Customer Reviews

Watership Down

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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This release includes the haunting "Bright Eyes," though it is the album cut and not the version was topped the charts in England in 1979 (the single version has an extra verse, and a more uptempo mix). The album cut is the same version heard in the movie.

I've waited years for this CD issue and I'm very glad that it's finally out. My only complaints are minor: The packaging was poorly executed (the artwork looks like a bad scan of the original LP cover) and the liner notes are a bit sparse. I would also have liked it if they had included extra cuts, like the single version of "Bright Eyes," or the three other songs that Mike Batt composed for the film that weren't used. However, the mastering and overall sound quality on the disc are excellent. Angela Morley's soundtrack stands very much on it's own as a beautiful symphonic work.

It is a must for any "Watership" fan.

-Tim

The Watership Down original soundtrack album is a masterful blend of lyrical beauty, suspense, excitement and triumph that accurately and movingly captures the spirit of the motion picture and the original book. Assembling a soundtrack album is never easy--music is usually clipped into pieces to be sandwiched into the cinematic sequences--but the tracks were intelligently and sensitively arranged to provide a concert-like effect. The melodies are intelligent and deeply felt, and the orchestral arrangement was strangely appropriate--strong when it needed to be but disarmingly simplistic in keeping with the pastoral setting of the film. One of my all time favorite albums when I am in a thoughtful mood.

Forget 'Lord of the Rings', ignore 'Titanic', disremember '2001: A Space Odyssey'.
The soundtrack to the wonderful Watership Down animated film, is one of the greatest soundtracks, if not the greatest original soundtrack ever composed.

Featuring music from Malcolm Williamson - the Queen's official composer (who sadly passed away last year), Angela Morley, and Mike Batt, this is some of the most moving and touching music you will ever hear in a film.

At every point in the film, the music superlatively captures the mood, and affects the viewer.
Even the much-teased Bright Eyes theme, composed by Mike Batt, and sung in an ambient-dream style by Art Garfunkel (which was a British Number One for a number of weeks), never fails to leave most people without a dry eye.

Drama, fear, sadness, death, life, hope - all of these and much much more are wonderfully portrayed through the many different songs. And at the same time, a common motif - now eternally associated with Watership Down and rabbits - plays through the soundtrack. Sheer Brilliance!

This soundtrack is proof that film-makers don't have to follow the over-used formula of just mixing some chart rubbish with a couple of pedestrian original scores.

Although now hard to find, this soundtrack is an absolute must if you appreciate music that moves you...

I have always been a fan of the film and have the original soundtrack on CD and love the music.When I came across this soundtrack for the television I was skeptical because after all It WAS for TV, but when I received the CD I was happy to hear the same spirit in the music that was in the film's soundtrack! Hats off to Mike Batt for continuing the excellence in telling this wonderful story in music! The songs are beatifully composed and arranged. This recording comes highly recommended and for any Watership Down fan it's a must.

A fantastic album, from the overture at the start thru the songs and orchestra instrumentals this is an enjoyable 67 minutes of music.
The entire album works as one piece of music, with songs mixed in with orchestral tracks.
The orchestral tracks are stirring and moving, I wish I could find more music like this.

Turn the lights down, turn the music up loud and enjoy one of the best modern composers today...

If you dont want to pay outrageous prices for the rare cd edition this album, it is available widely on lp on the many second hand vinyl web shops. These days it is simple to have it transferred to cd. All the technology is out there!!
Watership fan.

So of all the soundtracks I've ever heard for movies, this one is definitely the best of them all. The music for starters is absolutely gorgeous. "Climbing the Downs" is truly inspirational, from the way it starts out with a lone French horn solo then gradually adds cellos and crescendoes...it's really moving and so gorgeous.

The use of instruments is really great in this piece. Use of alto and bass flute really adds depth to the music that other soundtracks hardly ever have. "Keehar's Theme", how it's longer here than in the movie, is REALLY great. The alto saxophone in that theme is perfect and ideal, it really fits the mood. Love the adding of oboe and flute in the extended of that song, it's so jovial and light.

It's a truly amazing CD...this music is FABULOUS. Like, it fits with everything in the movie. "Bright Eyes" totally brings tears to your eyes, and there's such a mournful oboe solo that's really touching and unique. Fiver's Vision, I never realized until I got this CD that the reason that scene always would scare me was not just the scene itself but because the music behind it created SUCH atmosphere...that is seriously some of the scariest music I've ever heard, it lends to such atmosphere in the movie and adds to it so much.

The Efrafan theme is very fitting...excellent drums, love the beginning with the brass and how it builds.

I reccomend this CD very, VERY highly to ALL Watership fans. Yes, it is expensive, but believe me...it is well worth it. I have no regrets on getting it, I am simply enthralled by this music, by the brilliance of this composer, by the amazing use of instruments in this to create probably the greatest soundtrack I've ever heard. I reccomment it very highly, because it is truly an amazing experience as a musician and as a very long-time Watership Down fan to own this soundtrack. Five stars and then some!