|
 Hidalgo
| The Score
James Newton Howard
Buy
it!
Those of us
familiar with Henry Mancini Award for Lifetime Achievement Award
recipient James Newton Howard's composing are aware he excels
in symphonic fantasy and capturing the genre of a film - completely
- with his scores. Here with Hidalgo
he manages to conjure up the beauty of the often epic-like film
in a 45 minute 14 track cd. As in the film, there are delightful
mixings of cultures; Arabian music with hints of American Indian
with epicaly drawn violins and pouting cellos in accompaniment
with ouds and bouzouki while a Cowboy's fiddle snuck in to the
hodown for a tinker.
I've highlighted a few selection for an idea of what you're in
for: Track 2, titled 'Don't Waste Our Money,' has an old 1960's
cowboy movie film feel. It's plain old fun. Track 10, titled 'Montage',
steals the work. It's a hunting multi influenced masterpiece that
makes one want to pack up the hounds and head into the woods for
an adventure. Me at least. The most forboding, down right galloping
sinister musical tinkling appears in track 11, 'The Trap.' Aptly
named, the piece is so descriptive you wouldn't even have to see
the film to know there's trouble a foot and images of concealed
faces and rope cutting pop into mind...Peter Lorre may show up
in your mind's casbah!
Once again Howard delivers a stand alone cd of compelling music.
This is a must for any soundtrack collector. Stunning.
The
only thing missing from the soundtrack, for me, was the medicine
man Fool's Crow song Miyelo or " It Is I" performed
by Viggo Mortensen. While completely different in style and structure,
and not from "the score," this Lakota song had such
a strong moment in the film it was sad to not have the opportunity
to investigate it again. I learned a bit about the honor behind
the song during an interview with Viggo
Mortensen, and wanted to listen again with a more knowing
ear. We'll all just have to wait for the Hidalgo dvd. Buy
it!
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