Artist: Bernard Herrmann Album: Citizen Kane

Year: 1991
Duration: 0:0-1

A of the Album: Citizen Kane by Bernard Herrmann

Bernard Herrmann is widely known for his remarkable film scores, yet his impressive career consisted of more than just creating music for the big screen. Herrmann was a multi-talented music composer, with his work on the Citizen Kane album, being one of the best examples of his artistry. The album is a well-crafted piece of art that stands out with its unique mix of orchestra, jazz, and choir sounds. In this blog, we dive into the style and substance of Herrmann's Citizen Kane album, highlighting its best songs, the most innovative parts, along with a brief history on Herrmann and a critic of the album,
Herrmann is a prolific composer whose work includes the soundtracks of some of the most iconic films in cinematic history. Some of his most celebrated scores include the soundtracks to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Vertigo, Taxi Driver, and Orson Welles' Citizen Kane. Herrmann’s Citizen Kane album presents us with 10 tracks that are well-structured and carefully written orchestral arrangements. The music is rich, alive, and sophisticatedly produced.
A standout track on the album is the opening song, Prelude. This song sets the mood for the entire album and features a beautiful arrangement of strings and woodwinds that captures the film's mysterious and seductive tone. Another standout is Susan's Room, which is tender and evokes a sense of nostalgia. The track blends the use of classical strings and brass with more jazzy elements, creating an intricate and rich sonic landscape.
Herrmann's use of choir music on the album was a significant milestone in the classical music industry. It was one of the first attempts to blend aspects of contemporary jazz with orchestral composition. With tracks like The Inquirer, the vocals come in as a counterpoint to the orchestration, and it feels like a well-crafted addition to the music landscape. The choir provides a unique layer of depth and emotion to the compositions.
The most innovative part of the Citizen Kane album is the use of atonal music within the film score genre. It is remarkable how Herrmann employs notes, which in traditional music composition, would generally be considered dissonant or unharmonious, to create some of the album's most memorable moments. One of the most prominent examples of this occurs during the Kane's Return track. The use of atonal music creates a sense of unease that represents Kane's character perfectly.
While the Citizen Kane album received immediate critical acclaim, it didn't find commercial success during Herrmann's lifetime. The album's commercial failure can be attributed to the fact that it was not a widely accessible album at the time. The general audience favorited upbeat, faster, and more familiar music, while Herrmann's compositions demanded more patience, attention, and concentration.
Herrmann's Citizen Kane album stands as a testament to his unique talents as a music composer and his desire to push musical boundaries. The album demonstrates a great deal of musical sophistication and an effortlessness to blend multiple genres together. The Citizen Kane score album is definitely not for everyone. However, it's an essential listening experience for any music enthusiast willing to explore the depths of classical music and its intersection with jazz, choir music, and atonal composition. Bernard Herrmann's Citizen Kane album is a true masterpiece that deserves recognition for its artistry and its significance in the history of film scoring.
Herrmann's Citizen Kane album stands as a testament to his unique talents as a music composer and his desire to push musical boundaries. The album demonstrates a great deal of musical sophistication and an effortlessness to blend multiple genres together. The Citizen Kane score album is definitely not for everyone. However, it's an essential listening experience for any music enthusiast willing to explore the depths of classical music and its intersection with jazz, choir music, and atonal composition. Bernard Herrmann's Citizen Kane album is a true masterpiece that deserves recognition for its artistry and its significance in the history of film scoring.