Customer Reviews

Sommersby: Music From The Original Soundtrack

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This score is unlike anything Danny Elfman has written before. We're so used to his upbeat quirky and zany music or his dark and mysterious music, but not this. This is much more mature and pastoral than anything he has done before. It is like the type of music that Thomas Newman would write, but without the experimental and funny instruments that you have never heard of. The main theme is wonderful, played on a muted trumpet with strings supporting it. The theme is heard again in some of the other tracks, but not the exact same each time. The tempo of it varies each time you hear it, as well as the instrumentation. Other thematic material is present throughout the score as well as the main theme and can be found in tracks such as "Going to Nashville", "Death", "Finale", and "End Credits". The style of the music in this score will be heard later in Black Beauty, which Elfman also scored. To sum up this review, the best words to describe this score would be dramatic and epic. If you're expecting Elfman's quirky or dark styles of music, this will disappoint you. However, if you're looking for pastoral and beautiful music, you are in for a real treat. It's nice to see Elfman scoring different genres of film as we get to hear his creativity in other areas of music, which he shows in this score. A big recommendation.

Although this soundtrack is beautiful it's also very much like similar soundtracks scored by other composers. What makes this special is that this is a perfect example of a composer working outside his usual element and doing an amazing job. I recommend this cd to anyone who likes to appreciate the other side of a composer that usually isnt around

Ok, Danny Elfman is a dark Composer, but he is able compose a great score for drama and this is a perfect example of his great talent. A break to Batman and Edward Scissorhands darks style. A subtile, intelligent and powerfull score. One of his best score ever composed. Go for it Elfman!!!

Sommersby Orig. motion picture soundtrack CD is another excellent movie music soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Enjoyable easy listening, Esp. as "Road Music" in your auto CD when travelling, but also good to just put in CD player @ home for "kicking back" Or other various occasions, too! Highly recommend this one IF you like Music Soundtracks from various epic "historical" genre movies such as Gladiator, Dances w/ Wolves, Rob Roy, Last of the Mohicans, Master & Commander, etc., etc.

-A lot of people always act shocked once they find out that this is a Danny Elfman score which is understandable since it's completely different from anything he's ever done in his fantastic career. It's not the great dark stuff he does so well, nor the whimsical fantasy stuff which he also does well, but rather it's Elfman subdued which gives us his best score this side of "Scissorhands".

-Elfman solidifies his place as the best Main Titles scorer with the brilliant piece that opens the movie. It starts off slow with strings and a deep bass drum which slowly builds into this beautiful shakuhachi then finally leading into the main theme which is nothing short of marvelous. I love how for the shot the army men passing by the Richard Gere character he does a soldiers march version of the theme then right after goes back to the regular orchestral version. Anyone that has seen a movie from the production company "Regency" will be familiar with the main melody since it's used as the logo music.

-The Main Titles is the highlight of the album, but other great cues include "The Homecoming" which is very docile and beautiful, "At Work" which is very Thomas Newman, "Going to Nashville" which uses the main theme very nicely and "Finale" which as you can guess is for the movie's finale. There are many other great tracks since I would personally give every track on this amazing album a perfect 10, but those aforementioned cues are my personal favorite.

-The only score that Elfman has done in recent years that comes close to the beauty and sheer enjoyability *if that's a word* of this score is probably "Big Fish". I do hope that he abandons that annoying techno stuff and focuses more on doing great orchestral scores like this, because this is where his genius really shines through.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Danny Elfman's score for SOMMERSBY has a distinctive and haunting quality that lingers in your mind. Like the best romantic scores, it has a main theme that evokes a tenderness and melancholy, much like the story that unfolds in the film. I ran out to buy this score after seeing the film; I play it at least once a week. If you love scores like CINEMA PARADISO, TITANIC, or TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, you will love this one.