Arn: Tempelriddaren
Tuomas Kantelinen
" An enlightening religious experience "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Arn: The Knight Templar (original title Arn: Tempelriddaren) is a 2007 epic film based on Jan Guillou's trilogy about the fictional Swedish Knight Templar Arn Magnusson. The film was released in December 2007 and the sequel, Arn: The Kingdom at Road's End was released the following year. Both movies received the same composer's voice. That one of Tuomas Kantelinen, a Finnish composer who already surprised most of you with Mindhunters or Mongol (see that as good or bad).
For me, it was the introduction to this Finnish composer's voice and I expected great things from such an epic title. I always expect great things from no matter which composer when I see they wrote music for any epic adventure / fantasy movie. And these expectations can either turn into something positive or negative. In the case of Arn: The Knight Templar my first impression was albeit positive. The second beyond words.
What opens and closes this score is nothing short of mesmerizing. Laleh is an Iranian Swedish singer who can perform her songs in 3 languages (English, Swedish and Persian). Her opening during "Snö Framförd" is nothing short of mesmerizing, especially when backed up by a female choir.
Sadly my only disappointment comes from the fact we only hear one action track. For such an epic movie description, the only rhythmic festivity comes during "Desert Chase". The fact it is short but rhythmic, exciting and Goldsmithian (or Tyler) in tone makes it all the more disappointing. It only lasts for 2 minutes and that is a big shame.
Nonetheless what we are offered of musical encores is nothing to dismiss. The tone is now religious, soothing, beautiful, calm, full of church singing and magical choir. The effect is overall pretty much the same, but the impression isn't any weaker for that.
The soft noble theme in "Templars Theme", the soft choir and vocal of the Templar's theme in "To Varnhems" (Lady in the Water effect), the soft choir and strings during "Hope" and "Gratias", the uplifting strings in "Arn & Cecilia", the brief heroic stunning "From Boy to Man", it is all good and lovely on the ears.
The percussion rhythm, the Templar's Theme and The Thin Red Line score during "Adagio" surely is lovely enough for a recommendation. The same counts for the vocal effect during "Sword" when it performs the main theme in what is a very magical piece of music. The sombre Doyle like "Revenge Trip" aside, the ending is nothing but magical uplifting singing.
The magical string / choir collision during "Love Theme", the sublime choral crescendo in "Chorale", the lovely resolving thematic "Ending" and the film version of "Snö Framförd" all make it a wonderful thematic finish. And once you've gotten over the disappointment that there is literally no action music besides one track, you'll come to appreciate the simply religious pride of Tuomas Kantelinen's music even more. Expect that from the begin and you'll experience Arn: The Knight Templar like it is the most wonderful score of 2007. See that as only good.
Tracklisting
1. Snö Framförd: Laleh (4.30) Excellent track
2. Prologue (1.07)
3. Desert Chase (2.49)
4. Templars Theme (1.00)
5. To Varnhems (1.48)
6. Hope (3.34)
7. From Boy to Man (1.04) Excellent track
8. Gratias (3.26) Excellent track
9. Arn & Cecilia (3.20)
10. Adagio (2.17) Excellent track
11. Child Flashback (1.06)
12. Sword (1.45) Excellent track
13. Small Prayer (2.03)
14. Revenge Trip (2.31)
15. Templar's Prayer (1.28)
16. Arabic Arrival (0.37)
17. Love Theme (1.48) Excellent track
18. Coming to Jerusalem (1.09)
19. Convent 1 Woman (0.58)
20. Historic Theme (2.35)
21. Chorale (1.27) Excellent track
22. Ending (2.36) Excellent track
23. Snö Framförd (film version): Laleh (4.33) Excellent track
Total Length: 49.20
For me, it was the introduction to this Finnish composer's voice and I expected great things from such an epic title. I always expect great things from no matter which composer when I see they wrote music for any epic adventure / fantasy movie. And these expectations can either turn into something positive or negative. In the case of Arn: The Knight Templar my first impression was albeit positive. The second beyond words.
What opens and closes this score is nothing short of mesmerizing. Laleh is an Iranian Swedish singer who can perform her songs in 3 languages (English, Swedish and Persian). Her opening during "Snö Framförd" is nothing short of mesmerizing, especially when backed up by a female choir.
Sadly my only disappointment comes from the fact we only hear one action track. For such an epic movie description, the only rhythmic festivity comes during "Desert Chase". The fact it is short but rhythmic, exciting and Goldsmithian (or Tyler) in tone makes it all the more disappointing. It only lasts for 2 minutes and that is a big shame.
Nonetheless what we are offered of musical encores is nothing to dismiss. The tone is now religious, soothing, beautiful, calm, full of church singing and magical choir. The effect is overall pretty much the same, but the impression isn't any weaker for that.
The soft noble theme in "Templars Theme", the soft choir and vocal of the Templar's theme in "To Varnhems" (Lady in the Water effect), the soft choir and strings during "Hope" and "Gratias", the uplifting strings in "Arn & Cecilia", the brief heroic stunning "From Boy to Man", it is all good and lovely on the ears.
The percussion rhythm, the Templar's Theme and The Thin Red Line score during "Adagio" surely is lovely enough for a recommendation. The same counts for the vocal effect during "Sword" when it performs the main theme in what is a very magical piece of music. The sombre Doyle like "Revenge Trip" aside, the ending is nothing but magical uplifting singing.
The magical string / choir collision during "Love Theme", the sublime choral crescendo in "Chorale", the lovely resolving thematic "Ending" and the film version of "Snö Framförd" all make it a wonderful thematic finish. And once you've gotten over the disappointment that there is literally no action music besides one track, you'll come to appreciate the simply religious pride of Tuomas Kantelinen's music even more. Expect that from the begin and you'll experience Arn: The Knight Templar like it is the most wonderful score of 2007. See that as only good.
Tracklisting
1. Snö Framförd: Laleh (4.30) Excellent track
2. Prologue (1.07)
3. Desert Chase (2.49)
4. Templars Theme (1.00)
5. To Varnhems (1.48)
6. Hope (3.34)
7. From Boy to Man (1.04) Excellent track
8. Gratias (3.26) Excellent track
9. Arn & Cecilia (3.20)
10. Adagio (2.17) Excellent track
11. Child Flashback (1.06)
12. Sword (1.45) Excellent track
13. Small Prayer (2.03)
14. Revenge Trip (2.31)
15. Templar's Prayer (1.28)
16. Arabic Arrival (0.37)
17. Love Theme (1.48) Excellent track
18. Coming to Jerusalem (1.09)
19. Convent 1 Woman (0.58)
20. Historic Theme (2.35)
21. Chorale (1.27) Excellent track
22. Ending (2.36) Excellent track
23. Snö Framförd (film version): Laleh (4.33) Excellent track
Total Length: 49.20