Angela's Ashes: Music From The Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

angela's ashes: music from the motion picture [soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Given that John Williams has his pick of much of the $80-million, thrill-packed boilerplate that comes clanging out of Hollywood every summer and fall, it's especially noteworthy (and often gratifying) when he doesn't exercise his option. In scoring Alan Parker's adaptation of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer-winning memoirs of his dire Irish upbringing in the 1930s and '40s, Williams has produced a graceful, autumnal work of compelling, though decidedly delicate, emotional power. Using spare piano and solo woodwind melodies filled with longing eloquence, Williams effectively punctuates a sweeping, largely string and wind ensemble. As he did to great effect in The Phantom Menace, the veteran leans heavily on his classical moonlighting duties for inspiration. Interspersed throughout (and also effectively underscored by his music) are concise, telling excerpts of the film's narration read by Alan Bennett. --Jerry McCulley

Angela's Ashes: Music From The Motion Picture,John Williams,Sony,Film Music,Original Score,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks & Film Scores

Angela's Ashes: Music From The Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

I'm sorry but I have to say...
Unwanted words
Wonderful soundtrack befitting the book!
Voice-Over Ruins the CD...
A Fine John Williams' Score For An Irish Film

Angela's Ashes: Music From The Motion Picture

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00003A9QG
Release Date: 1999-12-07

Tracks:

Theme From Angela's Ashes
My Story
Angela's Prayer
My Dad's Stories
Lord, Why Do You Want The Wee Children
Plenty Of Fish And Chips In Heaven
The Dippsy Doodle
The Lanes Of Limerick
My Dad
Pennies From Heaven
My Mother Begging
If I Were In America
Delivering Telegrams
I Think Of Teresa
Angels Never Cough
Watching The Eclipse
Back To America
End Credits Reprise

Amazon.com

Given that John Williams has his pick of much of the $80-million, thrill-packed boilerplate that comes clanging out of Hollywood every summer and fall, it's especially noteworthy (and often gratifying) when he doesn't exercise his option. In scoring Alan Parker's adaptation of Frank McCourt's Pulitzer-winning memoirs of his dire Irish upbringing in the 1930s and '40s, Williams has produced a graceful, autumnal work of compelling, though decidedly delicate, emotional power. Using spare piano and solo woodwind melodies filled with longing eloquence, Williams effectively punctuates a sweeping, largely string and wind ensemble. As he did to great effect in The Phantom Menace, the veteran leans heavily on his classical moonlighting duties for inspiration. Interspersed throughout (and also effectively underscored by his music) are concise, telling excerpts of the film's narration read by Alan Bennett. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

I'm sorry but I have to say..........2004-10-04

...that this album is just not a masterpiece. I couldn't help reacting something to all those comments that praise Williams to the skies. Not that I hate him. No. This music is simply overrated. The themes are repetative, the whole scorewriting approach is dull, seems uninspired. James N. Howard or Thomas Newman could have been the ones to be invited to write a music for this movie. John Williams' style of writing seems to be out of date sometimes. This music sounds like as if it had been composed decades ago. You won't possibly be thrilled by the sheer beauty of this score. It simply has almost none.

Unwanted words.......2002-09-27

Although the music is very nice, the excerpts of the story ruins the beautiful music composed by John Williams. If it wasn't for that, this would be a 4 or 5 star album. At least there's one track without the story being told, and that's the only track I ever listen to.

Wonderful soundtrack befitting the book!.......2002-09-04

The movie was good, but surprisingly it is the motion picture soundtrack which actually better serves the wonderful novel from which it was spawned. Moody, emotional and a pleasure to hear.

Voice-Over Ruins the CD..........2002-02-01

When I saw Angela's Ashes in the Theater a few years ago, I was so taken with John Williams' beautiful score that I rushed right out and bought the Soundtrack CD. I was VERY disappointed to find that about 80% of the Score is drowned out by the over-dubbing of dialogue from the film. If I wanted to hear film dialogue, I would get the DVD and play that. It's too bad that Mr. Williams' lovely music is forced to play second fiddle to an actor playing Frank McCourt, and the CD packaging says NOTHING about every track having a monologue over the music. (There is an import version of the CD that omits the annoying voice-over, but that didn't do me any good......I had already bought this version.)

A Fine John Williams' Score For An Irish Film.......2001-12-30

Thematically, John Williams' score for "Angela's Ashes" is more akin to his music for "Schindler's List" than for any of the "Star Wars" films. Unfortunately, it isn't nearly as lyrical nor as well performed as the "Schindler's List" score. Still it is replete with the excellent melodies and harmonies you'd expect from John Williams' music, most notably in the track "The Lanes Of Limerick". I wish this CD was released without the voice over narration read by an English actor pretending to be the adult Frank McCourt; I found that a bit distracting while listening to Williams' music. If the narration was absent, I might have enjoyed Williams' music more.

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