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GDI's enterprising trawl through the treasure house of Hammer's soundtrack archive continues with this generous selection of music from four of the studio's vampire movies (none of which, incidentally, features Christopher Lee).
The first two films boast scores by Hammer regular, James Bernard, whose work has already become familiar to collectors of this series. 'Who Dares to disturb the sanctity of Dracula', which opens 1974's Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, is a miniature tone poem, with a considerable emotional range. Beginning with a fine atmospheric sequence, tension builds, courtesy of Bernard's trademark fluttering bat motif in the high woodwinds, before rising to a big, brassy climax.
Kiss of the Vampire (1964) is most memorable for its 'Vampire Rhapsody', a tortured, romantic piano concerto-like piece played in the film by a member of the 'obscene vampire cult' in order to mesmerise their victims. Recorded in a suitably echoing acoustic, the Rhapsody stands comparison with Bernard Herrmann's gothic piano concerto for Hangover Square.
Vampire Circus, from 1972, was scored by David Whittaker. 'Anna and the Count' features an expansive, string-dominated theme which is played out against discordant funfair music. Most memorable, however, are the two versions of 'Tiger Dance', complete with human grunts, and featuring some wild and exotic percussion and electric guitar. Curiously, the recorded sound for Vampire Circus is thinner and generally less satisfactory than those of the other scores.
Finally, there is Lust for a Vampire, released in 1971. Harry Robinson's score is the highlight of this generally fine disc. With its unsettling harmonics, slithering string figures and consistently subtle and assured orchestrations, Robinson's music is further testimony to the high standards of Hammer's composers during its golden period. In particular, 'March of Vengeance' is a superbly imaginative piece, with opening drum rolls reminiscent of Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary and choral writing of which Kodaly, say, would have been proud.
One wonders how many more unexpected delights lie in the Hammer crypt, awaiting resurrection.
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