Monsignor

[Josh500 1608]

OK, I'm thinking of getting this album, but it's quite expensive (about 30$).

Can anyone tell me whether it's worth getting it? What does it sound like? Is it one of JW's more memorable works?

Thanks!

[King Mark 3104]

yes,of course you have to get it

[Josh500 1608]

yes,of course you have to get it

Can you tell me something about it?

A movie about a bunch of priests doesn't seem to be that interesting...

[King Mark 3104]

Mid 80's sounding John Williams . One epic choir piece , the Main Title is reminiscent of The Godfather and another cue is like Yoda's Death .It's also full of classic JW "travelling motifs"

[indy4 152]

It's only 20 bucks on Intrada.

[Josh500 1608]

It's only 20 bucks on Intrada.

Ah thanks, I'm listening to the sound clips right now...

Mid 80's sounding John Williams . One epic choir piece , the Main Title is reminiscent of The Godfather and another cue is like Yoda's Death .It's also full of classic JW "travelling motifs"

So you would recommend it? How come this score never gets discussed here? It must be nothing particularly special...

[Joe Brausam 209]

It's a great score, I love it. Any score that's not one of the big ones doesn't get discussed much here, but this was kind of a big deal when it came out last year.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10253]

It was only made availeble to the general public last year, it's a score not a very obscure film.

[Ollie 860]

It's only 20 bucks on Intrada.

Ah thanks, I'm listening to the sound clips right now...

Mid 80's sounding John Williams . One epic choir piece , the Main Title is reminiscent of The Godfather and another cue is like Yoda's Death .It's also full of classic JW "travelling motifs"

So you would recommend it? How come this score never gets discussed here? It must be nothing particularly special...

It never gets discussed because it's not Harry Potter, Indiana Jones or Star Wars.

But as Steef said, it was just issued legally on CD. It did receive an LP release at the time of the film's release.

[Nick Parker 3034]

I have had the CD for two weeks, and I would recommend it. It reminds me a bit of The Fury, actually.

[Incanus 5556]

You should definitely get it. The main theme is wonderful as is the religiously charged secondary theme for the faith of the main character and the Church in general. The third major motif, traveling theme, is actually a variation or and adaptation of JWs Boston Pops tenure concert composition, the Esplanade Overture which has never been recorded in the original form so this is the closest thing to getting it (track called The Meeting in Sicily).

The Intrada release contains the original LP presentation which is actually a little longer than the score in the film. The liner notes are very informative and I am glad they are so that I do not have to see this film which seems to be pretty awful

The score is thematic, melodic and exciting classic JW score from the 1980's. Every track offers something new and wonderful. For a near 40 minute album presentation it is perfect.

I recommend it whole heartedly.

[publicist 4635]

Ah thanks, I'm listening to the sound clips right now...

Mid 80's sounding John Williams . One epic choir piece , the Main Title is reminiscent of The Godfather and another cue is like Yoda's Death .It's also full of classic JW "travelling motifs"

So you would recommend it? How come this score never gets discussed here? It must be nothing particularly special...

If you have listened to the clips you surely have formed an opinion by yourself?

[Josh500 1608]

You should definitely get it. The main theme is wonderful as is the religiously charged secondary theme for the faith of the main character and the Church in general. The third major motif, traveling theme, is actually a variation or and adaptation of JWs Boston Pops tenure concert composition, the Esplanade Overture which has never been recorded in the original form so this is the closest thing to getting it (track called The Meeting in Sicily).

The Intrada release contains the original LP presentation which is actually a little longer than the score in the film. The liner notes are very informative and I am glad they are so that I do not have to see this film which seems to be pretty awful

The score is thematic, melodic and exciting classic JW score from the 1980's. Every track offers something new and wonderful. For a near 40 minute album presentation it is perfect.

I recommend it whole heartedly.

Thank you, I just ordered this!

[Naïve Old Fart 7255]

This score is one of Williams' most underrated works, and I recomend it wholeheartedly! It proved beyond doubt, that there was life after "E.T." "Gloria" is one my all-time top 5 favourite Williams tracks; monumental!

[Josh500 1608]

It proved beyond doubt, that there was life after "E.T."

And you needed Monsignor to prove that?

This score is one of Williams' most underrated works, and I recomend it wholeheartedly! "Gloria" is one my all-time top 5 favourite Williams tracks; monumental!

Have you also seen the movie?

[Henry B 49]

The movie need not be discussed.

[Incanus 5556]

The movie need not be discussed.

Agreed. The mere description of the plot in the liner notes makes it very obvious.

[Josh500 1608]

The movie need not be discussed.

This is such a narrow-minded statement...

I will certainly see the movie, if the OS is really as good as it seems.

[John Takis 94]

This is a fantastic score, and a wonderful album (I did a little resequencing, but it's a great listen either way). I wouldn't consider my Williams collection complete without it.

In my opinion, the film is unjustly maligned. It has its issues, certainly, but remains very watchable. It's worth seeing just for Leonardo Cimino as the Pope ... but if you like Christopher Reeve, you should enjoy it.

[Incanus 5556]

This is a fantastic score, and a wonderful album (I did a little resequencing, but it's a great listen either way). I wouldn't consider my Williams collection complete without it.

In my opinion, the film is unjustly maligned. It has its issues, certainly, but remains very watchable. It's worth seeing just for Leonardo Cimino as the Pope ... but if you like Christopher Reeve, you should enjoy it.

I would watch it perhaps to see how Gloria works in the picture.

[Hlao-roo 388]

This is a fantastic score, and a wonderful album (I did a little resequencing, but it's a great listen either way). I wouldn't consider my Williams collection complete without it.

In my opinion, the film is unjustly maligned. It has its issues, certainly, but remains very watchable. It's worth seeing just for Leonardo Cimino as the Pope ... but if you like Christopher Reeve, you should enjoy it.

I would watch it perhaps to see how Gloria works in the picture.

It works gloriously.

[Incanus 5556]

This is a fantastic score, and a wonderful album (I did a little resequencing, but it's a great listen either way). I wouldn't consider my Williams collection complete without it.

In my opinion, the film is unjustly maligned. It has its issues, certainly, but remains very watchable. It's worth seeing just for Leonardo Cimino as the Pope ... but if you like Christopher Reeve, you should enjoy it.

I would watch it perhaps to see how Gloria works in the picture.

It works gloriously.

I bet the choir shocks the old cardinals awake in their pews GLORIAAAAAAAA!!!!

[MSM 90]

It's good, but not satisfying enough for a daily (or even weekly) listen. The Godfather-like theme doesn't really do it for me; I'd prefer Nino Rota over this any time. Still it is interesting to hear Williams writing like Rota. Recording quality is quite mediocre I'd say, it sounds very dry throughout.

[Josh500 1608]

So today I got this score, and just listened through it once. My first impression is actually very good.

I have a feeling the Main Theme will grow on me (a mixture of Nino Rota's "Godfather" and Francis Lay's "Love Story," I thought!), and I found "Gloria" refreshingly different. I don't know what to think of it yet, though--have to listen to it a couple more times. Also, "At the forum" struck me as very agreeable on listening to it the first time. The piano solo is really gorgeous, somehow reminded me of the End Credits of Munich...

Reading the liner notes, I realized how busy JW must have been that year... I wished he were that busy now!

I'm really happy about my first JW acquisition so far this year!

[Hitch 57]

Monsignor is a good score to a rubbish movie.

[Josh500 1608]

Monsignor is a good score to a rubbish movie.

So you have seen it? I understand the movie is bad, yes... I might still want to see it some time, even if it is just to enjoy the score in the context.

[Ollie 860]

"The Meeting in Sicily" is the highlight of the album.

[BigKenLittle 6]

"The Meeting in Sicily" is the highlight of the album.

I beg to differ... The "Gloria" is the highlight of the score.

BKL: Overture from Twilight Zone the Movie (Jerry Goldsmith)

The cd arrived in the mail today, and I am on my second listen... [audible sigh] I miss the 80's

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10253]

Weren't you dead?

[Naïve Old Fart 7255]

It proved beyond doubt, that there was life after "E.T."

And you needed Monsignor to prove that?

This score is one of Williams' most underrated works, and I recomend it wholeheartedly! "Gloria" is one my all-time top 5 favourite Williams tracks; monumental!

Have you also seen the movie?

I'll take the second question first. Yes, I saw "Monsignor" at the cinema on it's first run in England, in 1982. To be honest, it is an unremarkable film, but it has some nice moments in it, namely, the ordination scene, which is where "Gloria" is featured. The second point is a bit more tricky. I.M.O., John Williams had to wait another 5 years before he comopsed another turely great score, and two come along at once, namely "The Witches Of Eastwick", followed by the magnificent "Empire Of The Sun".

Personally, I think that "Gloria" is better than almost anything that he did in between "E.T., and "Witches...", with the possible exception of "Approaching The Stones". I'm probably going to get some flack for all this, but it really is only one man's opinion.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10253]

FLACK!

[Hitch 57]

And a double FLACK from me. Were we supposed to be giving out to him there?

[Kendal_Ozzel 33]

Upping this thread...

When Monsignor was put on Hulu a while back, I watched it and did this analysis, but I forgot to post it then. So here it is now:

1. Monsignor (Track 7)

2. St. Peter's Basilica (Unreleased 14:54-15:35)

3. Streets of Rome (Track 3 0:00-1:32)

4. Reunion in Italy (Track 2)

5. Appolini's Decision (Track 8 0:00-1:20)

6. A Friend's House (Unreleased 59:56-1:01:37)

7. Forgotten Vows (Track 3 1:32-end)

8. Forbidden Love (Unreleased 1:12:30-1:13:58)

9. Gloria (Track 6)

10. Santoni's Compassion (Track 9 ~1:15-end)†

11. Audience with the Holy Father (Track 5)

12. Varese's Sarabande (Track 8 1:20-end)

13. Flaherty's Return (Unreleased 1:57:46-1:58:19)/Theme from Monsignor (Track 1 0:18-end)†

Not in the film:

*The Meeting in Sicily (Track 4)

*At the Forum (Track 10)

†These are the film edits; for editing the album, you'll wanna leave these tracks intact.

Obviously, I made up extra titles. The times on the unreleased cues refer to their place in the film.

*"Forbidden Love" is very similar to the previous track. It's just another version of the main theme.

*"Gloria" may be edited down a bit in the film; I didn't bother to check much.

*"Santoni's Compassion" sounds dialed in around 1:15, but the unused part of the track matches up with the film.

*On "Varese's Sarabande" (see what I did there?), it sounds like the cue is dialed in after a few seconds.

*"Flaherty's Return" is a nice, brief finale cue that leads into the credits, replacing the very beginning of the track.

Intrada said there was about 3 minutes of music not on the album. Between the four short unreleased bits, I counted about 4 1/3 minutes. If you would like to hear these cues from the film...

[Taikomochi 873]

"At the Forum" wasn't in the film? That's the best track!

[Kendal_Ozzel 33]

It must have just been done for the album, I guess. I couldn't figure out where it could go in the film.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10253]

More likey it was for a scene that was later edited out of the film.

[Thor 5609]

Great album!

The film is not without merit, though (I too feel this thread treats it unjustly), but obviously has its shortcomings too.

[Wojo 2444]

Monsignor is notable for being the only Razzie Award (1983) for which John Williams has been nominated. That a score this good could be considered that bad is worth a listen, in my book.

Coincidentally, the other nominees that year were Butterfly: Ennio Morricone; Death Wish II: Jimmy Page; The Thing: Ennio Morricone; and The Pirate Movie: Kit Hain, which took home the award.

[Kendal_Ozzel 33]

I may have been too vague before—I meant to say that I made recordings the unreleased cues straight from the film. If anyone would like to hear them, you know what to do.

[King Mark 3104]

ok, I remember St.Peter's Basilica is also a cue I once recorded and wanted on the c.d. For the rest it doesn;t matter too much