Sir William Walton's Film Music, Vol. 3

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Henry V is Walton's largest and grandest film score. There's a curious rule in the history of film stating that the less interesting the plot, the better the music. We all know how much sensational musical talent was lavished on B-rated horror films. Shakespeare's Henry V with Sir Lawrence Olivier is hardly a B-movie, but neither is it a popular favorite. But the lavish sweep and panoramic scenic potential of this history play make it an ideal source of musical inspiration. This exciting recording assembles all of the usable music Walton wrote for the film and presents it as a sort of résumé of the action itself. It's a great way to get to know Shakespeare, and some terrific music, too. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: I. Prologue
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: II. Interlude: At The Boar's Head
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: III. Embarkation
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: IV. Interlude - 'Touch Her Soft Lips And Part'
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: V. i) Harfleur
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: V. ii) The Night Watch
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: V. ii) Upon the King
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: VI. Agincourt
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: VII. Interlude: At The French Court
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: VIII. Epilogue
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: Appendix 1: i) Rosa Solis (G. Farnaby)
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: Appendix 1: ii) Watkin's Ale (Anon)
Henry V - A Shakespeare Scenario: Appendiz 2: Obal dinlou Limouzi

Amazon.com

Henry V is Walton's largest and grandest film score. There's a curious rule in the history of film stating that the less interesting the plot, the better the music. We all know how much sensational musical talent was lavished on B-rated horror films. Shakespeare's Henry V with Sir Lawrence Olivier is hardly a B-movie, but neither is it a popular favorite. But the lavish sweep and panoramic scenic potential of this history play make it an ideal source of musical inspiration. This exciting recording assembles all of the usable music Walton wrote for the film and presents it as a sort of résumé of the action itself. It's a great way to get to know Shakespeare, and some terrific music, too. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Walton.......2000-08-31

William Walton had a great ability for orchestral painting, a quality particularly suited to the composition of film music. Nowhere is that more important than in his score for the film, Henry V. The music ideally complimented the film and Laurence Olivier's masterful performance; however, the sound quality on the sound track recording (with Olivier) was significantly lacking by today's standards.

Neville Marriner and the orchestra and chorus of The Academy of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields turn in an excellent performance, which also has the benefit of quality sound reproduction, much improved over the original sound track. Christopher Plummer also performs the narration quite well and almost makes one not miss Olivier.

Walton's film score for Henry V is excellent!.......2000-07-12

This recording gathers almost all the music that Walton wrote for the soundtrack to Henry V. If you're looking for less familiar music that is both evocative and musically satisfying, look no further. In addition to the English Renaissance melodies that Walton quotes explicitly, the opening sounds like it was inspired by Ravel's 'Lever du Jour', while Agincourt reminds one of 'Battle on the Ice' from Prokofiev's 'Alexander Nevsky'. Walton assimilates these influences most skillfully and with narrator Christopher Plummer on hand to put the shorter musical fragments in context, this all makes a highly transporting, if anachronistic, musical and theatrical experience. The ASMF and chorus perform with great heft and spirit and the Chandos recording captures it all in vibrant and atmospheric sound that has a stunning dynamic range. The sound deserves much of credit for the success of this recording.

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Music Review

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