Kingdom of Heaven [Soundtrack]

kingdom of heaven [soundtrack]

On this CD:

Kingdom of Heaven, film score
Composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
Performed by Gavyn Wright, London Session Orchestra
with Goksel Baktagir, Fretwork, Mercan Dede, Hugh Marsh, Hussein Zahawy, Brian Gulland, Frank Ricotti, Jacob Herringman, Neva Ozgen, Lisbeth Scott, Richard Harvey, Catherine Bott, Paul Clarvis, Nigel Eaton, Martin Tillman, Tim Garside, Dawson Miller, Abdelkader Harir, Natasha Atlas, Kardes Turkuler, Yurdal Tokan, Nicole Tibbles, Lestyn Davies
Conducted by Harry Gregson-Williams, Robert King

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Filmmaker Ridley Scott has long been intrigued by historical events and their contemporary echoes, a fascination that evinces itself again here in the violent tale of Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom), a Jerusalem blacksmith who rallies his people against foreign invaders during the Crusades of the 12th century. Breaking with a successful modern collaboration with Hans Zimmer that yielded such eclectic riches as Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, and Matchstick Men, Scott turned here to fellow Englishman/former Zimmer associate Harry Gregson-Williams for his new film's music. The composer, perhaps weary of the electronica-suffused action film cliches he's so often been associated with, rises admirably to the occasion with a sweeping orchestral score that masterfully trades on a wealth of disparate historical and stylistic influences. Gregson-Williams echoes the film's religious and cultural conflicts via the tense musical axis at the soundtrack's core, one that sets the invading Church's medieval choral ecclesiastics on a collision course with the ancient Arabic modalities of the film's hero. The resulting score may occasionally trade on hoary Hollywood romantic traditions, but the composer infuses them with such bracing doses of historical/ethnic antecedents—and his own decidedly contemporary instincts—as to create a compelling new whole. Even the obligatory, pop-oriented version of Ibellin's Theme ("Light of Life") by Natacha Atlas shimmers with Middle Eastern-inflected enticement. --Jerry McCulley

Kingdom of Heaven,Harry Gregson-Williams,Sony,Film,Film Music,Original Score,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks,Soundtracks & Film Scores

Kingdom of Heaven [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

Haunting
better than the film
Amazing Music from Harry-Gregson Williams
Awesome music!
"Borrows" from the late Jerry Goldsmith's "The 13th Warrior"

Kingdom of Heaven
Iestyn Davies (connter-tenor) , Catherine Bott (soprano) , and Harry Gregson-Williams
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

King Arthur
Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Special Edition)
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ASIN: B00080EUN0
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Burning the Past
Crusaders- Harry Gregson-Williams
Swordplay
A New World
To Jerusalem
Sibylla
Ibelin
Rise a Knight
The King
The Battle of Kerak
Terms
Better Man
Coronation
An Understanding
Wall Breached
The Pilgrim Road
Saladin
Path to Heaven
Light of Life (Ibelin Reprise)- Harry Gregson-Williams

Amazon.com

Filmmaker Ridley Scott has long been intrigued by historical events and their contemporary echoes, a fascination that evinces itself again here in the violent tale of Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom), a Jerusalem blacksmith who rallies his people against foreign invaders during the Crusades of the 12th century. Breaking with a successful modern collaboration with Hans Zimmer that yielded such eclectic riches as Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, and Matchstick Men, Scott turned here to fellow Englishman/former Zimmer associate Harry Gregson-Williams for his new film's music. The composer, perhaps weary of the electronica-suffused action film cliches he's so often been associated with, rises admirably to the occasion with a sweeping orchestral score that masterfully trades on a wealth of disparate historical and stylistic influences. Gregson-Williams echoes the film's religious and cultural conflicts via the tense musical axis at the soundtrack's core, one that sets the invading Church's medieval choral ecclesiastics on a collision course with the ancient Arabic modalities of the film's hero. The resulting score may occasionally trade on hoary Hollywood romantic traditions, but the composer infuses them with such bracing doses of historical/ethnic antecedents—and his own decidedly contemporary instincts—as to create a compelling new whole. Even the obligatory, pop-oriented version of Ibellin's Theme ("Light of Life") by Natacha Atlas shimmers with Middle Eastern-inflected enticement. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Haunting.......2007-06-12

Plain and simple this is a haunting score from start to finish. Something about that choir church voice that haunts the mind and soul. That's not a bad thing, that's a very good thing! What's great about the score is that it's easily recognizable to scenes from the movie. Now there was one that was left out and I do believe it's the funeral scene for King Baldwin which was great. That song would've made this album complete for me. Regardless of that minor mistake by the producers of the album, it is still a great listen for those who are enchanted by great epics and great monumental scores that accompany them. There's perfect balance in this score that really sets the mood and you do not get bored. Just don't cross into that realm of half-sleep and half awakeness while listening. You will eventually get startled.

better than the film.......2007-05-24

the music was the best thing about the film. But when you listen to it i can't recall anything from the film at all. Oh well.

Amazing Music from Harry-Gregson Williams.......2007-03-12

There is too much to say concerning this score, so I will keep my review rather curt. This is one of the best action/epic film scores ever written. Williams wrote the music for the Chronicles of Narnia in the same year as Kingdom of Heaven, and although the Narnia score was excellent, it cannot compare to the wonderfully artful music delivered in Kingdom of Heaven. I own over 200 film soundtracks and this is one that spins in my CD changer most often.

Awesome music!.......2007-01-06

My 13 year old daughter took this from me, and now has loaded it in her ipod. she loves it, and I hear it coming from her earphones all the time. (That makes me happy considering some of the junk out there) I personally love it too! The music brings back the memories of the wonderful movie, but it is beautiful to listen to regardless. I definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys beautiful music.

"Borrows" from the late Jerry Goldsmith's "The 13th Warrior".......2006-12-27

I am an avid collector of film scores (Over 160 thus far) and many are VERY rare/valuable. I personally do not own this Gregson-Williams score (I've seen the movie) but it works quite well in the film. There is only one thing I want readers to know: Just as the final, climactic battle sequence is beginning, Orlando Bloom is giving a speech to his brothers in arms....listen to the music at that moment. If you're an avid collector such as I am, you'll notice that the music playing is actually the piece entitled "Valhalla/Viking Victory" from Jerry Goldsmith's "The 13th Warrior". I don't know how Gregson-Williams got permission to use excerpts from that piece in this film, considering Goldsmith passed away in 2004 (Before Kingdom of Heaven was released). Anyway, not EVERYTHING heard in the film is original Gregson-Williams music. I do not know if the piece is also heard on the CD.

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