Customer Reviews

Henry V: Original Soundtrack Recording (1989 Film)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kenneth Branagh and Patrick Doyle have collaborated on together on several films, but they have yet to outdo Henry V their first collaboration. The movie itself is exceptional, and Patrick Doyle's score is fantastic. He captures the dark essence of the movie along with the medieval feel to the film perfectly in his music. From the opening bars of the first track to the swelling chorus of the final track Doyle writes great music. There are 2 tracks which belong in the masterpiece themes of music however. One is track 10: St. Crispins Day/ Battle of Agincourt. As Henry (Branagh) gives his St. Crispins Day speech, the music begins very low, slowly building with the strength of Branagh's voice until it reaches a climax at the same time as the speech. It is a great moment in cimatic/music history. The second notable track is number 12: Non Nobis Domine, an old Latin hymn adapted for the music. This track captures perfectly the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt, as King Henry mourns for the baggage boys slaughtered by the French, and marvels at the great victory he won over the French. This cd has everything a music lover could want: romantic themes, battle music and just exceptional music. A great cd, one you will want to play over and over again.

It is quite dificult to find a score that matches so perfectly with the images on the film. But Doyle has done it. Since the first notes, that great, dark opening, the story is told not only by the words of Shakespeare or the images. Music is also a narrator.

Tracks like Death of Bardolph, or the great Battle of Agincourt, express all the emotion, power and passion the play has.

I consider this score as a real piece of classical music. And the direction by Simon Rattle is also perfect. The strings and choirs going together in a perfect blend.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

This score is, as my title would suggest, some of the most absolutely beautiful music I have ever encountered. I can't think of many scores I've heard that have songs that can stir the soul the way 'St. Crispin's Day' or 'Non nobis, Domine' can. I really really love this score. If I haven't already made it clear, I also highly recommend it.

The passage of time has not diminished the impact of this soundtrack....Kenneth Branagh's excellent film would have been a pale shadow of itself were it not for Patrick Doyle's brilliant score. This music is the movie's voice, heart, soul, guts and brain. The fact that the Academy saw fit not to even nominate this score in 1989 when the movie picked up 3 other nominations, remains one of the most appalling crimes in Oscar history. What were they smoking?

Patrick Doyle's score is the best movie soundtrack I have ever heard. Not only does it lend strength to Branagh's (already incredible) film; the score alone is a masterpiece, taking you through all the passions of a Shakespearean drama by sound alone. Which is saying quite a lot. My favorite tracks are of course, the opening two, "Crispin's Day," "The Wooing of Katherine," and Non Nobis. If you listen to this, prepare to be moved!

It's not often that a great modern film composer like Patrick Doyle merges with a great actor/director Kenneth Branagh to make a Shakespeare film memorable for its visual and story element that seem inseparable from a masterly monumental music score. As Ken spits his speeches out as King Henry, Doyle's music drives with pure emotion and dramatic integrity down to the bone - with violins against clashing swords working remarkably. Save it for your children to listen to years from now as an example of a great musical masterpiece of the 20th Century that soars with Neo-Romanticism and medieval overtones. This soundtrack also re-establishes the idea of a "good" movie soundtrack with pure art conquering the common commercial trash. BUY IT! CHERISH IT!

One of the problems with film soundtracks on CD is that, of course, the music is written with the specific purpose of accompanying an image on screen. Hence, if you take the music out of that intended context, it can seem odd, even dull.

Nonetheless, I bought this having seen the film because one of the most striking things about the film was the soundtrack. Upon reading the liner notes, I was quite stunned to learn that Patrick Doyle (whose music has frequently struck me) had never before written a film score. Indeed, the music had to be orchestrated for him in the case of "Henry V." Despite all this, it is truly one of the finest film scores ever composed. More serious musical friends of mine might disagree, but I don't think there is a single moment in which the symphonic forces aren't properly deployed or used to the highest effect.

However, it must be added that part of the success of the music lies within the performers. For the film, Kenneth Branagh and his production staff contracted Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to record the score; in so doing, they made a landmark decision, as both Rattle and his performers rise to the heights of excellence in playing it through. It certainly stands as a feather in their cap that they were allowed to play such a significant role in a very well-made film.

I don't often put this disc on (for reasons mentioned above), but when I do it never fails to exhilarate. Devotees of William Walton's celebrated "Henry V" score (admittedly much more polished and professional than Doyle's) may not find this one wholly to their liking, although the choral number, "Non Nobis Domine," brings an extra dimension that is lacking in any other version of "Henry V."

In conclusion, I believe that this CD makes a great souvenir of the film, but even if you haven't seen it, there is much on here that is worth hearing.

My husband, like Henry, is a soldier. Was when I met and fell for him, lo those twenty years ago. So, whenever I watch and hear Branagh's version of the verse: "I speak to thee a plain soldier .... If thou would have such a one, take me; and take me, take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king." I simply get chills. Certainly, someone was channelling the sentiments of soldiers' wives throughtout the world when they wrote and recorded The Wooing of Katherine.
However, it's not that track which haunts me.
Since I first saw this masterpiece, immediately after Gulf I, I though, "If anything ever happens to him, Non Nobis is the melody I want to hear when they carry him to his grave." That, thank God, hasn't yet happened.
However, as I write this, I'm copying Non Nobis and other selections to send to a friend in Iraq, another soldier. And praying that he'll put the music to no other use but sheer enjoyment.

I first heard this while flipping channels on TV. The movie "Henry V" was on and the music captured my attention. After watching the movie I was blown away. The movie, the cast, the soundtrack are awesome. Patrick Doyle should be Knighted by the Queen of England for this Masterpiece.

This is a soundtrack that never fail to move, if not to tears, then at least to a (deep) sigh. The 'Non Nobis' is one of the most stirringly beautiful glorias I have ever heard. What makes this soundtrack doubly-incredible (or sickening, depending on your point of view) is that this was composer Patrick Doyle's first attempt at a soundtrack. What his untried powers came up with is a hauntingly beautiful saga of music that perfectly echoes Kenneth Branaugh's lush production.