What with this and Amelia, I really need to start turning up to parties earlier! I've always liked Fenton and have a decent amount of CD's by him in my collection. I don't know how this one passed me by for so long, although I've never seen the film, so maybe that's why. But what a corker of a score it is! So emotional and tender. Lovely stuff. Fenton has never had a signature voice or style that has ever stood out to me, like some composers' music does, but that has never taken away the joy I have derived from his music and scores over the years. This is certainly up there with the very best of his work. Thoughts? (I did search for other threads about this score, but could'nae find any).
I'm fairly certain I once did a thread on this, but I can't find it either.
In any case, it's a great score. Somewhat 'cool' and classical in parts compared to some of the lusher things he's done otherwise, but it's one of my earliest and fondest Fenton soundtracks.
It’s even more powerful in the (excellent) film than on album. I may even go so far as to say it’s his best score, in terms of perfectly supporting the film.
It’s even more powerful in the (excellent) film than on album. I may even go so far as to say it’s his best score, in terms of perfectly supporting the film.
Yavar
I agree, Yavar. I really liked the movie and thought the score was gorgeous and perfectly married to the film.
A few years ago I begged the late Nick Redman to do a Twilight Time release of the film, which is criminally out of print in the U.S. He kindly replied: "We are fond of Shadowlands but haven't managed to pry it loose as yet."
Great great score. I’ve been listening to the album since 1992 and only watched the film this year, giving the music a whole new meaning.
If you love this, I also recommend his scores to Handful of Dust and Cry Freedom. They’re different, but they both have that Fenton quality that’s hard to describe. You just want to keep playing them over and over.
"...I really write end titles for the families of the music department (who are always at the very end) while they wait patiently for their loved ones' names to appear...." - George Fenton
Thanks Bill. I'd never heard that music before. I much preferred the second link over the first. Sounds like he's riffing on Tubular Bells and Carpenter's Halloween in the proper score suite.
"As halloween same year id be surprised if he was influenced by it as had to write it probably months before halloween's release" ------------- Okay, they were both ripping off Tubular Bells then
