Nicola PIOVANI
Running Free
OST
VARÈSE SARABANDE
VSD-6152
[57:18]
Crotchet
Amazon
UK
This is an adaptation of another horsy story from the author of The Black
Stallion (Jeanne Rosenberg). Set in the early 1900’s the films’
premise has the horse (‘Lucky’!) comment on universal maltreatments
via voiceover from Lukas Haas. An analogy is drawn between man’s cruelty
to animals and the outbreak of WWI.
This potent scenario, with lush cinematography has elicited a vibrantly charged
score from Italian composer Piovani. If you fall in love with the uplifting
theme introduced in the "Main Title", you’ll be pleased to know it’s
the basis for much of the rest of the score. The long-line melody is broken
into sections and undergoes intelligent development at every turn. One coda
to the central theme sounds decidely Morricone-esque – a compliment
to a fellow Countryman. Without doubt its loveliest variation as a whole
is on flute, with "Hoofbeats" earning itself the respect of this reviewer
as one of the finest melodic compositions heard in a while.
After slight diversions blending the overall style into the feel of a cheeky
brass band ("Mine Band") and an occasionally stiff Britannia-ruling upper
lip, 2 sourced cues add something completely unexpected. "Dance of the
Hunter’s Fire" and "The Hunt" both performed by Mickey Hart and Planet
Drum are a sort of highly infectious Jungle drumming. Each feels at once
integral to the surrounding score, yet stands alone by the surprising change
of pace.
Varese’s album is a perfectly rounded hour long. The only quibble being
the atypically sparse packaging which has writing so small as to be ridiculous!
Reviewer
Paul Tonks
