Von Trapp Family Actors Recall SOUND OF MUSIC Recording Sessions

On March 2nd 1965, RCA released the soundtrack to 20th Century Fox's THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which made its debut on the Billboard album chart just eighteen days later, eventually reaching the No. 1 spot on Nov. 13, 1965.

Billboard reports that in celebration of the film's 50th Anniversary, RCA/Legacy Recordings is releasing a newly remastered and expanded edition of the soundtrack on Tuesday, March 10th. The LP will feature previously unreleased orchestral cues along with all the vocal performances. The set also features new introductory notes from Julie Andrews and Theodore S. Chapin, president and executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

Today, the actors who portrayed the von Trapp family children speak exclusively with Billboard to share their memories of the recording sessions for the iconic album.

Recalls LP. Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrich, "Everything was done live with a full orchestra and Irwin Kostal conducting and [associate producer] Saul Chaplin supervising. All seven of us stood SIDE BY SIDE at seven microphone stands and for the songs involving Julie, she was in a small, separate sound booth near us."

Adds Heather Menzies, who played Louisa, "My 'So-So' was recorded alone in the booth. Julie was there for all of our sessions. She would always put her hand on her head and point the other arm extended to the ceiling during a really high note."

Kym Karath, who portrayed Gretl at the age of five, recalls learning the iconic song Do-Re-Me. "The straight version was no problem at all," she shares. "But when we were singing it in the carriage, I kept wanting to sing everybody's part. The whole thing went together melodically for me so it was hard for me to just sing 'Do.'"

In addition, the cast members share their favorite songs from the soundtrack including "'So Long, Farewell', "My Favorite Things" and "Edelweiss."

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