CD REVIEW - MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA
Miracle at St. Anna
Music by Terence Blanchard
Hollywood Records (US)
24 Tracks 75:55 mins
You may recall that last month I had the pleasure of bringing to your attention a score sampler, received from the composer's publicists, Costa Communications, of Terence Blanchard's latest collaboration with director Spike Lee, Miracle at St. Anna (see my blog of 22nd September).
Well, I have now received, from the same source, an advance of the actual commercial CD, released by Hollywood Records (thes score is apparently also available for download).
The sampler featured the "guts" of the score, some 35 minutes over 11 tracks, but the finished CD adds another 13 tracks and clocks in at a very generous 75 minutes-plus.
What I originally had to say about the score still very much applies, but it's obviously good to have all this extra music, which of course largely expands upon the main thematic material presented in the initial sampler.
Of the tracks not previously covered, I would pick out "White Commander," with its strong martial drumming, and the much longer "Third Reich," which, though similar at times, is largely a pretty fatalistic and anguished affair. By contrast, "Great Butterfly Part 1" presents a tranquil interlude for accordion and guitar, with the much later "Great Butterfly Part 2" expanding on the theme in tragic fashion. The heroic "Paisans Theme Part 1" again features the martial drumming; with "Main Theme at Herbs" featuring slightly surprising slide guitar musings alongside the theme, before ending with warm strings. "Paisans Theme Part 2" offers the theme from "Great Butterfly Part 1" against a powerful, somewhat tragic backdrop; whilst "War Is Hell - Mourn The Dead" finds the main theme emerging proudly from a mournful opening, but ending more intimately with piano. "End Credits" brings the album to a satisfying close, with its poignant and powerful variations on the main theme.
Undoubtedly this is a fine score which I imagine, depending of course on the film's reception, is likely to feature come Oscars time.
Miracle at St. Anna
Music by Terence Blanchard
Hollywood Records (US)
24 Tracks 75:55 mins
You may recall that last month I had the pleasure of bringing to your attention a score sampler, received from the composer's publicists, Costa Communications, of Terence Blanchard's latest collaboration with director Spike Lee, Miracle at St. Anna (see my blog of 22nd September).
Well, I have now received, from the same source, an advance of the actual commercial CD, released by Hollywood Records (thes score is apparently also available for download).
The sampler featured the "guts" of the score, some 35 minutes over 11 tracks, but the finished CD adds another 13 tracks and clocks in at a very generous 75 minutes-plus.
What I originally had to say about the score still very much applies, but it's obviously good to have all this extra music, which of course largely expands upon the main thematic material presented in the initial sampler.
Of the tracks not previously covered, I would pick out "White Commander," with its strong martial drumming, and the much longer "Third Reich," which, though similar at times, is largely a pretty fatalistic and anguished affair. By contrast, "Great Butterfly Part 1" presents a tranquil interlude for accordion and guitar, with the much later "Great Butterfly Part 2" expanding on the theme in tragic fashion. The heroic "Paisans Theme Part 1" again features the martial drumming; with "Main Theme at Herbs" featuring slightly surprising slide guitar musings alongside the theme, before ending with warm strings. "Paisans Theme Part 2" offers the theme from "Great Butterfly Part 1" against a powerful, somewhat tragic backdrop; whilst "War Is Hell - Mourn The Dead" finds the main theme emerging proudly from a mournful opening, but ending more intimately with piano. "End Credits" brings the album to a satisfying close, with its poignant and powerful variations on the main theme.
Undoubtedly this is a fine score which I imagine, depending of course on the film's reception, is likely to feature come Oscars time.
posted by jeffhall | 2:51 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home