Georges Delerue
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It’s his centennial this year, and it’s been marked on a few occasions, some releases, some concerts. But not terribly much.
He’s a favourite composer of mine. Not top 10, but just outside. True, I have a hard time listening to many Delerues in a row, but if I want a dose of that bittersweet, elegant style that only he could do, there are few things better.
Hard to pick just one favourite, but if someone put a gun to my head, I’d probably pick BLACK ROBE.
What about you?
Oh, and by the way, if anyone wants to see a fun Delerue documentary, directed by Ken Russell, look no further than the 1966 film DON’T SHOOT THE COMPOSER — which even has Delerue sorta “acting”. It’s only an hour and well worth your time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz_3wfFWLEY&ab_channel=PlayForForever
Interstingly BLACK ROBE is also a favorite of mine. I like a lot of him but often its a bit too much theme and minor variations. Truffaut scores, SALVADOR in a more unusal action mode at times oder DAY OF THE DOLPHIN come to mind. Would love to get some release of his miniseries score to SWORD OF GIDEON.
TOo bad, our French-German broadcaster was supposed to show the two Paris concerts even as a live stream these days. But due to a strike on Radio France that was canceled. Currently does not look as if it is recorded at all and maybe ends up on their site’s mediathek later.
Sorry to hear that, but isn’t this the type of thing that would normally be put on Arte and channels like that?
I was hoping maybe slint had something to contribute in regards to Delerue. I know he’s as into French film music as I am (should do a topic on that, but I’m afraid I’m going to explode in enthusiasm).
Hmmm….we’re now approaching the end of the year, and I’m still kinda disappointed that there hasn’t been more hooplah about the Delerue centennial.
Have there been any premiere Delerue releases this year? How about reissues and expansions (even though I don’t really care about them)? Documentaries? Buzz on forums?
Thor-approved spam:
https://www.maintitles.net/reviews/le-mepris/
https://www.maintitles.net/reviews/la-peau-douce/Unfurtunately he was a composer who excelled in scoring European films, like a majority, and produced little significant music elsewhere, especially as he moved to a different continent.
While we wait for someone to provide an overview of the new releases and whatever else has been done in 2025 to celebrate Delerue’s centennial, I also like the fact that his music lives on in other people’s music, and in new films, so long after his death. There was the use of his music in Greta Gerwig’s FRANCES HA (2012), plus THE GO-BETWEEN in Marcelo Zavros’ MAY DECEMBER (2023) most recently, but also – and I say this because I’m listening to it now – the even more elegant incorporation of his style and tunes in Philippe Jakko’s QUE D’AMOUR (2013). That’s something, at least.
So at least Quartet managed to get something out before the anniversary year is over: His basically except – I think – a few tracks on compilations unreleased (and even mostly rejected) score to the original THE DAY OF THE JACKAL.
It’s far from my Delerue top list (I’ve always had issues with Delerue in suspense mode), but it does have a few good tracks. I have some on the 6CD box set.
Yes, supsense is not really his strenght often. I think it is rather unknown territory. I know the movie but don’t even recall the bits of music that is in there… Have to listen to the sampler. But at least it is not one of the usual re-issues with “remastered, improved, newley found sources” which Quartet of course also has in this batch. Well, that’s the game nowadays (Tempted by BLACK RAIN a little as a sidenote, from still Zimmer’s most fresh and interesting phase to me).
Was it Quartet or Music Box that needed to get those Morricone scores out of the way before they could focus on other things? And is it Music Box or Quartet that has all of those Delerue reissues/releases in the past? The ones with the rectangular boxes with the text at the top? I could google, but I’m too lazy right now. I think it’s probably Quartet, so I’m not surprised they are one of the few to make some form of marking of Delerue’s centennial.
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