CD REVIEW - The Prophecy & News from Costa Communications
The Prophecy
Music by David Williams
Perseverance PRD 013 (U.S.)
28 Tracks 61:38 mins
I recall seeing this 1995 fantasy thriller back when it was first shown on TV and found it quite enjoyable. The music score worked well enough, certainly to bring a few enquiries as to the availability of a soundtrack album, which unfortunately never appeared at the time. Well, thanks to enterprising label Perseverance Records, fans David Williams' score can now enjoy his music away from the film.
As with all the label's releases, a very attractive and informative booklet, featuring notes on the film and its score, which include interviews with the film's writer/director Greg Widen and with the composer himself, accompanies the generous disc.
The film concerns good angel Simon (Eric Stoltz) and his efforts to thwart Archangel Gabriel's rebellion against God's favouritism towards humans and his attempt to overthrow His kingdom, and Christopher Walken is perfect casting in the role.
Williams' music is synthetically realised, combining synths and samples to provide a full sound, which makes interesting use of voices, both solo and combined, to give the necessary weight and religious feel. The score starts out impressively with "All About Faith," where, after a solo voice leads the way, the track builds percussively to a big choral climax. A good deal of the music that follows is dark and atmospheric, but there are some violent moments - "Out of the Window" in particular comes to mind. There are of course ethereal moments, representing the angelic host and a poignant solo piano drifts in and out here and there, like in "Going home" and "Part of the Plan." There is another recurring motif, a purposeful theme first heard in "Thomas and Simon," which receives its fullest development in the album's final track "Prophecies," receiving choral support. Just prior to this, "He's Coming" and "Divine Intervention" are both impressive tracks, the former commencing with a capella heavenly voices, before reaching a powerful climax; the latter, a mix of powerful choral splendour and menace.
A sequel was made the following year and fans will be delighted to hear that Perseverance have released an album of that score too, which I shall be reviewing here in the next few days - so y'all come back now!
From Costa Communications
AARON ZIGMAN'S SCORE FOR
"FLICKA"
IS A WILD RIDE
20th Century Fox release date October 20
Scoring Session Footage Available
(Los Angeles, CA) Film composer Aaron Zigman scores 20th Century Fox's
remake of the 1943 family western "My Friend Flicka." The modern version,
with its title shortened to "Flicka," stars Alison Lohman and country music
superstar Tim McGraw as daughter and father. When the father (McGraw)
decides that Katie (Lohman) should attend college in place of running the
family ranch, she decides to tame a wild mustang in order to sway his
opinion. Zigman's score is rousing and propulsive, reminiscent of the
dynamic scores of golden-era westerns such as "The Magnificent Seven."
Directed by Michael Mayer ("A Home at the End of the World"), the film will
be released October 20th by Fox.
"Flicka" will be the latest addition to Zigman's diverse list of production
and scoring credits. As a classically trained pianist, Zigman developed a
strong musical foundation early in life, allowing him to work on everything
from popular music to orchestral concert works. He began his musical career
as a producer and arranger for notable popular music stars including Aretha
Franklin, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner, Carly Simon, Christina Aguilera and
Seal. His numerous symphonic pieces include a 35 minute-long tone poem
divided into five movements, written as a tribute to former Israeli Prime
Minister Itzhak Rabin, and "Impressions," a suite for a wind ensemble.
Expanding his repertoire to include film, Zigman began to arrange and
orchestrate for feature films such as "Mulan," "The Birdcage," "Licensed to
Kill" and "Pocahontas." His work garnered the attention of director Nick
Cassavetes, for whom he completed his first feature film score for "John
Q.," starring Denzel Washington. The two soon collaborated again on the
box-office hit "The Notebook."
Having established his name in film composing, Zigman went on to write the
scores for "The Wendell Baker Story," the directorial debut of Andrew Wilson
and Luke Wilson, "Raise Your Voice," a vehicle for pop superstar Hilary
Duff, "ATL," with rappers T.I. and Big Boi, and "Take the Lead," the
music-intensive dance drama starring Antonio Banderas. Also this year, he
wrote the scores for "Akeelah and the Bee," the critically-acclaimed film
with Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, and the smash hit "Step Up."
Zigman's upcoming projects include "10th and Wolf," a gangster film starring
Giovanni Ribisi, James Marsden, and Brad Renfro, and the much anticipated
"Alpha Dog," his latest collaboration with director Nick Cassavetes.
The Prophecy
Music by David Williams
Perseverance PRD 013 (U.S.)
28 Tracks 61:38 mins
I recall seeing this 1995 fantasy thriller back when it was first shown on TV and found it quite enjoyable. The music score worked well enough, certainly to bring a few enquiries as to the availability of a soundtrack album, which unfortunately never appeared at the time. Well, thanks to enterprising label Perseverance Records, fans David Williams' score can now enjoy his music away from the film.
As with all the label's releases, a very attractive and informative booklet, featuring notes on the film and its score, which include interviews with the film's writer/director Greg Widen and with the composer himself, accompanies the generous disc.
The film concerns good angel Simon (Eric Stoltz) and his efforts to thwart Archangel Gabriel's rebellion against God's favouritism towards humans and his attempt to overthrow His kingdom, and Christopher Walken is perfect casting in the role.
Williams' music is synthetically realised, combining synths and samples to provide a full sound, which makes interesting use of voices, both solo and combined, to give the necessary weight and religious feel. The score starts out impressively with "All About Faith," where, after a solo voice leads the way, the track builds percussively to a big choral climax. A good deal of the music that follows is dark and atmospheric, but there are some violent moments - "Out of the Window" in particular comes to mind. There are of course ethereal moments, representing the angelic host and a poignant solo piano drifts in and out here and there, like in "Going home" and "Part of the Plan." There is another recurring motif, a purposeful theme first heard in "Thomas and Simon," which receives its fullest development in the album's final track "Prophecies," receiving choral support. Just prior to this, "He's Coming" and "Divine Intervention" are both impressive tracks, the former commencing with a capella heavenly voices, before reaching a powerful climax; the latter, a mix of powerful choral splendour and menace.
A sequel was made the following year and fans will be delighted to hear that Perseverance have released an album of that score too, which I shall be reviewing here in the next few days - so y'all come back now!
From Costa Communications
AARON ZIGMAN'S SCORE FOR
"FLICKA"
IS A WILD RIDE
20th Century Fox release date October 20
Scoring Session Footage Available
(Los Angeles, CA) Film composer Aaron Zigman scores 20th Century Fox's
remake of the 1943 family western "My Friend Flicka." The modern version,
with its title shortened to "Flicka," stars Alison Lohman and country music
superstar Tim McGraw as daughter and father. When the father (McGraw)
decides that Katie (Lohman) should attend college in place of running the
family ranch, she decides to tame a wild mustang in order to sway his
opinion. Zigman's score is rousing and propulsive, reminiscent of the
dynamic scores of golden-era westerns such as "The Magnificent Seven."
Directed by Michael Mayer ("A Home at the End of the World"), the film will
be released October 20th by Fox.
"Flicka" will be the latest addition to Zigman's diverse list of production
and scoring credits. As a classically trained pianist, Zigman developed a
strong musical foundation early in life, allowing him to work on everything
from popular music to orchestral concert works. He began his musical career
as a producer and arranger for notable popular music stars including Aretha
Franklin, Natalie Cole, Tina Turner, Carly Simon, Christina Aguilera and
Seal. His numerous symphonic pieces include a 35 minute-long tone poem
divided into five movements, written as a tribute to former Israeli Prime
Minister Itzhak Rabin, and "Impressions," a suite for a wind ensemble.
Expanding his repertoire to include film, Zigman began to arrange and
orchestrate for feature films such as "Mulan," "The Birdcage," "Licensed to
Kill" and "Pocahontas." His work garnered the attention of director Nick
Cassavetes, for whom he completed his first feature film score for "John
Q.," starring Denzel Washington. The two soon collaborated again on the
box-office hit "The Notebook."
Having established his name in film composing, Zigman went on to write the
scores for "The Wendell Baker Story," the directorial debut of Andrew Wilson
and Luke Wilson, "Raise Your Voice," a vehicle for pop superstar Hilary
Duff, "ATL," with rappers T.I. and Big Boi, and "Take the Lead," the
music-intensive dance drama starring Antonio Banderas. Also this year, he
wrote the scores for "Akeelah and the Bee," the critically-acclaimed film
with Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett, and the smash hit "Step Up."
Zigman's upcoming projects include "10th and Wolf," a gangster film starring
Giovanni Ribisi, James Marsden, and Brad Renfro, and the much anticipated
"Alpha Dog," his latest collaboration with director Nick Cassavetes.
posted by jeffhall | 11:07 AM
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