Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen [Import]

Martin Phipps (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Cube Records
• ASIN: B000E6UWY4
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,604 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Virgin Queen

2. The Work of The Lord

3. One Mistress

4. Miseria Nomine

5. A Legacy Of Comfort

6. Essex

7. Lilly White, Comely Queen

8. La Volta

9. Armada

10. God Breathed

11. I've Come For Her

12. The Queen Lives

13. Remember Me

14. The Tower

15. Glass Words

16. Say It's Not So

17. I'll Be Blunt, Blount

18. Faithful Hearts

19. Gloriana

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly beautiful and beautifully haunting, March 3, 2007

By 

Eden Russell (Provincetown, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Audio CD)

Even from the very first minutes of The Virgin Queen, I just knew I HAD to have this soundtrack. I usually need to listen to a song before I can decide it I like it or not but this time it was different. On Saturday night, after watching part 1, I fell asleep humming to it and when on Sunday I saw part 2, all I cared for was how to get this album, regardless of means, regardless of cost.

People interested in the life of Elizabeth I who have not seen The Virgin Queen may be a little surprised as the OST did not feature typical Tudor music. Instead, there is a strong Medieval flavor, exceptional female voices and an interesting mix of musical instruments. The result is a perfect blend of surpassing beauty.

It is not just the tunes, or the voices, or the lyrics. These tracks have a life of their own. It is quality that sinks in you and grows on you like a mystical entity. Beautiful. Haunting. Breath-taking.

The Mediaeval Baebes are simply fascinating and I could not think of a better choice for this soundtrack. The tracks The Virgin Queen (#1) and The Work Of The Lord (#2) are my favorite from them and the tunes with variations are the most memorable from the movie. The lyrics of The Virgin Queen are actually taken from the poem 'On Monsieur's Departure' written by the Queen herself. The song enhances greatly the most dramatic moments in the movie (... my care is like my shadow...) and give a particular insight in Elizabeth's state of mind and her genius. Great compliments go to the composer Martin Phipps.

A curious fact I want to comment on is track 13. Oddly enough,
after listening to it for at least 20 seconds I realized the lyrics were not in English! It took me 7 more seconds to realize that I actually understood every word of them! I'm billingual now but of Bulgarian origin and the lyrics are in the Bulgarian language. Because it is extremely unlikely you will find the translation anywhere, here it goes:

'When you are gone, the summer is cool,
Your warm caresses slip by like the fall
Like an old song, our love, my dear.

When you are gone, the summer is cool,
Your warm caresses slip by like the fall
Like an old wound, our love, my dear.

(in English) Remember me...'

Later when I paid attention to the cover I saw that tracks #3, #10, #11 and #13 were performed by "The London Bulgarian Choir" and two Bulgarian singers.

To sum it up, this is probably the best OST in my collection and a must-have for everybody who enjoyed The Virgin Queen or appreciates the art of the Baebes. A true masterpiece.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Beauty, February 5, 2007

By 

J. Roquet "music afficionado" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Audio CD)

I fell in love with this soundtrack when PBS aired 'The Virgin Queen' (BBC: Masterpiece Theatre). Unfortunately, I could not find this soundtrack for sale anywhere in the states and had to buy it from Amazon's UK site. But what a wonderful purchase!

It is a delightful and lively blend of early music and modern stylings composed by Martin Phipps and featuring the talented Mediaeval Baebes with solos by Katherine Blake. The mix of instruments include the hardanger, sarangi, kamanchi, celtic harp, flute, duduk, electric & acoustic cello, electric & acoustic violin, electric guitar and citern. But it is the rich vocal harmonies and memorable melodic lines that will play in your head long after listening.

There are some decidedly haunting tracks that feature vocals by Dessislava Stefanova & Eugenia Georgieva with the London Bulgarian Choir.

It is no longer available at amazon.co.uk, but I think these UK sites still have it for sale:

bucksmusicgroup, towensend-records.co.uk

If you can find this CD, get it... and let those angelic voices put a smile on your face.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this!!!, December 9, 2007

By 

Shiri E. Segal (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (Audio CD)

I bought this CD a couple months ago. I love love love the music. I saw The Virgin Queen on Masterpiece Theater at PBS (an American network). The music I heard in the background entertained me so much that I had to find out who it was. The Mediaeval Baebes were wonderful. I have been a fan of this group ever since they started. I am surprised at myself that I did not even recognized the voices.

My only complaint is that I had to order this from overseas (which cost a fortune!!!), and took about a month to get to me, which is frustrating.

All in all this was worth buying and waiting for. I am glad I did.