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Author	Topic: Shakespeare in Film Music

Lancelot Oscar® Winner	Being a fan of Shakespeare already, I have a section set aside in my soundtrack library for those films which have been made from (or are inspired by) Shakespeare's plays. More of them come from the present day and age, as Shakespeare becomes more prominent in film popularity, even indirectly winning a best picture Oscar this past March. On occasion, "Shakespearian" film music has even been recognized--Doyle's "Henry V" and "Hamlet" were both up for Oscar recognition, and Warbeck's "Shakespeare in Love" did win, rather deservedly. For some of the greatest stories told, some of the greatest music is composed--Are there any that you particularly enjoy, of this genre, and if so, for any reason you care to share, why? * * * * * * Some of the more recent notables: "Henry V" - Patrick Doyle "Hamlet" ('90) - Ennio Morricone "Much Ado About Nothing" - Patrick Doyle "Twelfth Night" - Shaun Davey "Othello" - Charlie Mole "Romeo + Juliet" - Nellie Hooper (et. al.) "Richard III" - Trevor Jones "Hamlet" ('96) - Patrick Doyle "A Midsummer Night's Dream" - Simon Boswell Also: "looking for richard" - Howard Shore "Shakespeare in Love" - Stephen Warbeck "Othello" (Ballet) - Elliot Goldenthal Coming Soon: "Love's Labour Lost" - Patrick Doyle (and Cole Porter--!) "Titus Andronicus" - Elliot Goldenthal
posted 06-19-1999 09:45 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	How is "A Midsummer's Night Dream"? I've been wondering about that one. Jeron
posted 06-19-1999 10:38 PM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	"Midsummer Night's Dream" is quite good. Haven't bought it yet, but I really liked what I heard in the movie. Really classical sounding.
posted 06-20-1999 12:37 AM PT (US)

Lancelot Oscar® Winner	The first part of the CD is strictly classical--Mendelssohn's "Midsummer" Overture, and Opera songs from Puccini and Verdiit's great music, and it works well for a film score. It then sets into small pieces of Boswell's score, which appropriately fit with the classical music, though for one rather raunchy-sounding track, "Hot Ice", which is a dance played on folk instruments to cue the bawdy faeries' gathering. Then throughout, the rest of the score is played, also intermixed with bits of opera and classical (also noteable is Mendelssohn's recognizable wedding march, in it's entirety.) Though classically flavored, the CD is completely listenable, and relistenable.
posted 06-20-1999 08:12 AM PT (US)

Mary Oscar® Winner	I own and love Doyle's Much Ado About Nothing. It's light and airy--just like the play. Most of the tracks have a quality of pent-up excitement. It's really quite flirtatious in a way. And definetely romantic...sigh. Some of the tracks are little more melancholy. There is a wistful quality about them that just SEEMS like something that goes with a Shakespeare play. In all, a GREAT buy. Some of the best tracks include: Overture It Must be Requited Contempt Farewell Did I Not Tell You Strike Up Pipers Mary n.p. Much Ado About Nothing--hey, thanks for inspiring me Lancelot!
posted 06-20-1999 06:17 PM PT (US)

S Smith unregistered	Lancelot, You say "clasically flavored" as if it's a bad thing.
posted 06-20-1999 08:11 PM PT (US)

Lancelot Oscar® Winner	Mary--absolutely welcome. S Smith--"classically flavored" has absolutely no bad implication, coming from me....just that some folks who would have a problem with a "non-original" score might be alienated....(but there's always those who will be....)
posted 06-21-1999 02:08 PM PT (US)

JulietDean unregistered	hey...i know this score is old but it is absolutely fantastic. Romeo and juliet(1968) by nino rota. how come no one mentioned it? is it bad or something?
posted 06-22-1999 01:00 AM PT (US)

PeterK FishChip	JulietDean, Great observation. I don't know why I overlooked this score when reading this thread. Romeo and Juliet from 1968 absolutely has the best theme for a romantic story. When listening to Rota's main theme for this movie, I can't help but completely stop everything I am doing and lend 100% attention to the notes. It's great to have such a well-rounded crowd here. If we miss it the first time, we'll get it the second time! PeterK NP - "Paris, Texas" by Ry Cooder
posted 06-22-1999 01:16 AM PT (US)

JulietDean unregistered	Peterk, hehe...thanx for noticing. sorry, im just SO in love with that score. its beautiful. i was just surprised that people didnt put it down. but now, its done. thanx
posted 06-22-1999 12:39 PM PT (US)

SilentEdge Oscar® Nominee	Just one correction - Patrick Doyle's HENRY V was not nominated for an Oscar. One of the biggest ever travesties in Oscar history, considering the movie got a couple of other "big" nominations (Director, Actor).
posted 06-23-1999 03:06 PM PT (US)

Lancelot Oscar® Winner	My mistake--I believe the film was up for Best Picture, though, as well as a small handful of other awards....I think it did win one...? As I'm in transit, and from all of my references, currently, I cannot be certain, so I apologize for sounding somewhat ignorant at the moment.
posted 06-23-1999 03:41 PM PT (US)

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