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Great Expectations
Composed by Patrick Doyle
Atlantic Records
Rating: 10/10
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“About once a year a score is produced and released
on CD that is so potent, so filled with wonderful experiences in
emotion that writing a review for it is a breeze and a joy! GREAT
EXPECTATIONS is that score for 1998.”
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To Good, But Too
Early
Review by Christopher Coleman
About once a year a
score is produced and
released on CD that is
so potent, so filled
with wonderful
experiences in emotion
that writing a review
for it is a breeze and
a joy! GREAT
EXPECTATIONS is that
score for 1998. This
is by far one of
PATRICK DOYLE'S best
scores. It is one of
his most unique. For
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Doyle employs a number
of techniques and
styles that are
compelling, fitting
for their respective
scenes, as well as
highly entertaining as
stand-alone music. The
score reflects the
directors and
producers vision for
the film adaptation of
the classic story. It
is the classical
experienced and seen
through contemporary
eyes. In the case of
the score it is
classical heard
experienced through
contemporary ears and
enhanced by
contemporary styles.
The opening track
helps set this score a
part from most every
other score for 1998.
Here Doyle utilizes a
solo whistler and the
voice talents of Tori
Amos. Gently flowing
behind them are softy
playing by
ever-swelling strings,
chimes, and wind
instruments. It helps
to develop the setting
of the youth and
innocence of young
Finn, the story’s main
character. This track
could accompany the
most lazy of puffy-
cloud- filled- blue-
sky days fit for
laying in the grass
and daydreaming. It is
unassuming but
poignant.
This score is filled
with dramatic pieces
that follow the
typical Doyle-style
found in HENRY V and
THE LITTLE PRINCESS.
At the same time there
are a number of tracks
that one would not
easily imagine fitting
on the same CD
release. Somehow Doyle
pulls it off and it
makes for a great
listen straight
through the CD. From
the previously
mentioned
dramatic/suspense
pieces to the soft
guitar, played
classically by John
Williams, Estella’s
Theme (4) to the
contemporary-rhythmic
pieces like Kissing in
the Rain (8) to big
band/jazz to the
operatic I Saw No
Shadow of Another
Parting (7) to the
spanish-guitared
Besame Mucho (20) this
score touches a gamut
of textures and
emotions as does its
film.
The true genius of
GREAT EXPECTATIONS is
the synthesis of these
varying styles into
one collective
experience that one
truly never tires of
having. Unfortunately,
it’s early release in
1998 all but insured
it would be forgotten
come award time, which
is a true shame. The
Titanic hoopla has
swallowed up all
concurrent releases.
Given Patrick Doyle’s
recent health
problems, it is all
the more amazing the
score he was able to
write. There are a lot
of healthy composers
who can only dream of
doing such magnificent
work. Patrick Doyle is
certainly deserving
of, at least, a GG or
Oscar nomination. If I
were to put a CD
together, I’d never
dream of placing
classical, jazz and
contemporary dance
material on the same
CD and actually enjoy
the listening
experience. All credit
to Doyle and the
producers of this
score release for
attempting and pulling
off the
near-impossible.
A high recommendation
of GREAT EXPECTATIONS
would be an
understatement. Of the
few scores one might
classify as
the-only-one-you-have-on-a-deserted-island-type,
this is surely one of
them! Given its great
variety yet strong
unity, it makes for
the perfect island
companion…well,
excluding certain
companions of the
female variety!
Whatever one has to
pay for this…it’s
worth it.
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Track Listing and Ratings |
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Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
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1 |
Finn |
2:54 |
**** |
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2 |
Crossing the
Gulf |
1:48 |
*** |
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3 |
Paradiso
Perduto |
2:09 |
*** |
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4 |
Estella's
Theme |
3:28 |
***** |
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5 |
Ain't
Life
Grand |
0:55 |
**** |
| 6 |
A Walk in the Park |
1:21 |
***** |
| 7 |
I Saw No Shadow of Another Parting |
2:38 |
***** |
| 8 |
Kissing in The Rain |
3:06 |
***** |
| 9 |
Joe Leaves |
1:38 |
**** |
| 10 |
The Day all My Dreams Came True |
1:30 |
**** |
| 11 |
Pyramid of Pain |
2:27 |
*** |
| 12 |
Planes On a Plane |
0:46 |
**** |
| 13 |
A Toast |
1:24 |
**** |
| 14 |
Benefactor |
1:33 |
*** |
| 15 |
Lustig Dies |
3:35 |
** |
| 16 |
Paradiso Perduto Revisited |
0:44 |
*** |
| 17 |
It Was Just My Memory of It |
2:22 |
**** |
| 18 |
The Price of Success |
2:03 |
**** |
| 19 |
Underfloor |
2:42 |
**** |
| 20 |
Besame Mucho |
$:55 |
*** |
| 21 |
By The Inch Or By The Hour |
2:42 |
**** |
| 22 |
The Big Trip |
3:30 |
*** |
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Total Running Time |
50:19 |
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