Rome: Music from the HBO Series [Soundtrack]

Jeff Beal (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Jeff Beal
• Audio CD (February 20, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B000MGVBQE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,124 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After Carnivàle, Jeff Beal has given HBO another Emmy-nominated score, this time for the tale of sex, politics, and togas known as Rome. There's a long history of fabulously grand scores in the sword-and-sandals genre (Miklós Rózsa's Ben-Hur, Alex North's Cleopatra) but according to Beal HBO wasn't interested in classic big orchestral compositions, so he worked on a smaller--yet still lush--scale that emphasizes the ethnic instruments that could be found in the farther reaches of the Roman Empire. A Middle Eastern influence, for instance, can clearly be heard on "Rome Main Title Theme," "The Forum" and "Janus Breaks," among many others. If there's one signature sound on the CD, it's the recurring use of the flute, which can suggest emotions ranging from romantic ("Octavian & Octavia's Themes") to melancholy (paired with strings on "Farewells, the Storm") to dread (combined with percussion on "Caesar's Seizure"). The album starts running out of steam about two thirds of the way through, however, making one pine for a bit of orchestral bang for one's buck. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, outstanding, beautiful work by Jeff Beal!, February 22, 2007

By 

M. Kreffel "Reader, Writer & Artist" (Indpls Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rome: Music from the HBO Series (Audio CD)

I've just received my CD today (22 Feb, 2007) and am sampling it for the first time. If you're a fan of HBO's "ROME" this soundtrack brings all of the resonance, texture and fabric of the series to life for your pleasure anywhere. If you haven't seen the series, this album is good enough to stand alone as wonderful background while you work, read or relax. Each individual track is strong and characteristic of it's particular part of the story. For the historical minded, it's raw pagan sounds bring ancient Rome to life. There are even bits of dialogue sprinkled amongst the tracks. I highly recommend it as musicianship at it's most creative.

From the album booklet, Bruno Heller, producer: "We asked Jeff for a score that does all the things scores are meant to do; evoking tension, pity, fear, pathos, irony, joy; but yet a score that felt like it might have been made by Romans, something strange and beautiful. Jeff delivered exactly what we asked for - powerful music, both strange and beautiful, that conjures up a very real but long-lost world."

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly beautiful and haunting., May 22, 2007

By 

Christopher Sunner "stormbringer" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rome: Music from the HBO Series (Audio CD)

I waited for many months until HBO got around to releasing the soundtrack to this incredible drama series. If you are a fan of the series, then this is absolutely essential to add to one's music collection. The composer, Jeff Beal, reminds me a great deal of Brian Tyler--the producer of the Children of Dune soundtrack. Both artists incorporate a strong flair of Eastern elements into their music and the result is spectacular. My personal favorite of the Rome soundtrack? "Cleopatra Seduces Caesar" (and that episode is my favorite of the first season).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, March 28, 2007

By 

Santiago R. (Ohio) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rome: Music from the HBO Series (Audio CD)

The music is epic, majestic, meditative, and inspiring. I'd highly suggest it to anyone who loves orchestral music, soundtracks, and such things.