A Patch of Blue
Jerry Goldsmith
" A touch of early Goldsmith "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
The wonderful dramatic movie A Patch of Blue, about a blind white girl who befriends a black man and gets her to escape her abusive home life was nominated for 5 Oscars, of which Jerry Goldsmith's score was one. The movie received one Oscar, for best actress in a supporting role (Shelley Winters), but Goldsmith's score did not go by unnoticed. Having received his second nomination after Freud, it was already clear that there was a big career waiting for Jerry Goldsmith, a career that we have seen almost every musical note of. And even if A Patch of Blue is not one of his ever best, there's this feeling that I'm loving it so much more, because I know of who it comes from.
You will have heard the main theme by now, even if you don't know it. The tantalizing piano theme and string work in "Main Title" and "The Park" will definitely make you feel at ease, at ease with the tender fragile theme, at ease with the way Goldsmith handles the blossoming friendship and love. And throughout the entire score, Goldsmith is handling these moments with touching, delicate and intimate melodies. The lovely "Chores", the brilliant playfulness of the piano melody on flute in "Bead Party", the brilliant combination of harmonica and strings in "Friendly" (a touch of magic that outclasses the mainstream efforts of today in merely 5 seconds), the urgent piano melody in "Help Me" and "Selina's Walk" or the absolutely beautiful main theme in "Finale", enough examples of this score's delicate strength I would say.
I'm not going to lie, A Patch of Blue is not for any moment during your day. It is music you'll rarely sing along with, but it is so wonderful to listen to that it will make you forget whatever troubles you have that day. It will literally silence you. And frankly, I don't know too many scores that can do that to me. A Patch of Blue might sound simple enough, but the intricacies are interwoven between the playfulness and the drama of the story, showing an enormous wealth of quality that surpasses most of today's scores. Or how once again a 30 minute Goldsmith effort can make me miss the master of filmmusic even more. If you love music that delicately silences you, A Patch of Blue might be the thing for you.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (1.56)
2. The Park (2.05)
3. Acid Bath (0.43)
4. The Gift (1.06)
5. Alone (2.14)
6. Chores (2.03) Excellent track
7. Thataway (0.40)
8. Bead Party (1.43) Excellent track
9. Gordon's Place (Radio Music) (1.34)
10. Friendly (Outtake) (1.44)
11. Grandmom's Music Box (1.08)
12. Discovery (2.43)
13. Waiting (1.03)
14. Just the Radio (1.26)
15. Help Me (1.41)
16. Happy Selina (0.31)
17. Gordon (1.03)
18.Selina's Walk (2.00)
19. Finale (3.23) Excellent track
Total Length: 30.46
You will have heard the main theme by now, even if you don't know it. The tantalizing piano theme and string work in "Main Title" and "The Park" will definitely make you feel at ease, at ease with the tender fragile theme, at ease with the way Goldsmith handles the blossoming friendship and love. And throughout the entire score, Goldsmith is handling these moments with touching, delicate and intimate melodies. The lovely "Chores", the brilliant playfulness of the piano melody on flute in "Bead Party", the brilliant combination of harmonica and strings in "Friendly" (a touch of magic that outclasses the mainstream efforts of today in merely 5 seconds), the urgent piano melody in "Help Me" and "Selina's Walk" or the absolutely beautiful main theme in "Finale", enough examples of this score's delicate strength I would say.
I'm not going to lie, A Patch of Blue is not for any moment during your day. It is music you'll rarely sing along with, but it is so wonderful to listen to that it will make you forget whatever troubles you have that day. It will literally silence you. And frankly, I don't know too many scores that can do that to me. A Patch of Blue might sound simple enough, but the intricacies are interwoven between the playfulness and the drama of the story, showing an enormous wealth of quality that surpasses most of today's scores. Or how once again a 30 minute Goldsmith effort can make me miss the master of filmmusic even more. If you love music that delicately silences you, A Patch of Blue might be the thing for you.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (1.56)
2. The Park (2.05)
3. Acid Bath (0.43)
4. The Gift (1.06)
5. Alone (2.14)
6. Chores (2.03) Excellent track
7. Thataway (0.40)
8. Bead Party (1.43) Excellent track
9. Gordon's Place (Radio Music) (1.34)
10. Friendly (Outtake) (1.44)
11. Grandmom's Music Box (1.08)
12. Discovery (2.43)
13. Waiting (1.03)
14. Just the Radio (1.26)
15. Help Me (1.41)
16. Happy Selina (0.31)
17. Gordon (1.03)
18.Selina's Walk (2.00)
19. Finale (3.23) Excellent track
Total Length: 30.46