Henry Mancini
Remington Steele Theme

Enrico Nicola Mancini, better known simply as Henry, was one of the greatest film music composers of the last century. His name is associated with the soundtracks of films beloved by the general public but especially with true masterpieces of cinema history. Just think of "The Party" (1968), "Breakfast At Tiffany's" (1961), and the "Pink Panther" series all directed by Blake Edwards, as well as Stanley Donen's major works, "Charade" (1963) and "Two For The Road" (1967).

Not everyone knows, however, that Mancini also composed themes for television series, the most famous being undoubtedly the opening theme for "Remington Steele", an NBC series that aired from 1982 to 1987, known in Italy also as "Mai Dire Sì". The series is a delightful mix of irony and mystery: the story of a private detective (Stephanie Zimbalist) who runs her investigative agency under the guise of a non-existent boss (Remington Steele); the series launched Pierce Brosnan, who portrays the fake figure of Remington Steele and accompanies his employer in the most bizarre and varied investigations.

The theme that Mancini composes despite its simplicity and immediacy due to the short duration of the theme song is a small very interesting gem. The beginning is entrusted to the brass instruments that trace the basic melodic line, a slow and steady pace that is repeated regularly; within the melodic texture, there are also the strings that first accompany the brass and then pick up the main theme themselves, the rhythm is marked by the timpani in this first part. The strings then lead again to the brass that break the initial melodic line, the drums replace the timpani; now in the longer version, detached from the TV theme song, there is a small jam session with the sax launching into a fine digression accompanied by bass, drums, and various percussion in the background. The strings continue together with the brass in the background, playing the theme which then resumes where it left off. Here the main theme is again picked up by the brass and then by the strings, the sound grows in intensity and then descends, leaving only the brass and drums, reducing the overall sound level until almost silent, the strings join in, and it crescendos with all the instruments leading to the finale.

In the end, a small great composition that demonstrates that even a serial's theme song can be a work of art.