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Filmtracks Recommends:
Buy it... if you are an Elmer Bernstein completist and would be interested in hearing the legendary master of Westerns hand the reigns of the genre over to his son. Avoid it... if only two interesting tracks from Elmer aren't enough to compensate for a rather generic and predictable Western underscore by Peter Bernstein. Filmtracks Editorial Review:
Unfortunately, most of Peter Bernstein's music for Rough Riders sounds like bits and pieces of other Western scores thrown together in a stock package. Even without an abundance of originality --or even a small new twist to the Western formula-- this score still functions in its place. It is exactly what one should expect for a made-for-TV Western film score, and little more. The title theme bounces along with riding-worthy brass and percussion, and the quieter moments have the same theme performed by strings. Other than the use of an acoustic guitar and a faint harmonica in a few of the tracks, their score is orchestral in a traditional sense, with no experimentation with unique instruments, solos, or rhythms. Thus, with such a distinct difference between the music of Peter and his father, the issue of usability arises. Whenever one of Elmer's contributed tracks begins to play, something in the back of the mind of any casual viewer of the film instantly clicks and recognizes Elmer Bernstein's superior style. The two tracks by Elmer will be the enjoyable enigma on album and in the film, with the upbeat theme that Bernstein wrote shining due to its swing of rhythm (or just that genuine, magical Elmer touch). It begs the question as to why this theme was not better adapted by Peter into the starring role of the title theme for the entire production, unless he was too concerned about allowing his own music to take center stage. Unfortunately, the rest of the score by Peter sounds like stock Western music. Surely, the two tracks by Elmer Bernstein are worthy of attention, but are they worth the price of the entire CD? Perhaps so for Bernstein collectors, simply because Peter Bernstein's score, although an offspring of other Western scores of the past, is still solid, orchestral music. With Elmer's career slowing down after that year, his Rough Riders music would become all the more important. ***
* Contains the "G Troop" theme by Elmer Bernstein
Insert includes extra information about the score and film.
I was immensely aided in this effort by the ability of John Milius to tell a story through both writing and directing thus clearing a path for me to tread. I would also like to think Larry Levinson and all the people at Larry Levinson Productions as well as TNT. Also thanks to Richard Kraft, Cheryl Tiano, and most especially my father for conducting the score and his contribution to the G Troop theme."
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