Completed Projects

State Fair (1945)

In honor of the film's 75th anniversary, I prepared a new edition of the score based upon the original handwritten full score manuscripts (also known as "partiturs"). These were used for the first time in October 2021 when the score was given its premiere stereo recording by the BBC Concert Orchestra led by conductor David Charles Abell (released on the Dutton Vocalion label in March 2024). Songs include the Oscar-winning "It Might as Well Be Spring," "It's a Grand Night for Singing," "That's for Me," "Isn't It Kinda Fun," and "All I Owe Iowa."

Orchestrators: Edward Powell; Maurice De Packh, Richard Hayman, Arthur Morton, Herb Taylor, Jack Virgil.

The 20th Century-Fox Songbook

In addition to the score from State Fair, I also restored a comprehensive collection of Fox's finest original songs of the 1940s-50s from the studio's surviving partiturs, and these too were recorded in October 2021. Songs featured are by the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Josef Myrow, Jule Styne, and Harry Warren, among others.

Orchestrators: Benny Carter, Maurice De Packh, Bernard Mayers, Arthur Morton, Edward Powell, David Raksin, Gene Rose, Conrad Salinger, Herbert Spencer.

Pollyanna (1960)

One of Walt Disney’s most acclaimed live-action films, Pollyanna introduced Hayley Mills in the title role (she won the Academy’s last juvenile Oscar for her performance) and also featured a stellar ensemble cast including Jane Wyman, Karl Malden, Adolph Menjou, Agnes Moorehead, and Nancy Olson. Paul Smith’s evocative score perfectly complements the screen action, but is also full of gorgeous moments and memorable themes that deserve to be heard and enjoyed on their own merits. The 20-minute concert suite I have constructed derives from the original film orchestrations preserved in the Disney archives.

Composer: Paul J. Smith; Orchestrator: Franklyn Marks

Something’s Gotta Give (Chandos CD 10838)

For Sir Simon Keenlyside’s Broadway/Hollywood recital album, I restored four songs: “The Girl Next Door” (M-G-M’s Athena), “It’s Magic” (Warner Bros.’ Romance on the High Seas), an alternate Conrad Salinger arrangement of “It Might as Well Be Spring” (Fox’s 1945 State Fair), and “Something’s Gotta Give” (Fox’s Daddy Long Legs).