Chaplin's Smile: Song Arrangements for Violin & Piano

by Philippe Quint

Overview

Is there another major movie star who composed scores for his or her own films? This aspect of Charlie Chaplin's work is often underestimated, with Smile first appearing in instrumental form in the 1936 film Modern Times and later recorded with lyrics by Nat King Cole and many other artists, being the example of his work that invariably comes to mind when Chaplin's work as a composer is mentioned. Yet a few hours' acquaintance with Chaplin's films will demonstrate the degree to which music is woven into their flow, intensifying the romantic scenes against which the slapstick plays out. Chaplin was not a trained musician; he improvised these pieces at the piano, having them notated by others. An advantage of hearing them in a group is that you get an insight into his creative process: sample Mandolin Serenade to hear how the improvisatory process shows up in the music. That piece, from 1957, was from Chaplin's A King in New York, and some of the pieces are even later (from the 1967 comedy A Countess from Hong Kong); his style evolves somewhat but does not fundamentally shift, and this is also interesting. Russian-American violinist Philippe Quint and pianist Marta Aznavoorian, assisted in a couple of cases by none other than Joshua Bell, catch the classic sentimental tone perfectly, and the whole album can be enjoyed on several different levels, from silent movie nostalgia to unique insight into Chaplin as a creative figure. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/11/2019
Label:	Warner Classics
UPC:	0093624901808
Rank:	41188

Tracks

1. Eternally "Terry's Theme"
2. Smile
3. A King in New York~Weeping Willows
4. Love Song
5. Monsieur Verdoux~Tango Bitterness
6. Now That It's Ended
7. Mandolin Serenade
8. The Great Dictator~Falling Star
9. City Lights~Suite
10. Beautiful, Wonderful Eyes
11. The Kid Fantasy
12. Tango Natasha
13. A Countess from Hong Kong~Crossing the Dance Floor

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Philippe Quint   Primary Artist,Violin
Joshua Bell   Primary Artist,Violin,Featured Artist
Marta Aznavoorian   Piano

Technical Credits

Adam Abeshouse   Engineer,Producer
Charles Coleman   Arranger
Steve Robinson   Producer
Eric Arunas   Engineer
Gordon H. Jee   Design,Art Direction
Philippe Quint   Arranger,Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Marta Aznavoorian   Arranger
Leon Gurvitch   Arranger,Composer
Isi Akahome   Cover Photo,Photography
Larry Kapson   Photography
Maggie Clennon Reberg   Liner Notes
Charlie Chaplin   Composer,Original Material