Customer Reviews

Paradise Road: Song of Survival

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Technically speaking, this isn't the full soundtrack of the movie "Paradise Road" -- it omits a lot including the instrumental theme, repeated several times through the movie; "I vow to thee my country", played poignantly during the shipwreck; "Mad About the Boy" and other 1940s and British music. That said, it includes a number of "vocal orchestra" arrangements that should have appeared in the movie.

The subtitle is "Song of Survival." The fact that two women transcribed from memory and arranged for female voices many piano and orchestral works while imprisoned in a jungle POW camp during WWII is simply amazing. Their original arrangements survived and were used for the movie and soundtrack. The singing here isn't perfect but it's very good and the Malle Babbe choir is particularly conscious to honor the memory of those who first sang these works. It's a moving performance.

As prisoners of the Japanese during WWII, that such haunting beauty could emerge from their wretched existence is a true testament to the unimaginable strength these women found within themselves. This music is a reminder that overwhelming despair can't win against a glimmer of hope.

If you have never heard Voices replacing Musical Instruments this is the CD to get you started. Most of the music is performed by the Malle Babbe choir using the vocal arrangements of Margaret Dryburgh and Nora Chambers who transcribed music such as "Largo" from the New World Symphony to be "sung" by Prisoners of War in Indonesia.

Mucisally the recording is brilliant; thank heavens it survived for future generations. This music is life affirming even without knowing the background to its creation. After hearing the music, you will want to know more about how and why it was created.

Definitely high on on my list of enjoyable listening.

If you have never heard Voices replacing Musical Instruments this is the CD to get you started. Most of the music is performed by the Malle Babbe choir using the vocal arrangements of Margaret Dryburgh and Nora Chambers who transcribed music such as "Largo" from the New World Symphony to be "sung" by Prisoners of War in Indonesia.

Mucisally the recording is brilliant; thank heavens it survived for future generations. This music is life affirming even without knowing the background to its creation. After hearing the music, you will want to know more about how and why it was created.

Definitely high on on my list of enjoyable listening.