Hilary And Jackie: Music From The Motion Picture [SOUNDTRACK]

Barrington Pheloung (Composer)

Product Details

• Composer: Barrington Pheloung
• Audio CD (December 15, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000FYID
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #72,891 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
As might be expected, the soundtrack to Hilary and Jackie plays a highly prominent role in this film about the emotionally fraught relationship between two gifted sisters, one of whom is the brilliant cellist Jacqueline Du Pré. Certainly composer Barrington Pheloung--whose credits include the Inspector Morse series and the evocative score to Truly, Madly, Deeply--faced a heady challenge in writing music to be heard alongside Du Pré's rhapsodic, signature interpretation of the Edward Elgar Cello Concerto, not to mention other classical selections. Even so, the resonantly autumnal, neo-Romantic flavor of his score aptly mirrors the narrative's flashback-oriented technique. His insistence on the cello's urgent high register (played by soloist Caroline Dale) creates a poignant musical portrait of its tragically stricken protagonist. Most of the CD, however, is given to the entire Elgar concerto--an especially effective choice as against the usual potpourri of classical snippets. This charged, elegiac, and easily accessible work--Elgar's own valedictory composition for orchestra--becomes a sort of musical metaphor for Du Pré's emotional journey and gains from being heard in its full context. While the performance featured here is conducted by husband Daniel Barenboim, you'll probably be inspired to try Du Pré's never-bettered version of the Elgar on EMI with John Barbirolli. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilary and Jackie- The Music that made the film, February 2, 2000

By	Amy Greenway (Australia) - See all my reviews

The soundtrack can only be described as inspirational. Listening to the sountrack, which has been so well compiled, only deepens the feelings of loss felt for the late Cellist extraordinare, Jackie Du Pre.For lovers of the film this soundtrack is a must, the highlight definately being the rendition of Elgar's Concerto, by far Ms Du Pre's most highly acclaimed work.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars profoundly romantic and tragic, September 22, 1999

By A Customer

Like many others, I was bewitched by the beauty of this music, let alone the uniqueness of Elgar's concerto and brilliant performance of Ms. Du Pre. My heart goes to the family, for their brave attitude and insightful proceeding of Jackie's story. The tune "Holiday Song", which used to be "their" song, I personally remember it from my childhood as a Mozart's tune, called "Lullaby". Unfortunately, I don't know how to get in touch with Jackie's family, but I wonder if anybody else noticed the same thing. My deepest respect for Jackie's art.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Inspiring, May 11, 2001

By	Stephanie K. O'sullivan "alaska7200" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Few orchestral pieces are so moving as Jacqueline DuPre's performances of Sir Edward Elgar's Concerto for Cello. The emotion that Ms. DuPre portrays is enough to make me want to grab a cello and play it (too bad I'm a flutist, ha). This album features the entire concerto, as well as several moving pieces composed for the film by Barrington Pheloung. This CD is an absolute must for any music lover.