I have some spending money to pick one soundtrack this week. Intrada announced Frank Cordell's Cromwell will be ending next week. The samples sound great. For those who have it, is it worth the purchase? I know it depends on taste but does the whole score hold up?
And if you're unfamiliar with Cordell, may i just recommend the excellent FSM release of his scores to Khartoum and Mosquito Squadron... Surprisingly more so for the latter (which was sort of added as filler) than the former, though both are excellent. Mosquito Squadron is pretty damn thrilling at times...
I put it in my five favourite releases last year. The 2nd disc with voice, music and sound effects is not mere leftovers, it offers a concise dramatisation of the film in audio.
I'm wondering if it will suddenly go out-of-print, hopefully not.
I own this score. I love it, it's really epic and magnificent. But as I don't want to repeat same situation, that we had with Sebastian again (I and several other man here highly recommended it for everyone who still not got it, one guy bought it, and later he said that he wasn't impressed this score at all), the only advice from me is very simple - listen samples at Intrada's site. If you like them - buy it, if not - don't
Thanks for the responses everyone. It is pretty much a guarantee that I will be purchasing Cromwell this week. I will then place Dead Again for next time. Can't wait to hear that one all the way through too. Unless something else will go on the chopping block.
Thanks for the responses everyone. It is pretty much a guarantee that I will be purchasing Cromwell this week. I will then place Dead Again for next time. Can't wait to hear that one all the way through too. Unless something else will go on the chopping block.
First thing - the liner notes are by Frank K. DeWald, Anthony d'Oberoff and a real stinger to capp it off by Douglass Fake. You get to find out where the chorals originate.
There are many things I like about the score, but just to close in on one of them; track 8 (Parliament is dissolved) has a long diminishing drum roll/beat that slowly fades. This is the King crossing his Rubicon - it is powerfully military in form and also creates that descending feeling of going over the edge. Beautifully done.
That's just one of the great things in the score. It has an epic feel which is not dogged with stagnation in any way.
I have the Intrada 2CD since its release and enjoy it a lot, but not as much as say Lionheart by Goldsmith. The first CD of Cromwell is orchestral and instrumental in the symphonic tradition, with some nice choral parts worked in. The style to me however is more "modern" than similar to the historical era it is set in. Be aware that the second CD in the album is the original LP release, and all its cues have music and dialog and effects mixed into them. Hope this helps.
