The Thorn Birds (The Deluxe Encore Edition) + A Little Princess (The Deluxe Edition) CD Bundle

Thorn Birds Description:
The Thorn Birds became the second-highest rated miniseries of all time when it aired in March 1983, behind only Roots. Based on the 1977 book by Colleen McCullough, the four-part program told the multigenerational story of the Cleary family, settlers in the Australian Outback of the early to mid-20th century, and the forbidden love of matriarch Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward) and the family priest, Father Ralph de Briscassart (Richard Chamberlain). The all-star production won six Emmys, with a further ten nominations including Mancini’s score.

For a career full of landmark achievements in television—from Peter Gunn and Mr. Lucky to the miniseries The Moneychangers—The Thorn Birds is Mancini’s crown jewel. His score is as intimate as it is epic, with a lilting, Irish-flavored dulcimer theme for the Cleary family’s Irish roots and the beauty of the Australian countryside, as well as a bittersweet love theme, given lyrics by Will Jennings as “Anywhere the Heart Goes.” From the haunting moments of introspection to the large-scale setpieces, The Thorn Birds is as good as it gets.

Varèse Sarabande’s 2-CD Deluxe Encore Edition corrects the missing dulcimer melody of the main title from the original 2004 release, and is remastered for better sound and careful removal of sonic artifacts. Liner notes are by television music authority Jon Burlingame.


A Little Princess Description:
A Little Princess (1995) is a cinematic gem from the early career of Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Children of Men, Gravity). Based on a 1905 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the fantasy drama is about a young girl subjected to the cruelty of her school headmistress in New York City after learning her father has died. In Cuarón’s masterful hands, the film is a joyous tribute to the power of imagination and the individual spirit.

A Little Princess was the first of two films for Cuarón and Scottish composer Patrick Doyle (the second being Great Expectations). Cuarón and producer Mark Johnson had been impressed with Doyle’s symphonic and choral score for Henry V, his strong melodic sense and dramatic sensitivity.

Doyle provided A Little Princess with a gem of a score, full of heartfelt themes, lilting waltzes, Indian flourishes (the protagonist had been living in India) and a marvelous sense of period storytelling. Choral passages include songs performed by star Liesel Matthews and Doyle’s then-young daughter. Doyle stays true to the ideal of childhood innocence, and the protagonist’s indomitable spirit, while taking the symphonic drama to Shakespearean heights.

Varèse Sarabande’s 28-track 1995 soundtrack album is expanded in this Deluxe Edition with an 11-minute bonus section of unreleased cues and alternates with 7 tracks, including 3 suites. Daniel Schweiger provides new liner notes.

Thorn Bird Features:
Produced by: Robert Townson
Deluxe Edition Executive Producer for Varese Sarabande Records: Cary E. Mansfield
Deluxe Edition Mastered by Chas Ferry and Melinda Hurley

A Little Princess Features:
Co-Produced by: Maggie Rodford
Deluxe Edition Executive Producer for Varese Sarabande Records: Cary E. Mansfield
Deluxe Edition Mastered by Chas Ferry and Melinda Hurley

Thorn Birds Track List:

Disc One
1. The Thorn Birds Theme: Main Title (4:15)
2. Go! (1:14)
3. Drogheda (1:34)
4. Young Meggie (1:29)
5. Ralph, Meggie and Mary (2:23)
6. Stuie Grows Up (1:27)
7. Paddy and Fiona (2:44)
8. Passion Play (3:21)
9. The Story of The Thorn Birds (2:15)
10. Meggie Grows Up (1:31)
11. Baby Hal Dies (3:02)
12. The Rams and the Ewes (2:04)
13. Parting (1:52)
14. The Thorn Birds Theme (2:34)
15. Fire On Drogheda (2:41)
16. Search for Paddy (3:05)
17. Father Ralph Returns and Funeral Procession (2:36)
18. Meggie's Heartbreak (4:01)
19. It's Shearing You're Hearing (4:17)
20. Luke and Meggie (2:31)
21. Marry Me, Meggin (2:17)
22. Arrival at the Vatican (2:02)
23. The Announcement (0:50)

Disc Two
1. Meggie Leaves Drogheda (1:19)
2. Arrival at Queensland (2:10)
3. Beginning of the End (2:26)
4. Welcome to Himmelhock (1:50)
5. New Kid In Town (1:20)
6. Matlock Island (3:22)
7. Beach Walk (2:27)
8. Forbidden Love (1:37)
9. Ralph and Meggie (1:55)
10. Paradise Lost (3:08)
11. Vacation's End (3:28)
12. Meggie Leaves the Himmelhocks (1:42)
13. Meggie Goes Home (2:43)
14. Photographs (2:14)
15. Together (1:09)
16. Good-bye, Dane (2:04)
17. Justine Visits Drogheda (1:28)
18. The Greek Tragedy (1:33)
19. Bye Bye Dane (1:43)
20. Loss of a Son (2:52)
21. Meggie Reveals the Truth (5:04)
22. Be Happy (5:10)
23. Ralph Dies (3:34)
24. End Title (0:43)
Bonus Track:
25. Anywhere the Heart Goes (2:28)
Bonus Track, Lyric by Will Jennings

A Little Princess Track List:

Track List: 

1. Ramayana: A Morning Raga 2:04
2. Children Running 0:53
3. Cristina Elisa Waltz 3:03
4. The Miss Minchin School for Girls 1:40
5. Knowing You by Heart 2:32
6. Breakfast 0:55
7. Letter to Papa 1:38
8. Angel Wings 1:07
9. False Hope 2:05
10. The Trenches 1:00 †
11. Crewe and the Soldier 1:22
12. Alone 1:19
13. The Attic 2:00
14. On Another’s Sorrow 1:16 ††
15. The Shawl 0:54
16. Tyger Tyger 0:32
17. Compassion 0:36
18. For the Princess 1:38
19. Kindle My Heart 3:00 †††
20. The Locket Hunt 3:02
21. Midnight Tiptoe 1:13
22. I Am a Princess 1:14
23. Just Make Believe 1:33
24. Touched by an Angel 1:43
25. Emilia Elopes 1:38
26. The Escape 2:58
27. Papa! 2:32
28. The Goodbye 4:19 ††††
Bonus Tracks:
29. Traveling to New York/Sara Tells a Story/Sara’s Story (suite) 1:12
30. New York Street Music 1:48
31. The School Girls :40
32. In India/The Gazelle (suite) 1:19
33. More Harp 1:08
34. The Attic 1:57 †††††
35. He’s Not My Son/The Soldier Returns (suite) 1:15
† Extract from Adagio Quintet in C Major Opus 88
Composed by Michael Haydn
†† Catherine Hopper Solo
††† Abigail Doyle Solo
†††† Liesel Matthews Solo
††††† Instrumental Film Version