:25) 27. Story Montage (3:08) 28. Swordfight (1:40) 29. Western Source (1:17) 30. Baby Presentation (1:16) 31. Assassination / Car Scene (2:14) 32. “I’m Flying” / End Credits (3:10)
1970年代の名作『クレイマー、クレイマー』のためにデイヴィッド・シャイアが作曲した未使用のサウンドトラックがリリース！
トラックリスト1970年代後半、デイヴィッド・シャイアは仕事面で多忙を極め、私生活でもストレスの多い時期を過ごしていました。彼と妻のタリア・シャイアは別居しており、離婚手続きの最中に、プロデューサーのスタンリー・ジャッフェから『クレイマー、クレイマー』のオリジナルミュージックの作曲を依頼された。この映画は、終わりを迎える関係がもたらす苦痛と恐怖、そしてそれに続く離婚争いの中で息子が見失われていく様子を、痛ましいほど詳細に描いている。しかし、作曲家は不安を抱えていた。彼はこう語る。「プロデューサーには、この映画は素晴らしいし、確かに心を動かされたと伝えた。だが、音楽を入れるとドラマが過剰になり、かえって映画の邪魔になるのではないかと思った。それでも、試してみることはできると伝えた。」
シャイアは弦楽器、木管楽器、金管楽器によるスコアを制作した。彼は映画の構成を綿密に分析し、音楽のない長い間奏を意図的に設けた。沈黙は登場人物たちの孤立感を伝えるためのものだった。それでも試写会では、観客やプロデューサーから「音楽が映画を過剰なものにしている」との指摘を受けた。ジャッフェは曲を次々と削除していった。デヴィッド・シャイアの直感は正しかった。彼のスコアは採用されなかった。
『クレイマー、クレイマー』に起用される1年前、シャイアは、名高いテレビ映画『サイマス・キュデルカの亡命』への音楽的貢献で、プライムタイム・エミー賞にノミネートされていた。これは彼にとって最も誇りとする業績の一つであり、それには十分な理由がある。彼は、タイトルロールの若者の魅力を（時に純真ささえ感じさせるほどに）精巧に捉えた傑出したテーマを考案し、それをスコア全体に巧みに織り交ぜているのだ。KGBによる脅威を強調する、より緊張感に満ちた不協和音のサスペンス曲の中にも、そのメロディの影が垣間見える。
その5年後の1982年、シャイアはジョン・アーヴィングのベストセラー小説（準成長小説）を映画化した『ガープの世界』の音楽を担当することになった。これはロビン・ウィリアムズにとって、大スクリーンでの最初の主要な役の一つであり、彼にとって初めてのドラマティックな役柄でもあった。この役は、彼の感情表現の幅のすべてを披露することを要求するものであった。風刺、ロマンス、悲劇、そして大衆的なコメディの間を行き来し、至る所に夢のシーンが散りばめられた映画において、作曲家がまさに適切な音色のバランスを見出すことは容易ではない。しかし、デヴィッド・シャイアはそのバランスを見事に実現した。彼の音楽は、作中音と非作中音の両方の慣習を随所で巧みに操る、複雑で精巧な構成となっている。
ワーナー・ブラザース社より、本作の後半部分のスコアを20分以上にわたって収録・リリースすることを許可いただいたことに感謝いたします。
Caldera Recordsの70作目となる本作のCDには、ステファン・アイケによる詳細な解説文と、ルイス・ミゲル・ロハスによる洗練されたアートワークが収録されています。マスタリングはリチャード・ムーアが担当し、プロデュースはステファン・アイケとデヴィッド・シャイアが手掛けました。 --- レーベルより。
Caldera Records proudly presents David Shire's unused score for the 1970s classic "Kramer vs. Kramer."
The late 1970s were hectic for David Shire professionally and stressful in his personal life. He and his wife, Talia Shire, separated, and it was while going through divorce proceedings that he was asked by producer Stanley Jaffe to write the original music for "Kramer vs. Kramer," a film that deals in excruciating detail with the pain and horror of a relationship coming to an end and a son getting lost in the ensuing divorce battle. Yet the composer was apprehensive, as he says: "I told the producer that I thought the picture was great and obviously moved me. But I thought that a score would actually harm the film by pushing the drama over the top. I told him I would try anyway."
Shire developed a score for strings, woodwinds, and brass. He carefully spotted the film: there would be long stretches without music. Silence was meant to convey the characters' isolation. Still, during test screenings, audiences and the producer found that the music pushed the film over the edge. Jaffe removed piece after piece. David Shire's instinct had been correct. His score was not used.
One year before his experience on "Kramer vs. Kramer," Shire had been nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his musical contribution to the celebrated television film "The Defection of Simas Kudirka." It is one of his proudest achievements, and for good reason: he developed an outstanding theme for the titular young man that elaborately captures his charm (sometimes bordering on naivety), and which Shire weaves in and out of the score. There are shades of that melody even in the more tense, dissonant suspense pieces that underscore the threat posed by the KGB.
Five years later, in 1982, Shire was hired to provide the score for "The World According to Garp," an adaptation of John Irving's bestselling quasi-Bildungsroman. It was one of the first prominent big screen roles for Robin Williams and his first dramatic role, one that required him to show his full emotional range. It is difficult for any composer to find just the right tonal balance for a film that veers between satire, romance, tragedy and broad comedy, with dream sequences interspersed throughout. David Shire managed to find the balance, though: his music being a complex, intricate composition that plays with the conventions of both diegetic and non-diegetic soundtracks throughout.
We are grateful to Warner Bros. for allowing us to release over 20 minutes of the latter score.
The 70th CD-release of Caldera Records features a detailed booklet text by Stephan Eicke and elegant artwork by Luis Miguel Rojas. The CD was mastered by Richard Moore and produced by Stephan Eicke and David Shire.
Kramer vs. Kramer
1. Main Title (Version II) (1:27)
2. Alternate Main Title (1:29)
3. Do-nut Breakfast (1:37)
4. Ted Clears Apartment (0:57)
5. Ted & Billy / Finding Joanna’s Picture / Finding Joanna’s Picture (2:36)
6. Run to Hospital / End of Juice Spill Scene / Phone Ringing / Mommy in Window (1:39)
7. Job Montage (0:47)
8. Billy Runs to Joanna / At Ted’s Door / Ted Angry (2:32)
9. End Title (1:39)
10. Alternate End Title (1:42)
The Defection of Simas Kudirka
11. Main Title (0:53)
12. Flashback & Soccer Game (1:37)
13. “Is This True?” (1:25)
14. “First Approach” (2:11)
15. Radio Room (0:54)
16. “Jump to Freedom” (1:57)
17. “You Must Go Back” (1:12)
18. “No!” (1:47)
19. In the Cell (3:22)
20. “On Your Soccer Team” (0:40)
21. “Simas, Come Home” (2:23)
22. Reunion (1:08)
23. Finale and End Credits (2:23)
The World According to Garp
24. Main Title (2:16)
25. Roof Sequence / “And Then He Died” (2:59)
26. Chase Chaser (1:25)
27. Story Montage (3:08)
28. Swordfight (1:40)
29. Western Source (1:17)
30. Baby Presentation (1:16)
31. Assassination / Car Scene (2:14)
32. “I’m Flying” / End Credits (3:10)
Bonus:
33. Piano Demo for Garp (2:59)