Patrick Doyle is one of my favorite film composers, and he definitely did not disappoint me here.
A movie crammed with lush, vibrant detail like this one demands an equally glorious score, and Doyle delivers exactly that. He tends to favor richly orchestral music, which fits perfectly with this fairy tale world. Here is one of my two favorite tracks -- I love how it combines a simple, innocent theme with a bolder, richer one. A lovely musical picture of humble Cinderella joining her famous prince. I also love that this track includes a little of the song "Lavender's Blue," because that song is really important to the movie's plot. I do wish there was a vocal version on the soundtrack, but at least it's used here and there, most memorably in this track beginning at 2:14.
My other favorite track is "Pumpkin Pursuit." It has all the excitement you'd expect for a good chase scene, with an eager strings section that carries things merrily along. At the very beginning, it utilizes this little 4-note theme that sounds like the word "Cinderella," and I absolutely love that theme.
In fact, I really wanted that 4-note "Cinderella" theme to be on the soundtrack more because it's used in a beautiful song for one of the trailers. Happily, you can buy that song as an mp3 single called "Aeon," which I did. You can listen to it here, and I definitely recommend it because it's such an emotionally evocative track, at least for me. I love how it builds and builds in intensity and joy, and then slowly ebbs away.
You can read my review of this movie here.
(This review originally appeared at J and J Productions on May 28, 2015.)
The soundtrack for this movie never fails to make me Feel Things...as soon as I started playing 'Who Is She' I got all emotional. <3 Patrick Doyle did SUCH a good job.
ReplyDeleteEva, same! So evocative and yummy.
DeleteI love this score! So delicate and winsome and fairytale-esque.
ReplyDeleteYES, why did they not include a vocal version of "Lavender's Blue" on the album? Bums me out. :(
I love "Who Is She"! It's such a stirring, triumphant musical moment, and I love that the LB theme is included because it's like a way of bringing her mother with her. :')
Olivia, yes, it just matches the whole movie so perfectly.
DeleteNow I want to rewatch the movie!
*Enters the shy young person, slowly incorporating himself into the blogging world* Hello, Hamlette! (Even though I have little experience with movies, I'm still going to stick around.)
ReplyDeleteYou seem like a lovely person. (And I'm sure you are!) And you also seem to like Jane Eyre... If I'm not mistaken. (Jane Eyre is on my favorites list.)
Just wanted to stop by! Hope you have a lovely holiday.
Faramir
Hello, shy young person called Faramir! Welcome :-) I do write about more than movies here, from time to time. I occasionally post about flowers, gardening, the books I write, the writing process, and other fun stuff. If books are more your thing, I also have a book blog called The Edge of the Precipice -- I host a Tolkien blog party there every September, which I suspect may interest you.
DeleteThank you for the compliment! Jane Eyre is my favorite novel, so high five to you since it's on your favorites list too.
Happy New Year!
So glad you are highlighting this one, Rachel! I absolutely adore this movie and the glorious soundtrack by Patrick Doyle. I get goosebumps every time Cinderella glides down the staircase at the ball to the majestic strains of "Lavender's Blue." As the lyrics say, "when I am king, you shall be queen" - that moment marks Cinderella's personal victory over the oppression she's faced which leads to the start of her happy ending. Now I want to watch this again soon!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Rachel!!
Happy New Year, Muse! I'm glad you enjoyed this post. It's really just one of the most listenable soundtracks I own. Mmmm, so gorgeous.
DeleteYess! I love this soundtrack - I own it on CD. My favourite is "Who Is She" which I kiiind of want to walk down the aisle to, someday. It's one of my favourite songs to play on piano.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my sister-in-law walked down the aisle to an instrumental version (played live by my cousin on piano) of the credit song "Strong" and it was so cool. :')
Gabby, we have the CD too. In fact, all the soundtracks I review are ones I have on CD and have listened to over and over :-) "Who Is She" would be amazing to walk down the aisle to!
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