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Author	Topic: Tan Dun CD recommendations?

HadrianD Standard Userer	For those who like Tan Dun, what can you recommend? And it doesn't have to be just his film work.
posted 08-20-2003 05:58 AM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	Symphony 1997: Heaven Earth Mankind Written for the return of Hong Kong to China in mid-summer of 1997. Uses some special 2000 years old ceremonial bells. The Hong Kong Philharmonic. A children's chorus. Yo-Yo Ma. The middle movements are somewhat freaky. The outer movements are more melodic. Listen to the cello line in movement 10 or 11, and not how Tan Dun recycled it and won an Oscar for Crouching Tiger. 2000 Today Commissioned by the BBC, PBS and other networks for their 24 hours of broadcasting at the turn of the millenium. Performed by one of the BBC orchestras, a chorus. Features some weird percussion. A nice cross between concert work and film score. The Orchestral Theatre series. I don't have this on CD. I only heard one of the Orchestral Theatres in concert. It's interesting to hear what kinds of weird sounds an orchestra can make. Though this never falls into the 'modern classical music' noise. It's bizarre, but quite listenable. Bitter Love Soprano, percussion, chorus, soloists on weird instruments and vocals. This has modern electronic percussion mixing with acoustic percussion. A soprano singing old texts. A monk-like chorus providing a nice background. Also happens to be the best sounding CD I've ever heard. Richard King is one of the best orchestral recording engineers, but his work on Bitter Love is outstanding. Soprano Ying Huang, usually cast in cute opera roles shows that she can do much more than sing Mozart. I would not recommend Hero. It has too many elements which remind me of a Crouching Tiger 2 type of score. Whether it was a temp track or not, I don't know, but the main theme of Hero is a close cousin to the one from CTHD. Plus, Hero is extremely repetitive. By the time you get half way through you're clicking on the 'Skip' button. Once you've heard the works above, it becomes a matter of taste. If you like Tan Dun's style, you'll like the rest of his output. If you don't like his style, you'll end up thinking that all of his music sounds the same (except the above works). If you end up liking his style, then you might try seeking: Marco Polo A freaky mix between western and chinese opera with a number of influences in-between. Fairly TanDun-ish, requires appreciation of his style to sit through the whole thing. Water Passion after Saint Matthew The Chinaman strikes again: soprano, bass, violin, cello, choir, percussion. Who would have thought that a religious mass would have no strings and no glorious trumpets? Again, requires liking Tan Dun's style, otherwise it can easily get on your nerves. That's all I can think of right now. Most of Tan Dun's music is on my wish list. I just like his music, even the freakiest parts.
posted 08-20-2003 06:34 AM PT (US)

joan hue Standard Userer	Dinko, I wanted to at least see the movie HERO, which has had solid reviews. Someone at FSM mentioned a DVD, but my local stores don't have it. Anyone know if HERO is out in video or DVD yet or is it still at theaters? Thanks for any information. NP Last of the Mohicans
posted 08-20-2003 07:20 AM PT (US)

1helluvamusicfan Standard Userer	I enjoy his score for "Hero" Thanks, Chris NP - Back to the Future Part II (Silvestri)
posted 08-20-2003 07:22 AM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	Joan, I don't think Hero is out on the North American DVD market yet. I would also like to see it, but we'll have to wait a while longer I guess.
posted 08-20-2003 07:39 AM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	That said, the documentary 'Making of' is available: http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002443675/code-c/section-videos/
posted 08-20-2003 07:47 AM PT (US)

Doug Adams Non-Standard Userer	I actually find most of Tan Dun�s concert work to be a bit too conservative for my tastes. Sometimes it grows on me, but often it feels too down the middle. Depending on your tastes, this may be an issue. -Doug
posted 08-20-2003 07:59 AM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Dinko: I would not recommend Hero. It has too many elements which remind me of a Crouching Tiger 2 type of score. Whether it was a temp track or not, I don't know, but the main theme of Hero is a close cousin to the one from CTHD. Plus, Hero is extremely repetitive. By the time you get half way through you're clicking on the 'Skip' button. The themes, you are right, differ only in some small fashion. But as to whether it's worth buying, I couldn't disagree more. HERO is, next to Matrix Reloaded, the only score I've heard since February that has really impressed me as a work of genius. Rather than effortlessly recycling the tricks of CTHD, it builds on the language with some new devices. The blend of percussion and strings is far more fluid throughout, and the use of male chorus to represent the militaristic era in which the film is set is inspired. Highly recommended to everyone who likes Tan Dun. Note especially track 4, Gone with Leaves - truly awesome. Those interested Tan Dun might also be attracted to track 5 of Yoyo Ma's When Strangers Meet: Silk Road Journeys. The 7-8 minute 'Moon Over Guan Mountain' is composed by Dun. NP Pop (U2)
posted 08-20-2003 02:49 PM PT (US)

Dinko Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: HERO is, next to Matrix Reloaded, the only score I've heard since February that has really impressed me as a work of genius. I can agree with that. The rest of the year has been fairly poor. So while I don't like Hero as much as the rest of Tan Dun's music, it's still among the better scores of the year. But I just don't feel the same connection to Hero as I do to the rest of Tan Dun's output. Oh well... his cello concerto premiered by the Boston Symphony this year should be fun.
posted 08-20-2003 04:46 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	Yes, how could a cello concerto by Tan Dun be anything but fun? [Message edited by franz_conrad on 08-20-2003]
posted 08-20-2003 06:18 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	Thanks Dinko. I never knew that he had that many works out. That Bitter Love CD sounds very much like something I'd like to hear. I was at Borders the other day and they were playing a TAN DUN-ish track, with Chinese chorus and Violin and Electronics.... Totally lovely, which prompted my question. I've also seen Hero, which has some very poetic and beautiful cinematography. The music totally complimented the scenes and action. And it does sound a bit like HERO, but different.
posted 08-20-2003 11:36 PM PT (US)

lars b Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Dinko: Joan, I don't think Hero is out on the North American DVD market yet. I would also like to see it, but we'll have to wait a while longer I guess. I bought this as a Hong Kong import, i think it's a region 3. Wonderful movie, too short, and gets better on repeated viewing. Music indeed similar to CTHD, but works wonderful in the movie.
posted 08-21-2003 01:26 AM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by HadrianD: I've also seen Hero, which has some very poetic and beautiful cinematography. The music totally complimented the scenes and action. And it does sound a bit like HERO, but different. I'd hope it sounds something like Hero!
posted 08-21-2003 03:03 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by franz_conrad: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by HadrianD: [b]I've also seen Hero, which has some very poetic and beautiful cinematography. The music totally complimented the scenes and action. And it does sound a bit like HERO, but different. <HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> I'd hope it sounds something like Hero! [/B] LOL. I meant CTHD....
posted 08-21-2003 08:44 PM PT (US)

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