Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection [Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Windham Hill Records
• ASIN: B0007NMKX0
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,845 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Scarborough Fair [From the Graduate] - Fred Simon

2. First Youth/Love Theme for Nata [From Cinema Paradiso] - Steve Erquiaga

3. Theme from The Black Stallion - George Winston

4. Farmer's Dance [From Babe] - Philip Aaberg

5. Calling You [From Bagdad Café] - Joan Jeanrenaud, Paul McCandless

6. Hedwig's Theme [From Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone] - Tracy Silverman

7. Over the Rainbow [From The Wizard of Oz] - Jim Brickman

8. Theme from The Princess Bride - Alex de Grassi

9. Valse d'Amélie [From Amélie] - Liz Story

10. Summer Knows [From Summer of '42] - Philippe Saisse

11. As Time Goes By [From Casablanca] - Stéphane Grappelli

12. Theme from Thousand Pieces of Gold - Wei Shan Liu, George Winston

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the past, cover albums of movie scores were usually overproduced easy-listening affairs of well-worn cinematic themes. But there are many memorable compositions and cogent atmospheres that never seem to make it beyond the film, and producer Dawn Atkinson attempts to remedy that, gathering the Windham Hill Players to furnish their takes on scores renowned and obscure. Cinema screens cues from Amélie, Cinema Paradiso, and The Princess Bride. A haunting song from Bagdad Café is played here by cellist Jean Jeanrenaud and oboist Paul McCandless in a supple classical arrangement. But even popular scores are given new spins. John Williams's "Hedwig's Theme" is reworked by violinist Tracy Silverman in a multitracked, plucked, bowed, and electronically enhanced arrangement that captures the antique mysticism of Harry Potter and his owl. Yet for every inventive reimagining and obscure gem, there are also predictable choices. Keyboardist Fred Simon's rote reading of "Scarborough Fair" and Jim Brickman's solo piano rendition of "Over the Rainbow" are safe and banal, while Phillipe Saise manages to make the sentimental theme from Summer of '42 simply maudlin. George Winston, on the other hand, brings his special sense of space and contemplation to "The Black Stallion" and his turn on "Theme from 1,000 Pieces of Gold" is brilliant. Winston uses his harmonica like a Chinese sho with a country/blues twang, backing the delicate plucking of gu-cheng player Wei-Shan. It's personal interpretations like that which make one hope for, rather than dread, a sequel to Cinema. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice background tracks for work, meditation or whatever!, August 31, 2005

By 

Far2Go (Sausalito, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection (Audio CD)

As a movie score fan I'd rate this compilation as a "must have" -- almost. Some tracks are a tad too "new age" for my tastes, but on the whole it's a nice effort and a great companion disc to Phillip Aaberg's "Cinema" CD.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for massage, November 11, 2007

By 

Jamie "LMT & MOM" (IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection (Audio CD)

I use this CD for massage sessions. It is entertaining, but very relaxing. I find people love to hear familiar songs they can't quite put their finger on, but have heard before. I love Hedwig's theme on this CD.