The Very Best of Michael Nyman


Venture (0724381107928)
Película | Fecha de lanzamiento: 2001 | Medio: CD
 

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# Pista   Duración
1.Bird List4:16
2.Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds5:26
3.An Eye for Optical Theory5:09
4.Homage to Maurice2:16
5.Angelfish Decay2:49
6.Time Lapse3:58
7.Trysting Fields3:27
8.Wheelbarrow Walk2:12
9.Knowing the Ropes3:17
10.Memorial12:00
11.Skating1:26
12.Peeking2:43
13.Abandoning3:30
14.Skirting2:05
15.Miranda Previsited6:48
16.Here to There1:00
17.The Heart Asks Pleasure First - The Promise3:10
18.All Imperfect Things4:02
19.Dreams of a Journey5:03
 74:37
# Pista   Duración
1.Escape3:38
2.Fly Drive1:32
3.The Infinite Complexities of Christmas4:12
4.If4:25
5.Abel Carries Ephraim5:55
6.Becoming Jerome - God's Hands2:58
7.The Morrow3:11
8.The Other Side3:41
9.The Departure3:49
10.Convening the Coven4:05
11.Stranger at the Window1:38
12.Cannibal Fantasy2:12
13.Molly2:51
14.Eddie3:56
15.Dan2:15
16.Eileen3:41
17.Sarah Dies2:58
18.The End of the Affair2:56
19.The Shoot Out5:06
20.The Burning9:18
 74:16
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The Very Best of Michael Nyman - 10/10 - Crítica de Tom Daish, Publicado en (Inglés)
Michael Nyman fills an interesting niche in the echelons of film music, applying a style of composition to film that very few others do, that being minimalism. Only Philip Glass has ever done the same to the same extent, with the exception of possibly Bernard Herrmann who wrote in a type of proto-minimalism, but certainly not as strictly as either Nyman or Glass. Having said that, these days Nyman seems reasonably content to provide a more obvious melodic content with the minimalism as a background harmony and rhythm. This double album overview of his film music provides fairly distinct halves, the first being considerably more flamboyant and experimental, the second being romantic and dare I say it, tuneful.

Almost all the tracks are original recordings from the soundtrack albums, but the first few tracks are live performances that (presumably) haven't been released previously. If it weren't for the applause, you'd be hard pressed to tell they are live so good is the recording and performance. One of the most bizarre pieces of music you're ever likely to hear is Angelfish Decay from Drowning by Numbers, a repeating harpsichord figure with high end violin that plays at several notes for every beat. Has to be heard to be believed. Time Lapse, Trysting Fields and the lengthy Memorial are Nyman at his most melancholy, although the latter does tend to grind the listener down after a while.

One thing that is most notable about the album is how fun a lot of the music is. I suspect Nyman might be appalled to find people describing his music as fun, but minimalism lends itself well to sprightly scherzo style writing. As Memorial demonstrates, sombre music gets a little wearing after a while, but a sprightly couple of minutes based on a simple idea with dynamic orchestration leaves the listener with a little musical nugget and invariably wanting more. The first disc rounds out with probably his best known work, The Piano which is not a Nyman score I own. Based on what I've heard, I can't say I particularly care for the clinical solo piano music which, while effective in the film, simply doesn't hold enough interest on disc. I think minimalism more than any other style of composition requires great variation in timbre and solo piano simply doesn't provide enough.

Disc two is definitely from a composer who has calmed somewhat, although cynically one might suggest that Nyman has simply been offered projects with less chance to experiment. The first few cues are a little more edgy, although If, from an Japanese animated version of The Diary of Anne Franke is a quite beautiful aria for soprano and orchestra. However, with Becoming Jerome we reach Gattaca, Nyman's only sci-fi project to date. Actually, it's more of a Orwellian style parable than pure sci-fi and provoked one of Nyman's most restrained scores with the jaunty Becoming Jerome a highlight only matched by the understated majesty of The Departure. Of biggest interest for die hard Nyman fans is Convening the Coven from his rejected (in favour of a crushingly mediocre last minute effort from Alan Silvestri) Practical Magic which hints at just how inventive Nyman's score was. The addition of an electric guitar to his instrumental palette toward the end doesn't seem out of place either.

Molly, Eddie, Dan and Eileen constitute an extended suite from Michael Winterbottom's award winning, but little seen Wonderland which is almost certainly my favourite Nyman score to date. Dan is perhaps the best track from the original album, but the lyricism is quite a revelation for those who think Nyman's writing is lacking in soul. A couple of tracks from The End of the Affair do nothing to improve my opinion that it is one of Nyman's least interesting scores, nice though it is. However, The Shoot Out and The Burning from The Claim are absolutely superb with Nyman in the liner notes acknowledging the influence of Ennio Morricone on his score. Pretty noble of him as although there is definitely some influence, one could never confuse Nyman's with that of Morricone.

As with all compilations, the die hard collector won't probably find a great deal new, although I'd suggest that the live performances and the cue from Practical Magic are probably worth the price alone, together with the fact that it's a seemlessly produced selection of highlights. I suspect that many film music fans will have heard The Piano, when in fact it's a fairly atypical work and I'd almost go so far as to say that it's one of his least interesting scores and his orchestral invention is vastly more interesting and affecting than his almost somewhat uninteresting piano writing. For a better rendition of The Piano, I suggest the Piano Concerto which was written using material from the score. The liner notes by Nyman are interesting and not short on opinions, but are mainly helpful as they actually list the films whereas the outer packaging doesn't. Superbly produced, almost never a dull moment and let's face it, makes a change from yet another Williams, Barry or Morricone collection.


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