John Adams [Television Series Soundtrack] [Soundtrack]

Rob Lane (Composer), Joseph Vitarelli (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Rob Lane, Joseph Vitarelli
• Audio CD (April 22, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B0016AK0NA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,362 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

HBO's lavish, sprawling John Adams epic was given vital emotional wallop by the soundtrack. Two composers created music which was needed to convey the fervor of a newly emerging nation, and the quiet moments of a proud man who lived a long life shot through with sadness--losing his first a child, and then later, in his twilight years, his beloved wife Abigail. The orchestral sweep is clearly of the Twentieth Century, undulating like American landscapes. However both Rob Lane and Joseph Vitarelli are adept at drawing on our shared cultural sensibilities. They evoke the period of the Revolutionary War without stilted mannerisms. While the script, actors and the director portray history, the soundtrack resonates emotionally with the modern world. --David Greenberger

Product Description

Starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, executive produced by Playtone's Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and directed by Emmy®-winner Tom Hooper, JOHN ADAMS is a seven-part epic miniseries event that explores American history through the eyes of one of the greatest of the founding fathers, John Adams (Giamatti), a fiercely independent spirit whose unwavering vision steered America through a tumultuous period.

Based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, the miniseries is produced for HBO Films by Playtone.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rejoice Ever More!, April 27, 2008

By 

P.K. Ryan "The Ryan Identity" (Albany, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Adams [Television Series Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

This is a superbly beautiful soundtrack from the recent HBO miniseries about our second President and Founding Father. I know virtually nothing about the technical aspect of music so I won't even try to describe that. All I will say is that this is a beautiful collection of classical music with a uniquely 18th century American flavor. It is heavy on violins which happens to be my favorite instrument.

Some of the songs are soft and delicate, while others are triumphantly upbeat. The Opening Titles track, perhaps my favorite, is an energetic and melodious blend of violins, whistles, drums and horns that has a distinctly American sound to it. Frankly, this song makes me want to start a revolution myself! That being said, many of the songs are much more subdued, and they tend to invoke a sort of melancholy reflection or even downright heartache. Others, such as 'Adams in the Cold' are not really sad nor triumphant, but have a strangely ironic yet perky sound, if that makes any sense. All in all, this is a brilliant and passionate collection of uniquely American music.

The best songs for me are:

Opening Titles
Leaving for Philadelphia
Abigail
Adams in the Cold
Letter to Jefferson
Farewell to Adams
John Says Goodbye
Abigail Dies
Hot Air Balloon

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely tremendous soundtrack!!, April 24, 2008

By 

Richard L. Smith "roguewriter" (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Adams [Television Series Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

HBO and PlayTone score again with their tremendous miniseries adaptation of David McCullough's Pulitzer-prize winning book, and the soundtrack to the miniseries is every bit as rich, resonating and timeless as the story of the chief architect of the American Revolution, its second president and unsung hero, John Adams. The score is outstanding, proving once again that a whole new crop of talented young musicians (including Rob Lane & Joseph Vitarelli here, and guys like Charlie Clouser, Bear McCreary and Tyler Bates) is springing full-grown from the foreheads of the masters and carrying on the legacy of the best in the original motion picture soundtrack subgenre. Stellar work!!

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Missing Main Title End Credits Full Version Theme, May 8, 2008

By 

Quaver (Collegeville, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Adams [Television Series Soundtrack] (Audio CD)

This set is good, except

1) They forgot to add the Main Theme 4:00 full version played during the end credits.

2) Although the main theme is excellent, this and the other Rob Lane compositions sound like they are mostly comprised of computer-midi generated instrumentations accompanied by a few "real" soloist instuments, while the other Joseph Vitarelli compositions are played - recorded from actual orchestrations.