A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This original music for the film based on George Orwell's novel Keep the Aspidistra Flying has all of the quaint and cottage-like charms of a modern symphonic score as well as the tedium. It opens with Mike Batt's three-movement orchestral "Aspidistra Suite," a mélange with shades of Baroque, Romantic, and pastoral, as well as a few comical touches. But the disc gets a bit more interesting afterward in its progression of individualized tracks with descriptive titles like "A Kiss Down an Alleyway" and "Tea with the Undertaker." There is even a dash of cozy cocktail music and a closing vocal version of the main title by Colin Blunstone. Still, the tried-and-true variations on a theme can be underwhelming for those not reinforced by the actual story. --Joseph Lanza

A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite, Music, Mike Batt, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Classical, Orchestral, Soundtrack, Soundtracks & Film Scores
A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • more on the track listings
 A Merry War: Original Motion Picture Score and Orchestral Suite
Mike Batt , and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000BKJ4
Release Date: 1998-09-22

Tracks:

  1. The Aspidistra Suite: First Movement- Poetry And Torment
  2. The Aspidistra Suite: Second Movement-Love And Passion
  3. The Aspidistra Suite: Third Movement-A Bright Future
  4. Main Title
  5. Bugger The Blasted Daffodils
  6. Walking To Ravelston's House
  7. It Tolls For Thee, Gordon
  8. The Poet At Work
  9. The Cancelled Party
  10. Find The Editor And Kill Him
  11. A Kiss Down An Alleyway
  12. Off To The Countryside
  13. A Bower Made For Us
  14. Trudge Home After Day Out
  15. Booking At Modigliani's
  16. The Aspidistra Quickstep
  17. The Aspidistra Waltz
  18. The Aspidistra Foxtrot
  19. Sad Bit After Gordon Is Sacked
  20. I Never Want To See You Again
  21. Tea With The Undertaker
  22. At Last Gordan Gives Rosemary A Really Good Seeing To
  23. The First Day Of Spring
  24. Rosemary Announces That She Is Pregnant
  25. Gordon Returns To Work
  26. Walking Home
  27. Tiger In The Night

Amazon.com

This original music for the film based on George Orwell's novel Keep the Aspidistra Flying has all of the quaint and cottage-like charms of a modern symphonic score as well as the tedium. It opens with Mike Batt's three-movement orchestral "Aspidistra Suite," a mélange with shades of Baroque, Romantic, and pastoral, as well as a few comical touches. But the disc gets a bit more interesting afterward in its progression of individualized tracks with descriptive titles like "A Kiss Down an Alleyway" and "Tea with the Undertaker." There is even a dash of cozy cocktail music and a closing vocal version of the main title by Colin Blunstone. Still, the tried-and-true variations on a theme can be underwhelming for those not reinforced by the actual story. --Joseph Lanza

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars more on the track listings.......1999-03-06

The Aspidistra Suite : Poetry and Torment, Love and Passion. Original Film Soundtrack : A Bright Future, The Main Title, Bugger the blasted daffodils, Walking to Ravelston's house, It tolls for thee, Gordon, The poet at work, The cancelled party, Find the editor and kill him, A kiss down an alleyway, Off to the country side, A bower made for us, Trudge home after day out, Booking at Modigliani's, The Aspidistra Quickstep, The Aspidistra Waltz, The Aspidistra Foxtrot, Sad bit after Gordon is sacked, I never want to see you again, Tea with the undertaker, At last Gordon gives Rosemary a really good seeing to, The first day of Spring, Rosemary announces that she is pregnant, Gordon returns to work, Walking home, Tiger In The Night (vocal: Colin Blunstone). Wonderful!Wonderful! Mike Batt and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The music is described as "gently romantic theme, baroque-like 'Walking to...,' passionate 'A bower made...'" And Colin Blunstone's voice is described as "haunting."

Track Listings:

  1. An Hour in the Garden of Eden
  2. Arnold Bax: Symphony No. 4; Tintagel
  3. Ballets Opera & Masterworks
  4. Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 23, 28, 30 & 31
  5. Beethoven: String Quartet in B-flat, Op. 130 / Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 / Brandis Quartet
  6. Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Overture To Fidelio / Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
  7. Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Lalo Symphonie Espagnole
  8. Bruckner - Mass No. 1 in D minor - Motets / Orgonasova, Fink, Prégardien, Wilm Schulte; Gardiner
  9. Ceiling of Heaven: Composer's Forum of East/Var
  10. Chilling Winds

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

On the Outside [Import]

Romantic Thunder

Royal Blue

Just Doin' Our Thang

Live in Holland: 30th July, 2004 [Live]

Spend the Night

Some Like It Hot: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] [Soundtrack]

Schubert: String Quartets Nos. 8 & 13

Pan Pipes of Andes [Import]

Standing on Fishes

Tell All Your Friends

Puros Corridos de los Compas de Sinaloa

Rompiendo Barreras

Dimples

Body Language