Zbigniew Preisner - The Secret Garden: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
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Free Music Notes for The Secret Garden: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Free Music Review: Short but sweet...
Hit: 5 Stars
Having grown up on the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of The Secret Garden, I was enthralled with Agnieszka Holland's 1993 The Secret Garden. The 1993 Secret Garden soundtrack, composed by fellow Pole Zbigniew Preisner, makes use of haunting instrumentals: the deliciously foreign Main Title, with its ghostly, tremulous flute, and the omnipresent piano, echoing melancholy snippets of Chopin. On Skipping Rope, Preisner playfully uses pizzicato strings and guitar reprising the Winter Light theme. Preisner incorporates a myriad of influences; the dramatic, piano-driven Craven's Return sounds as if it could have been torn from Shostakovich. On Walking Through the Garden, a boychoir vocalizes the Secret Garden theme as a solo violin captures the main melody. On Mary and Robin Together, the solo violin cheerfully emulates a robin's spring song. Bells, harp, guitar, and violin round out the cast.
As with most soundtracks, many tracks echo or reprise the main theme, so the CD does come off as repetitive after several listens, but makes lovely background music for a quiet spring dinner. If you were thinking of buying the CD for the haunting Winter Light, you won't find it here. Unfortunately, perhaps due to licensing, Linda Ronstadt's version of Winter Light is not included on the soundtrack (it was played over the closing credits). Sarah Brightman also covered Winter Light on her Sarah Brightman Classics CD. But Preisner's unerring ear for measured, dignified melodies bring Mary's English garden to lush life.
Free Music Review: Not Nearly Long Enough For Such Beautiful Music!
Hit: 4 Stars
I saw this movie at the tender age of 6. Even back then, I loved the music. I loved the soft pianos and the children's choirs and the dichotomy between the lighter, sweeter side of the garden and the darker, sorrowful ballads implying seclusion, regret, loneliness, and sickness.
From the same era, I loved Danny Elfman's soundtrack to Black Beauty. However, unlike this CD, Black Beauty is no longer widely available (unless you have over a hundred dollars to spend on one CD) so I jumped on the recent chance to buy this CD and rekindle the love I had for this magical story I read and watched in my youth (I usually lump Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, and A Little Princess into the same bag in my mind which is why I mention Black Beauty).
So the only reason I did not give it the complete 5 stars? For its incompleteness! This music is GORGEOUS; it's quite possibly some of the best movie music I've ever heard in a movie. It's only logical to feel unhappy when most of the 20 songs are a minute long- or less. If I round out the track lengths, I believe it comes out to being only 29 or 30 minutes. Not nearly long enough for a compilation of this calibur!
Music is so important to a movie and sometimes I think that people don't even notice how great some movies' music really is, then it's such a shame that when the CD is released, hardly any of it is showcased (at least, that is how it seems).
However, do not let its short length discourage you from buying it. You will definitely love it for what it is- a lovely, calming, and inspiring set of ballads and fantasies that accompanies one of the most delightful children's movies (and books!) you could ever watch, even as an adult. If you are a fan of Priesner, or just of movies, this certainly belongs in your collection.
P.S. My personal favorites are "Leaving the Docks," "First Time Outside," "Shows Dickon Garden," "Craven Leaves," and "Happily Ever After."
Free Music Review: can some one help...
Hit: 5 Stars
can someone please tell me whats the name of the song the cook sang when she was kneading the dough in the kitchen...i heard it before and i was wondering if any of you would know...thanx so muchFree Music Review: my favorite soundtrack
Hit: 4 Stars
The soundtrack to this movie is by far my favorite soundtrack to any movie ever. It is so far from what I usually listen to but there is something so peaceful and serene about the music. I absolutely love this CD and this movie. I am a little disappointed that "Winter Light" (the end credit song) is not on it but it is still a wonderful CD.Free Music Review: The Secret Gem
Hit: 5 Stars
Mr. Preisner has created a beautiful, enchanting score for an unforgettab?le, mesmerizing tale. Listen to it, and get in the secret garden of dreams and hopes...