Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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202 of 202 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A true translation of the piano-heavy score, July 28, 2006
This 40-page piano solo book is a wonderful translation of Dario Marianelli's simple but poignant score to the 2005 film "Pride and Prejudice."
The book includes 12 of the 17 tracks that appear on the P&P soundtrack CD, and the transcriptions are pretty much exactly as you hear it on the recording. The soundtrack is piano-based with an orchestra, but the songs translate very well into piano solos. Many of the songs are only approximately 2 pages long, which at first glance was disappointing; however, realize that most of the CD tracks are only 1 or 2 minutes in length. So the sheet music stays true to the soundtrack CD.
They have chosen the best tracks to put in this book. (I would've liked to have "A Postcard to Henry Purcell" in the book, but that is more of a violin piece, anyway.) Pretty much each has its own distinct theme, yet just like Marianelli's score, they have a unified sound. The sound is a fresh, modern take on Jane Austen's 19th Century England. The music is simple -- scales, trills, and arpeggios, hardly a chord in there. But in its simplicity there is a great emotional depth for pianists to experience. The music is easy to (mostly-)intermediate: simple enough for the novice (at least for someone with 2 years' playing experience and much practicing) but rich enough for an advanced player to really make the notes shine. (Just listen to the fantastic performance by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet on the soundtrack CD to see how much can be made of this simple score.)
Where the songs are difficult to play is this: sweeping arpeggios that require intuitive fingering and favor larger hands; quick grace notes; having to play with crossed hands; occasional fast tempos (e.g. "moderately fast, in 4" on "Georgiana"). Timing/rhythm is pretty simple -- eighth notes for the most part, but can be challenging and irregular at times.
Fingering is not included. Pedaling is. Only a few songs specify a metronome count (e.g. Liz on Top of the World states a quarter note = ca. 144; Living Sculptures of Pemberley merely states "slowly, lilting").
There is no spine on this book. It's got a glossy back and front cover, folded and stapled. Still, very much worth purchasing at the Amazon price of less than $10 (over $5 off the cover price).
Here are some more specifics:
1. Dawn: 5 pages.
2. Arrival at Netherfield: 5 pages.
3. Stars and Butterflies: 2 pages. One sharp.
4. The Living Sculptures of Pemberley: 4 pages. (2 flats. the last third of the song has six flats.)
5. Meryton Townhall: 4 pages. One sharp.
6. Georgiana: 2 pages. 3 sharps. All naturals. 3 flats.
7. Liz on Top of the World: 2 pages. 2 flats.
8. Leaving Netherfield: 2 pages. 3 flats.
9. Another Dance: 2 pages. 2 flats.
10. Secret Life of Daydreams: 2 pages. 2 flats.
11. Darcy's Letter: 4 pages. 3 flats.
12. Mrs. Darcy: 5 pages.
Each composition is pretty fabulous, but the standouts are "Dawn," "Living Sculptures of Pemberley", "Liz on Top of the World," and "Georgiana."
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55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ooooh I love this book!, April 5, 2006
I went to the movie, and have been listening to the soundtrack over and over. And now the beautiful piano music is available! Marianelli did an excellent job of making some of the pieces sound like the classical music of the day. 'Darcy's Letter' is my favorite, with a brooding opening and then poignant, longing finish.
These pieces aren't quite the same without a cello and other string instruments, but the piano arrangements are very good. At first glance, the music seems very simple. But some of the pieces are quite fast. This book would be excellent for piano teachers who want to focus on voicing in different hands, and basic technique (arpeggiated patterns, etc.)
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent translation, May 17, 2006
Since my first hearing of it, I have become addicted to this music. A literal addiction; I can't fall asleep if I haven't listened to the soundtrack at least once during the day. Unfortunately, I have not watched the movie, so what caught me about this music wasn't the pivotal movie scene it reminded me of, it was that feeling of beauty transcending time, getting lost in the flurry of arpeggios, legato chords, and sharp piano melodies. Luckily, the feeling is not lost in the transition to piano sheet music.
Although the music does not sound the same without the Chamber Orchestra, it by no means sounds worse. Marianelli did a wonderful job in filling in the orchestrated parts with the piano. Unlike many other "music to sheet music" transitions, the songs to not lose their impact when these other instruments are lost. This happens with many Broadway songs; they start to sound thin. And instead of trying to impress us with elaborate translations, he maintains the simplicity which made the music so emotionally complex. The pieces may be about intermediate in technical difficulty, but it is not easy to convey the intricate mood and to play it with a feeling that would be comparable to the quality which Jean-Yves Thibaudet played the music.
My favorite pieces are The Living Statues of Pemberly and The Secret Life of Daydreams. The left hand in the Living Statues of Pemberly sets the dramatic tone with its rolling notes while the right hand plays a longing melody with held out single notes that seems to vibrate through your hand. The Secret Life of Daydreams has an airy feeling that is just so enjoyable to play. It has a flowing rhythm that is hard to capture but worth the practice to get. Liz on Top of the World is the most challenging to me simply because of the sheer speed you have to play all those half-notes at.
Verdict: This is well worth it and will make your piano playing experience an enjoyable one. All the songs have a faithful trabslation. All it needs is a good measure of determination and a love for the music. It is simply irresistable and will "bewitch you body and soul" (I heard that in a preview).
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