The Magnificent Seven＜初回限定盤＞

Varese Sarabande's reissue of Elmer Bernstein's original score recording for The Magnificent Seven is virtually identical to Rykodisc's 1998-vintage CD, except that it lacks the HDCD logo and includes fresh annotation that gives a fuller, more accurate account of the evolution of the movie and the score. The disc is still extremely impressive sonically, with a healthy, close, loud sound, with an astonishingly vivid guitar in the mix, and nicely dimensional stereo separation as well. Considering that it was never supposed to be heard fully exposed this way, and that the recordings were misplaced for more than three decades, the CD holds up well as a free-standing release and would probably please fans of Aaron Copland's music as well as movie music enthusiasts. Bernstein always considered Copland his mentor and regarded the music for this movie as very much as "collaboration" in spirit with the older composer, and the nuances revealed on the fully exposed recording only bear this out further. It must be pointed out, however, that as good as this material is, some listeners may prefer the James Sedares recording with the Phoenix Symphony on Koch, which is more finely nuanced and a completely modern recording balanced down to the last detail for contemporary listeners (and also has, as a bonus, Bernstein's overture and title music for The Hallelujah Trail). But for those who want the original, in all of its fiery glory, this is a perfectly fine CD release that also explains a lot of history behind the movie and its makers and its score. ~ Bruce Eder|

映画音楽史に残る、軽快で勇ましい、まさに男が燃えるオーケストラ・サントラの大名作!!

『荒野の七人』(1960)
サウンドトラック

音楽　エルマー・バーンスタイン
監督　ジョン・スタージェス
主演　ユル・ブリンナー、イーライ・ウォラック、スティーヴ・マックイーン、チャールズ・ブロンソン、ロバート・ボーン、ブラッド・デクスター、ジェームズ・コバーン、そしてホルスト・ブーフホルツ

無法者がはびこる村の村人たちが、ガンマンを雇うが、そして7人の凄腕が集まった!! 黒澤明の痛快娯楽名作『七人の侍』を西部劇に置き換えたスペクタクル。集まった7人は、みなその後もスター街道を歩み、俳優としても凄い7人が集った作品となった。監督は『OK牧場の決斗』で名匠の仲間入りしていたジョン・スタージェス。本作のヒット、そしてこの3年後に『大脱走』も世に送る！バーンスタインの音楽は、それまでののどかなウエスタンのサウンドと違い、軽快で歯切れよくテンポも速く、そしてダイナミックなアレンジとキャッチーなメロディで、映画のヒットに一役買うことになる。今や、もっとも知られるハリウッド製西部劇の音楽、といってもいい名作中の名作。 (C)馬場敏裕