"The Music of Candyman" CD is the original music scores written by Philip Glass and produced by his production company, Euphorbia Productions for the films "Candyman" and its sequel "Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh". Subse... more »quent to the first "Candyman" film release, Philip Glass? fans have been requesting access to these recordings. At this time Orange Mountain Music, Philip Glass? new record company, is very happy to make these recordings available. Newly re-mixed to facilitate home stereo playback from the original masters by Don Christensen, this CD will be an important addition to any serious Glass fan?s collection as well as a stimulating record for all listeners. The "Candyman" films started out as "The Forbidden", a short story written by the acclaimed horror/fantasy author Clive Barker. It is the story of a graduate student?s investigation into a grisly urban legend with distinct racial and social undertones. Director Bernard Rose?s ("Paperhouse", "Immortal Beloved") adaptation has given the narrative an underlying intelligence and believability. Unlike most horror films "Candyman" is low on special-effects but still delivers hair raising suspense and surprising shocks, primarily with its creative imagery. Bernard Rose?s innovative and realistic direction, the excellent cast (Virginia Madsen as Helen the graduate student and Tony Todd as Candyman) and the Cabrini Green location (a notorious Chicago housing project) made this film an original in its genre. Written for piano, pipe organ and chorus, Philip Glass?s score is perfectly suited for this modern gothic tale. Using some of his well established techniques of rhythmic intensity and switching between major and minor key harmonies, Glass?s score is as trance inducing and terrifyingly seductive as Candyman himself.« less
"The Music of Candyman" CD is the original music scores written by Philip Glass and produced by his production company, Euphorbia Productions for the films "Candyman" and its sequel "Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh". Subsequent to the first "Candyman" film release, Philip Glass? fans have been requesting access to these recordings. At this time Orange Mountain Music, Philip Glass? new record company, is very happy to make these recordings available. Newly re-mixed to facilitate home stereo playback from the original masters by Don Christensen, this CD will be an important addition to any serious Glass fan?s collection as well as a stimulating record for all listeners. The "Candyman" films started out as "The Forbidden", a short story written by the acclaimed horror/fantasy author Clive Barker. It is the story of a graduate student?s investigation into a grisly urban legend with distinct racial and social undertones. Director Bernard Rose?s ("Paperhouse", "Immortal Beloved") adaptation has given the narrative an underlying intelligence and believability. Unlike most horror films "Candyman" is low on special-effects but still delivers hair raising suspense and surprising shocks, primarily with its creative imagery. Bernard Rose?s innovative and realistic direction, the excellent cast (Virginia Madsen as Helen the graduate student and Tony Todd as Candyman) and the Cabrini Green location (a notorious Chicago housing project) made this film an original in its genre. Written for piano, pipe organ and chorus, Philip Glass?s score is perfectly suited for this modern gothic tale. Using some of his well established techniques of rhythmic intensity and switching between major and minor key harmonies, Glass?s score is as trance inducing and terrifyingly seductive as Candyman himself.
CD Reviews
GLASS MUSIC FOR ALL
petgigs | West Chicago, IL USA | 10/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Want to listen to some astonishly beautiful Philip Glass music? Listen to 'The Music of Candyman'. If you are already a Glassfan, this will be a welcome addition to your collection. If you are new to Glass and want a great introduction, this is the disc for you. It is by turns spooky and creepy, soaring and uplifting, dramatic and starkely beautiful...In short, 'The Music of Candyman' is perfect for its purpose. I will leave the technical discussions to others--emotionally, THIS DISC WILL GRAB YOU.This is the debut CD from Glass's new label, 'Orange Mountain Music' ... which promises to release more archival Glassmusic. Bravos to Kurt Munkacsi, Glass's long-time producer, for setting this up.So, while we wait for more great Glassmusic, we get to listen to 'The Music of Candyman': Beautiful, haunting, and a lot of fun!"
The Sweet Music of Candyman
MARK WALTHER | WHEATON, IL United States | 10/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With the triumphant release of "The Music of Candyman", I can now stop listening to Sammy Davis Jr. singing "Candyman". What a relief!I have had the music of Candyman etched in my brain ever since I first saw the movie. Living in the Chicago area, everytime I pass a housing project (usually going downtown and making a wrong turn -- my latest going to Mr. Glass's "In the Penal Colony" at the University of Chicago last year) automatically evokes the music of Candyman.The music on this CD is excellent and the sound quality is fantastic. Kurt Munkacsi and Don Christensen did a wonderful job...it is almost 3D sound! Try it with headphones!!!I love all of the original Candyman music, but the music from Candyman II is equally haunting and eerie. I love music from tracks 9, 10, and 11. Whoever did the vocal part for "Annie's Theme" did an incrediable job! The sound quality is so good, you can hear the young lady taking her breath between singing that beautiful, but eerie melody.No fan of Mr. Glass's music should be without this recording!!!I am extremely excited about Orange Mountain Music, and for their first release, everyone did an excellent job. I look forward to future releases of the many Glass Treasures that are in the Glass Archives.So, don't say Candyman five times, say "I'm going to but this CD right now" five times! :)I look foward to future reviews of this CD.Thanks Kurt, Don, and of course, Mr. Glass for making this musical masterpiece available to us."
They got off their fannys and gave us Candyman!
choyt@hotmail.com | Indiana USA | 10/10/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With a collective sigh of relief from fans who thought that Philip Glass and company had gone into record-release hibernation, The Music of Candyman is finally available commercially. Having heard tracks from the infamous bootleg copy, I can say that this version is well worth its (rather steep) cost, as it's been appropriately remixed and gussied up. Musically and esthetically, it's some of Glass's best, making it a must-listen (especially approaching Halloween), and the methodical dementia portrayed through the music is unmatched by any gothic sounding work in the same category (see Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells in The Exorcist). There are one or two segue problems from the remix, but nothing immediately noticeable, and any problems are certainly overshadowed by the terrific musicality and emotion of the work. Five stars! Now let's see more!"
YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! Candy for the ears!
Glassrules | Jacksonville, Florida USA | 10/05/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is the epitome of FUN! It is AWESOME! Words can not do this CD justice- take my word for it, if you're seeking a true EXPERIENCE in music, one that will take you away from the concerns and tribulations of this crazy world, put this CD in your player and turn off the lights, because "The Music of Candyman" will take you on a joy ride. Just like Candyman himself, this music runs the gamut from intense, scary, frightening, romantic, seductive, gentle, powerful, haunting, and maddening- constantly changing, disorienting the listener. In the movies, you never knew where Candyman was going to strike next. And so it is with Glass's score- you don't know what's going to happen next. So much happens on this CD that I guarantee you won't know where you're at when it comes to an end.Legendary composer Philip Glass scored the first two of what turned out to be three "Candyman" films, in 1992 and 1995. "Candyman", and the sequel, "Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh" were moderate-budget horror flicks with a strong psychological bent; they were decent movies and I thought the second one was better than the first. Anyway, what made these movies stand out was the Glass scores. And now, it is finally available to the public as the first release on Glass's new record label, Orange Mountain Music.Written primarily for pipe organ, chorus (the uncredited Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, who do a fantastic job), and piano, this CD will give your stereo system a workout, and I hope you have a good subwoofer to experience the awesome bass lines from the organ in all their room-shaking glory.There are many beautiful and powerful moments, finally heard here in pure glorious sound, using the state-of-the-art equipment and talented engineers at Philip Glass's and Kurt Munkacsi's recording studio, Looking Glass Studios in New York City. I would watch the DVD's of the first two "Candyman" movies, just to listen to the score- many great moments weren't heard in all their glory as there was dialogue and sound effects being on the soundtrack as well, but here the music is alone. Much like being alone in a dark room with Candyman himself, you definitely get a different perspective without any distractions from the eerie proceedings.Philip Glass is truly a musical phenomenon and is perhaps the most versatile composer of all time- he can write anything from mammoth symphonies, songs, string quartets, high-voltage works for his own Philip Glass Ensemble, operas, film scores, and more- and he also knows how to have a good time as well, as evidenced by his "Candyman" score- most serious (read: "classical") musicians today don't know how to have a good time, but Philip Glass does! He is having a great time with the "Candyman" music and you will too! It's fun and intellectually stimulating at the same time.It's great music for a haunted house; it's great music for a drive through the countryside; it's great music to refresh yourself after a long day at work; it's great music to drive your Mom insane if you're a rebellious kid!Buy this CD today!
Just don't say "Candyman" five times!"
A bit unlike the movie track
Skaven252 | Finland | 12/13/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is just a small note to those considering to buy the album. The music in this album does not sound quite the same as the original soundtrack of the movie(s) (of which I've only seen the first, so my opinion is solely based on that). It seems to have been re-recorded with a much smaller ensemble of choir singers and a smaller organ, giving it a bit flimsy sound. Also, some essential bass notes seem to have gone missing, which further reduces the impact of this music.Don't get me wrong. It's a great album and I'm really glad they finally released this."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1