Goldsmith has done it again! Another winning, rich-textured score full of
colour, thrills and romance, forged with a consumate feel for Chinese/oriental
musical styles with richly coloured orchestrations. I was continually amazed,
amused and delighted with Goldsmith's imaginative and, perhaps, innovative
use of an amazing array of percussive instruments together with unusual
figurations for other instruments especially the harp. Occasionally he imports
some electronic figures - but sparingly like the "dragon's breath" sort of
material in the opening part of "Attack on the Wall". There is always
something to captivate the ear in this score.
This album is truly one for the family; there is something for everybody
here. The first seven tracks are more pop-based to appeal to the youngsters
(with the songs' lyrics printed in the folder). Many critics have panned
these songs; I would say that they are no better or no worse than those in
many modern Disney films. Track 2 is an instrumental version of
"Reflections" played in saccharine-sweet high tones by Vanessa-Mae
(credited in very small type at the back of the booklet). But the good news
is that much of the running time of this CD is devoted to Goldsmith's fine
music. His segment commences with a seven minute suite which encapsulates
the heroic, tenderly romantic, tragic and comic elements of the score and
goes on to include five more substantial cues. Goldsmith leads a virtuoso
orchestra (no doubt pick-of-the-crop contract players) and is served with
stunning recorded sound with often floor-board cracking bass figures. I leave
Rob Barnett to cover the disc in more depth but I enjoyed it very much
Reviewer
Ian Lace
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[for
the Goldsmith contribution]
A further view from Rob Barnett:-
The latest Disney animation epic has a mix of original songs by Matthew Wilder
with lyrics by David Zippel. The disco single with which the disc opens is
so abysmal you are almost put off listening to the rest; which, as it turns
out, would be rather a pity.
Track 2 takes us to Jerry Goldsmith’s Reflection which is a rhapsody
for violin and orchestra with prominent solo piano. The soloist is Vanessa-Mae.
This Reflection takes as its core the rather good hit song from the
film and thankfully not the ‘single’ version on Track 1 but instead
the touchingly sung version on Track 3. The music sounds like a cross between
The Lark Ascending (Vaughan Williams) and Saint-Saens Havanaise
with a sprinkling of Chinese instruments or a recreation of their sound.
The accomplished singer in Track 4 is Lea Salonga whose voice and singing
is beyond criticism - a voice to watch out for. The pop version in track
14 is sung by Christina Aguilera but it is sung by her in everyone’s
idea of a commercial soul style. It is however a pliable and resilient song
and succeeds even in this gratingly clichéed treatment. The sound
of the song in track 4 has echoes with the earlier (and still wonderful)
Beauty and the Beast score.
Honor To Us All - this is an archetypal Disney song with several shakings
of orientalism over the top. It is distinguished by the fact that one of
the voices is that of Marnie Nixon! Donny Osmond sings I’ll Make
a Man Out of You [5]. This is a so-so song well sung with determination.
A Girl Worth Fighting For is a jokey soldiery song which falls flat though
the occasional wordplay is worth catching (as it was in Hunchback). The beat
and suppleness of the words rather unfortunately reminds me of those naff
Seventh Cavalry male chorus songs which adorned some US films in the fifties
and sixties.
Haircut has a rather good long-striding French Horn motif and the
suite that follows it, is suitably heroic. The relief comes in a nudging
and smilingly ardent recall of Reflection. Great music-making and
a superb melody. The exotic pastoralism is well portrayed. The suite ends
in heights-intoxicated splendour. There is yet more imaginative stuff in
Attack at the Wall - black and clashing. Mulan’s Decision
[track 10] returns to that beguiling never-never land between the Chinese
countryside and deepest Gloucestershire. Blossoms is another very
fine Goldsmith creation akin to Track 10 but adding the darker elements found
in track 9. Track 12 evokes wind chimes atmospherically amidst the Attack
by the Huns and in its muscular headlong music sounds often rather like
an oriental Vaughan Williams. The last orchestral track is The Burned-Out
Village - music of trance-like sadness.
The booklet prints all the words in a well-illustrated book. The sound is
excellent. Recommended for the song Reflection and some first class
orchestral inspiration from Jerry Goldsmith and instrumentation from veteran
Alexander Courage. High star marking for the song Reflection and the
resourceful and lovely Goldsmith score.
Reviewer
Robert Barnett
Vanessa-Mae (violin); orchestra conducted
by Jerry Goldsmith 
