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Serenada Schizophrana
Composed by Danny Elfman
Sony Classical Records
Rating: 8/10
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 I.
Pianos (530 kb)
II.
Blue Strings (499 kb)
III.
A Brass Thing (388 kb)
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“Elfman's effort here echoes instances of his past
film music work - a measure here, a variation there, but the six
movements he has composed for this concert seems infused with
something more. Something that grabs the ear and doesn't let go
until the conclusion of the eighth track.”
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Elfman's Music for
a Splitting Mind
Review by Christopher
Coleman
It is usually a
pleasure to see what a
mainstay of film music
does when given the
opportunity to write
music outside the
constraints of the
typical Hollywood
film. Probably the
most recognized
composer to do so has
been John
Williams...and this
may be due, in large
part, because he is
simply the most
recognizable film
music composer around.
Not to be forgotten
are Lee Holdridge and
the late Michael Kamen
who have had similar
opportunities in the
not- too-distant-past.
Now another A-list
composer has been
added to their ranks.
Composer Danny Elfman
is also a fairly
recognizable name.
Whether it because of
his association with
the group Oingo Boingo
or his film music
association with
director Tim Burton,
his name isn't
completely obscure to
the general public.
Even if it was, his
music certainly isn't.
How many kids
recognize the Batman
theme (from the 90s)
or the new millenium
Spiderman theme? How
many tubers realize
that one of TV's most
popular television
shows, Desperate
Housewives, or one of
its longest running,
The Simpsons, is
starting as the first
few notes of Elfman's
title theme begin to
play? Danny Elfman has
certainly carved out
for himself a place in
Hollywood...but as a
symphonic concert
composer?
To answer my own
question. "Yes." This
too has now been added
to his impressive
resume with his
release of SERENADA
SCHIZOPHRANA. Elfman
was commissioned the
American Composers
Orchestra to write
music specifically for
concert performance.
Danny Elfman has
developed a
compositional style
that remains unique in
a industry that jumps
on and off trends
faster than MTV. Being
freed from the limits
of feature film
scoring, the prospect
of such a project
certainly had fans
curious as to how far
Elfman would launch
himself.
As it turns out
SERENADA SCHIZOPHRANA
is one of Elfman's
most interesting
releases in a number
of years. While his
film music is at least
adequate for the given
film, and occasionally
gets some soundtrack
fans stirred up, his
music, even with its
uniqueness, has only
rarely excited me.
However SERENADA
SCHIZOPHRANA changes
that...as I find
myself refreshingly
stirred.
Elfman's effort here
echoes instances of
his past film music
work - a measure here,
a variation there, but
the six movements he
has composed for this
concert seems infused
with something more.
Something that grabs
the ear and doesn't
let go until the
conclusion of the
eighth track. SERENADA
SCHIZOPHRANA begins
with a rousing piece
called "Piano" but the
seven minute piece
goes far beyond the
efforts of that lone
instrument. The track
builds into a
full-force, orchestral
onslaught of
woodwinds, then
timpani, then brass
and strings evoking
memories of said
Spiderman, eventually
moving into realms
usually associated
with John Williams or
even Bernard Herrmann.
This instance isn't
the last time one will
think of the great
Bernard Herrmann while
listening to this CD
either. Just wait
until track 4, The
Quadruped Patrol. It
simply great stuff.
With Herrmann in mind
still, things turn
slightly darker,
slightly more menacing
in "Blue Strings" - an
over ten minute piece
of languishing strings
and deep brass.
It's difficult to keep
comparing Elfman's
work here to the work
of others, but it is
only meant as high
praise. As in other
tracks, "A Brass
Thing" is at its
onset, highly
evocative of some of
John Williams work
from the 70's (think
Jawas or March of the
Villains). Elfman
doesn't leave it there
however. He adds an
interesting snare,
tapping out a bit of a
tango, before the
piece moves into a
brief jazz section
alternating with some
classic Elfman
dramatic quirkiness
(of the Men in Black
variety). The piece
ends quite melodically
with harp and
flute...sorry again,
Mr. Elfman, but I'm
thinking of Princess
Leia. It's high
praise...really.
Finishing out this CD
experience, comes the
lively vocal, "I
Forget," the
chromatic, "Bells and
Whistles," a reprise
of track 4 in "End
Tag" and the
introspective "Improv
for Alto Sax." While
these conclusing
tracks are intriguing
and quite listenable,
the bulk of the
music's best moments
reside within the
first five tracks.
Danny Elfman's
SERENADA SCHIZOPHRANA
is a surprisingly
entertaining work.
Those entrenched in
the realms of
classical music will
be able to appreciate
Elfman's complexity
while his devoted fans
will find this a
pleasing release which
sits nicely along side
his best film score
efforts.
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Track |
Track Title |
Track Time |
Rating |
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1 |
I. Pianos |
7:00 |
**** |
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2 |
II. Blue
Strings |
10:08 |
**** |
|
3 |
III. A
Brass
Thing |
7:55 |
**** |
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4 |
IV.
The
Quadruped
Patrol |
2:55 |
**** |
|
5 |
V.
"I
Forget" |
6:23 |
**** |
| 6 |
VI. Bells and Whistles |
8:07 |
*** |
| 7 |
End Tag |
0:51 |
*** |
| 8 |
Improv for Alto Sax |
2:06 |
*** |
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