SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 3:46 Min.
In 1985, composer/conductor Bill Conti and The London Symphony Orchestra released an instrumental album consisting of highlights from 1983’s The Right Stuff and 1985’s North and South TV mini-series. Conti’s original symphonic track accompanies the opening credits for each of North and South’s initial twelve episodes.
Note: As of 2008, a limited-edition CD set of Conti highlights from North and South Books One & Two was released.
REVIEW:
It’s all a matter of approach. In that sense, Bill Conti’s soaring North and South theme won’t be confused with Randy Edelman’s grandiose yet somber main title for 1993’s Gettysburg. While Edelman’s piece conveys a fateful march towards immortality, Conti emphasizes North and South’s fictional soap opulence. Still, Conti’s larger-than-life approach is as equally vivid as Edelman’s, as both themes must accommodate huge casts and even larger production values.
For Conti, it’s all about conjuring up a majestic, big-budget ambiance, and he admirably accomplishes the task. Not only does his theme effectively advertise North and South’s all-star cast, its low-key finish nicely segues into each episode’s initial scene. Accordingly, Conti’s theme is a textbook example re: how to effectively hype an epic historical romance from the get-go.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
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