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February 2004 Film Music CD Reviews

Film Music Editor: Gary S. Dalkin
Managing Editor: Ian Lace
Music Webmaster Len Mullenger

index page/ monthly listings / February /

Quiet on the Set: James Galway at the Movies  
Various
James Galway, flute
Jeanne Galway, flute *
  Music arranged and conducted by Thomas Kochan
Performed by The London Mozart Players
  Available on BMG RCA Red Seal 82876 579102
Running time: 50.31
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galway at the movies

  1. The Horse Whisperer – James Newton Howard
  2. Il Postino – Luis Bacalov
  3. Forrest Gump – Alan Silvestri *
  4. Emma – Rachel Portman
  5. Far And Away – John Williams
  6. Nature Boy (from Moulin Rouge) – Eden Abbez
  7. You'll Be In My Heart (from Tarzan) – Phil Collins *
  8. Cinema Paradiso – Andrea Morricone
  9. Stalia, Stalia – (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) – Traditional *
  10. Braveheart – James Horner
  11. O Mio Babbino Caro (from A Room With a View) - Puccini
  12. She (from Notting Hill) – Charles Aznavour / Herbert Kretzmer
  13. Angel Band – (from Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?) – Traditional

This collection is not aimed at the serious film music fan, but strictly at the mainstream audience long established for the lushly melodic, MOR sound patented by Sir Galway and his trademark "Golden Flute". All the pieces, from modern songs to classical and traditional numbers as well as actual film themes have been arranged by conductor Thomas Kochan to fit into a smooth soundscape of recordings to fall asleep to (and I mean that in the nicest sense, in that this is dreamy late night music).

Resolutely mid-tempo throughout, the mood barely changes, though some tracks work better than others. The opening version of Thomas Newman's theme from The Horse Whisperer is one of the better tracks, though the stand out is Rachel Portman's gorgeous Emma – which shines here because the original arrangement centred around flute and harp, a combination preserved for this performance.

Elsewhere its very much take it or leave it, and several cues can not in any case even be considered film music; just arrangements of melodies which have at some point been used on film soundtracks.

An inoffensive disc which would make a fine present for any James Galway fan, but which offers little interest for most film music collectors.

Gary Dalkin

** 2

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