While Ernest Gold embarked on his career as a composer of symphonies, his heart was always in the world of Max Steiner. Gold was born Ernst Sigmund Goldner, in Vienna, 100 years ago today.

If you missed my tribute to Gold Sunday night on “The Lost Chord,” on WWFM – The Classical Network, the show is now posted as a webcast. On the program is his String Quartet No. 1, his song cycle “Songs of Love and Parting,” and two of his most famous film themes – those for “Exodus” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” The songs are performed by Gold’s wife of 19 years, Marni Nixon, the soprano who “ghost voiced” for a number of the musicals’ leading ladies, in films like “The King and I,” “My Fair Lady,” and “West Side Story.”

https://www.wwfm.org/post/lost-chord-july-11-unalloyed-gold

As an addendum, it’s only within the last year or so that I discovered Gold’s Piano Concerto, written when he was 17 years-old. The recording appeared on a CD with George Antheil’s music for the film “Dementia.” Gold worked as an orchestrator on a number of Antheil’s films. When Antheil fell ill and was unable to follow through on a commitment to score “On the Beach,” Gold stepped up. The music earned Gold an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe.

In all, Gold would be nominated by the Academy four times. He was recognized with an Oscar for his powerful contribution to “Exodus” in 1960. Here’s another nice Gold tribute:

Eddie Harris riffs on “Exodus”:

Not really my cup of tea, but “Fight for Survival” from “Exodus” was sampled (a string passage, reversed) by Moby, great-great-great nephew of Herman Melville (!), for his song “Porcelain.”

All that glitters is Gold. Happy birthday, Ernest Gold!

PHOTO: With Bobby Darin, Sandra Dee, and his “Exodus” Oscar