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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Composer Patrick Doyle's first film score accompanied Kenneth Branagh's first movie as director. For both, Henry V (1989) is a triumph. Branagh's vision of the play is a far darker, more realistic depiction than the morale-boosting patriotism of Laurence Olivier's 1945 classic. Doyle's score had to follow in the footsteps of William Walton, but undaunted the first-timer rose to the challenge magnificently. Briefed by the director to follow "Shakespeare's golden words" and be "as bold as possible", Doyle produced music of epic scope, lyrical passion and descriptive imagination. The score has a real flavour of opera--a trait that would become familiar in all of this composer's later work--as Doyle underscores the great speeches (notably the St Crispin's Day speech) with a tangible sense of drama, but one that is always sensitive to the nuances of the words. Set-pieces such as the death of Falstaff and the visceral Battle of Agincourt stand out, but the score entire feels operatically through-composed, unified by Doyle's strong instinct for melody. The melodramatic climax of his "Non nobis, Domine" (that's the composer singing at the beginning) unashamedly rivals "Land of Hope and Glory" for--as Branagh puts it--"hummability". Quite how they coaxed Sir Simon Rattle and the CBSO into the studio remains a mystery, but the result is one of the best performed, orchestrally luxurious soundtracks ever recorded. Patrick Doyle's later scores may be more refined (try Hamlet for example), but none quite match the sheer exuberance of this debut. --Mark Walker
Product Description
CD Music By Patrick Doyle/W/Simon Rattle, City Of Birminga
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Sir Henry at Ndidi's Kraal is well worth listening to. If, like me, you know 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' very well, you will find this a lesser work. Where that masterpiece is well crafted and overflowing with the genius of the man, in Ndidi's Kraal his superb talent is spread more thinly. It is a little rougher, less subtle and less gentle although there are still wonderful politically incorrect raspberries liberally scattered through the text. The sparkling gems of the brilliance of the man Stanshall shine, though a little less brightly. Devotees should sample this.
47 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This rather flawed late work from Viv Stanshall still has a lot of comic genius buried within it. It features Sir Henry as he travels to Africa in search of a long-lost tribe, and features one of the strangest songs ever recorded, some strangely beautiful poetry, and a violin as well. There are some hilarious moments and some memorable phrases, although the whole thing doesn't quite hang together to make it a classic work.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By Numinous Ugo
Format:Audio CD
Okay so this is not as polished as Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, or indeed any other of the great Vivian's work but it was recorded over a Bank Holiday and one suspects that lack of funds lead to it being handed over for release rather than being worked up into a finished article. I would, therefore, encourage you to consider this as a work in progress. There is mostly only sparse instrumental accompaniment to the Ramblings of Sir Henry but I would much rather have this imperfect work than not. Vivian Stanshall a troubled soul who struggled through depression and self doubt which is a cause of great sadness to many, especially to those closest to him. But the flip side was his brilliant flights of fancy and enormous creativity. Even as a child I always knew there was something strange and special about Vivian Stanshall and the feeling only grew over time. This man was a genius, I am grateful for the pearls he left behind.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
very well
Hello, I recommend this CD for its quality, has quite the music lovers concerning the Knight Templars
super i say
super i say
Published 11 days ago by Parc é Jean Michel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliance
Don't be put off by the previous guarded reviews, however respectful and complimentry. This is a work of rare and original genius, by a man of the same. Read more
Published 6 months ago by keith nick
5.0 out of 5 stars
The better part of Branagh
I bought the music before buying the film! So struck by a passage I believe Classic FM played. The film is good, certainly, but Patrick Doyle's music is better. Read more
Published 12 months ago by JohnHoppy
5.0 out of 5 stars
OFFICIAL REMASTERED GORGEOUS VINYL VERSION OF MEN OPENING UMBRELLAS...
It's finally here, after all these years. Vivian Stanshall's real Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead just as it was, only better. It's remastered and official. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Horridhat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This soundtrack is absolutely brilliant. What a joy to listen to every time! I would highly recommend this to anyone.
Published 15 months ago by Mouse
5.0 out of 5 stars
Visions of a Eccentric Englishman
We shall never see the likes or lights of Vivian Stanshall also known as the 'Ginger Geezer' was one of the leading lights of surreality. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Rulke
5.0 out of 5 stars
Knockout Doyle
Looking back now over more than 20 years, it seems impossible to believe that Patrick Doyle's music for Branagh's "Henry V" was his initial film score. Read more
Published 23 months ago by NormaE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Henry V OST, Patrick Doyle - A simply beautiful piece of music
This is a really beautiful score from Patrick Doyle for Kenneth Branagh's film version of Henry V.
It is impossible to write a review of this disc without comparing it... Read more
It is impossible to write a review of this disc without comparing it... Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2010 by Victor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Doyle: Henry V Original Saundtrack
This CD is of good quality but I'm not satisfied by the way of payement: after three refuses of my bank's card, I received two same CD, finaly payed two times. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2010 by Mr. TRIPKOVIC Vuko
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stirring soundtrack
Never very keen on Shakespeare, but Kenneth Branagh brought it to life, I bought this Cd as I especially like the track 'Non nobis,Domine'
Published on 5 Dec 2010 by Daniel Rampton
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