Customer Reviews

Filmworks X: In the Mirror of Maya Deren

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Zorn's soundtrack work has over the years produced a number of records of stunning and fragile beauty. With a collection as vast as Zorn's of soundtrack music (sixteen albums worth released with at least one more on the way in 2006), it seems likely that some will get overlooked. When speaking of his best soundtrack work, "Filmworks X: In the Mirror of Maya Deren" does not often get mentioned, but it really should.

Performed ably by Erik Friedlander (cello), Jamie Saft (keyboards) and Cyro Baptista (percussion), with Zorn contributing piano and percussion on a few cuts, the soundtrack is largely romantically tinged themes stated and reprised in a number of formations. "Nostalgia" (peformed by Friedlander and Saft on piano) is the best example of this-- Zorn's melody is fragile and beautiful and Friedlander's performance adds depth and emotion to it. End result-- simply superb music. This is pretty much consistently the story here, whether it be Harold Budd styled ambient ("Drifting"), percussion pieces ("Haiti") or a lilting piano number ("Filming"), the whole record is performed with unusual sensitivity and power.

In short, this is not an album to be overlooked-- one of the best in Zorn's soundtrack catalog. Highly recommended.

i'll keep it short,this work is great in it's "smallness" and keen on emotion.you can feel that john has a respect for maya's art,as he expresses it through these touching songs.i haven't heard any of the other of zorn's film works,but if they come close to x,they'd be worth a look!

Overall the tracks on this Film Works go beyond haunting into depression.
It seems the compositions strive to be so, so esoteric, but mostly they just barely register a pulse. The music does sway from time to time, but slowly and darkly. "Family Found" is hinted at a on several tracks and there is some pipa-like cello plucking similar to some of Zorn's pipa-works. I like Zorn and most of the Film Works, and this one is okay, but not great. Baptiste, however, truly stands out on track 12, Voudoun.