Customer Reviews

Much Ado About Nothing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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Patrick Doyle has become one of those composers whose first works in motion pictures mark the status of film music scoring. His work for "Henry V" -actually his first -put him on the map. But "Much Ado About Nothing" puts him on a pedestal.

Emma Thompson gives a sweet reading on 'The Picnic', thus giving support to the main love theme, which is truly fantastic. Later this track gives way to the 'Overture', a magnificent piece with epic proportions and, perhaps, one of Doyle's best themes. The vocal tracks (sung by himself, I believe) 'Sigh No More, Ladies' and 'Pardon, Goddess Of The Night' are truly enchanting. Overall, the music on this CD is remarkable. Patrick Doyle is remarkable.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING SOUNDTRACK is as good or better than the movie! This music is passionate, romantic, emotional and always makes me "blithe and bonny!" I wish all music was this uplifting and inspiring!

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING SOUNDTRACK transports me to my ivory tower of happiness and peace. I think there's something here for everyone to enjoy. My favorite songs [very favorite=*] are THE PICNIC*, OVERTURE*, THE SWEETEST LADY, A STAR DANCED*, SIGH NO MORE LADIES*, IT MUST BE REQUITED, HERO'S WEDDING*, CHOOSE YOUR REVENGE*, PARDON GODDESS OF THE NIGHT, HERO REVEALED, and BENEDICT THE MARRIED MAN; but I love them all!

I highly recommend this CD to all but if you loved the movie you definitely need to buy this!

You hear the overture from this album. 'Much Ado' is easily the most musical of Kenneth Brangh's three Shakespaere films thus far (although the upcoming 'Love's Labours Lost' will likely be more so), and I think that Doyle must have loved scoring it. This is music that motivates you to love life, and is very sensitive and ceremonial.

'Hero's Wedding' should be played at real weddings everywhere! This happy piece just makes you want to celebrate whatever is at hand.

All in all, a solid achievement: Doyle kept the music under control, and the result is a score that is both free-wheeling and dignified.

"Sigh no more, ladies..." is how this soundtrack begins, and to this day, I still remember the thrill I felt sitting in the Guild 45th Theater here in Seattle as the film began. A room full of Shakespeare lovers, all excited about seeing Kenneth Branagh's latest adaptation--a stellar cast--and one of the most satisfying film scores of the 1990's.

Patrick Doyle's small role in the film (as a musician, of course)kept him on set during the filming of the movie, and many of the themes were composed on location in Tuscanny. There is a sense of fun, danger, loss, romance, and even passion that infuses every track of this cd--and it has easily stood the test of time.

From instrumentals like "You Have Killed a Sweet Lady" to the simple guitar and vocal arrangement of "Sigh No More," this is a film score that Shakespeare himself would be proud of. Themes are appropriate to the characters, melodies fit the lyrics of the classic songs, and overall there is a feeling that although this is "Much Ado About Nothing," this score is truly something.

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Like all compositions by Patrick Doyle for films directed by Kenneth Branagh, the score of "Much Ado About Nothing" gives life to Branagh's film. I first discovered Patrick Doyle's music when I watched "Much Ado", and I loved the film instantly: 50% for the acting and direction, and 50% for the music alone. The overture which booms grandly during the enjoyable and lively opening credits already tells the viewer and listener so much of what is to come: parties, love, deception, egos, masculinity, but most of all -- FUN! Even for the solemnest and quietest of scenes, strings are playing purposely in the background, without drowning out the conversation; quite the contrary, rather than distracting the viewer from the mood of the plot, the score convinces the viewer that the play was always intended to have such fitting music to begin with. Patrick Doyle himself adds a personal touch to his score by singing "Sigh No More Ladies" and "Pardon Goddess of the Night" -- two absolutely unforgettable tunes. I recommend his original compositions for "Henry V", "Dead Again", and "Hamlet" -- other Branagh productions.

If you've seen "Much Ado About Nothing" by Kenneth Branagh then you can reasonably agree that Patrick Doyle's score is an hauntingly beautiful addition to a masterful film. There is the grand opening, the soulful requiem, and the joyous celebration all wrapped into one delightful package. The orchestrations are moving and nicely arranged. I encourage anyone to listen to the music even if they haven't seen or read this wonderful story!

Impossible to comment on the richness of such a partition in some lines. Doyle had already proven us with Henry V his nobility in a composition with the purely classico-romantic style. And the term is absolutely not pejorative. Victim of its European stock, of its culture, which return weapons to him whose too often misused its americans compatriots. One is not mistaken there more. All Horner and Williams, only drew too much from a post-romantic style coming from the old world, thus pretexting a maitrise symphonic art. Admittedly, beautiful coating is present each time, but, with force to always hear the same thing there, one wearies oneself. The topics often there, are well built, but side invention orchestral and melody, it will be necessary to pass by again by the box 'Patrick Doyle'.

Even if one can criticize a style a little too massive in certain choruses, Doyle concretizes with this partition all that makes of him a true author. One could believe that certain pages have been just exhumed, leaving straight of new files Prokoviev, Chabrier or Moussorsky. Doyle does not copy them. It makes as well, at least, it invents as well as his fathers, and it is what strikes from the start. The invention in the tuttis, the attacks massive of the cords, an innate direction of the surprise, to dare melodies distributed uniquements to bass, to dare the percussions. It is of Berlioz, the 'damnation of faust' is not far. For this reason, track 16 is a small masterpiece, in particular in the beautiful dialogue tuttis of trumpets and cords. There are in this piece at least 5 different topics. All that in 2 minutes of time. Certain composers are able to stretch only one theme on 15 tracks, the performance is not the same one. Kenneth Brannagh is a lucky director. Of course, its talent, it owes it only with itself, but its luminous directing is doubly reinforced by the attribute of a theme in each chapter of the account. Songs, Dances, dramas, passions, etc.

As many ingredients which call at the same time sound and visual emotions. The melodies are so beautiful that one could tell film by singing them. Thank you in Patrick Doyle, to recall us that a 'Soundtrack' does not mean 'sound effects' simply images. With him, there are only Goldsmith or Morricone who make the difference.

I adore this soundtrack. The overture is incredibly stirring. Many other pieces are incredibly romantic. Listening to it makes me feel like I'm in the sunny Italian countryside--quite a feat for someone who lives in rainy Oregon.

Doyle's score for this comedy is perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the play. It is liesurely, free-spirited, unbuttoned music that does not worry about being 'artistic' or impressive, but simply enjoys itself and consequently, impresses the listener. Even the music for the villains is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Above all, this is atmosphere music. Listening to this score will call up hazy, flickering memories of summers long gone.

When I first saw this motion picture I was in awe of the music which filled the theater. It was wonderful then, and it's just as remarkable when you play the soundtrack on your stereo. This is first rate classical music that varies in mood; triumph to sadness. There's something for everyone on "Much Ado About Nothing". I know that many people are turned off by classical music, but give this CD or Tape a try!!! I've never been a HUGE fan of this music, but even I have to admit that this soundtrack is amazing. :-)