Back to Titanic
James Horner
" Shipmates, we return to the sea, to the legend, to extra material of Horner's score "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Ka-ching! Today, Shania Twain couldn't have sung it any better for what would happen to the phenomenon that is Titanic. Everything that was attached to the name simply sold millions while receiving Oscars, even if it was earned for some or not. Of course for soundtrack lovers, people soon started to look for more music from James Horner's winning score. And believe it or not, there actually was music that wasn't on the original soundtrack that deserved to be there. Cleverly entitled Back to Titanic (and not "more music from"), this disc recreates the same feeling from the original soundtrack. But unlike More Music from Braveheart, there is more new material to actually warrant a release such as this.
Some 50 minutes of Horner's music is released, which is quite extraordinary for the fact the original album lasted for about 80 minutes as well. But Back to Titanic still brings several pieces that are worthy of your attention. For instance we finally hear the requested piano solos during the sketch scene. It is Horner's own piano playing that is heard during "The Portrait" and it is emotionally touching.
Furthermore "A Building Panic" is the only real suspense piece during the mammoth sinking of the ship, and effectively choir is used to give it more depth (synthesized or not). The use of the rumbling piano and orchestra are a little bit different than what we hear mostly of Horner, showing that even tracks like these bring their own unique small surprises.
Some other new moments are for instance "Jack Dawson's Luck" (which is a jig for violin and bagpipe) while "Lament" adds nothing remarkable except some violin solos that remind the listener of Legends of the Fall. And what about "A Shore Never Reached"? This is Saving Private Ryan in tone for almost 2 minutes, in fact you wouldn't know the difference if you swapped them of discs.
Celine Dion's winning song appears on this CD as well, although with dialogue. For once a song receives the dialogue and not the score, which goes to show that people valued Horner's music as much as the song itself. Anyway its inclusion is well chosen but nothing that will add more spunk to the song in general. "An Irish Party in Third Class" adds the Irish bagpipe music from the deck below (sadly with for once dialogue) while "Come Josephine, in My Flying Machine" is a quiet touching and moving piece that captures the mood well. And then there are the 2 mammoth suites from Horner's music opening and closing the score. Adding nothing new in general, it's the wonderful collision of bagpipes and choir performing the main theme that makes "Titanic Suite" special.
And "Epilogue / The Deep and Timeless Sea" does it even better. Vocalist Sissel, choir, bagpipes and light orchestra all collide in giving the main theme an unseen feeling of beauty. Some people might complain that these 2 suites lack oomph, yet I see it as a return to the sea, an ode to the tragedy and functioning as a light redemption for the victims of the disaster.
Simply put, Back to Titanic does the astonishing fact of adding minimally 50 minutes more of Horner's music not featured on the original soundtrack itself. The 2 suites are more or less repeating music we heard before, but their variations on the themes make you revisit the tragedy once again, this by listening to spine tingling Oscar winning music.
Tracklisting
1. Titanic Suite (19.04) Excellent track
2. An Irish Party in Third Class +* (3.47)
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band ++ (2.30)
4. The Portrait (4.43) Excellent track
5. Jack Dawson's Luck (5.38)
6. A Building Panic (8.08) Excellent track
7. Nearer my God to Thee (2.49)
8. Come Josephine, in my Flying Machine: Maire Brennan * (3.32)
9. Lament (4.36)
10. A Shore Never Reached (4.27)
11. My Heart Will Go On: Celine Dion * (4.42)
12. Nearer my God to Thee +++ (2.22)
13. Epilogue / The Deep and Timeless Sea (12.36) Excellent track
* contains dialogue
+ performed by Gaelic Storm
++ performed by I Salonisti
+++ performed by Eileen Ivers
Total Length: 79.06
Some 50 minutes of Horner's music is released, which is quite extraordinary for the fact the original album lasted for about 80 minutes as well. But Back to Titanic still brings several pieces that are worthy of your attention. For instance we finally hear the requested piano solos during the sketch scene. It is Horner's own piano playing that is heard during "The Portrait" and it is emotionally touching.
Furthermore "A Building Panic" is the only real suspense piece during the mammoth sinking of the ship, and effectively choir is used to give it more depth (synthesized or not). The use of the rumbling piano and orchestra are a little bit different than what we hear mostly of Horner, showing that even tracks like these bring their own unique small surprises.
Some other new moments are for instance "Jack Dawson's Luck" (which is a jig for violin and bagpipe) while "Lament" adds nothing remarkable except some violin solos that remind the listener of Legends of the Fall. And what about "A Shore Never Reached"? This is Saving Private Ryan in tone for almost 2 minutes, in fact you wouldn't know the difference if you swapped them of discs.
Celine Dion's winning song appears on this CD as well, although with dialogue. For once a song receives the dialogue and not the score, which goes to show that people valued Horner's music as much as the song itself. Anyway its inclusion is well chosen but nothing that will add more spunk to the song in general. "An Irish Party in Third Class" adds the Irish bagpipe music from the deck below (sadly with for once dialogue) while "Come Josephine, in My Flying Machine" is a quiet touching and moving piece that captures the mood well. And then there are the 2 mammoth suites from Horner's music opening and closing the score. Adding nothing new in general, it's the wonderful collision of bagpipes and choir performing the main theme that makes "Titanic Suite" special.
And "Epilogue / The Deep and Timeless Sea" does it even better. Vocalist Sissel, choir, bagpipes and light orchestra all collide in giving the main theme an unseen feeling of beauty. Some people might complain that these 2 suites lack oomph, yet I see it as a return to the sea, an ode to the tragedy and functioning as a light redemption for the victims of the disaster.
Simply put, Back to Titanic does the astonishing fact of adding minimally 50 minutes more of Horner's music not featured on the original soundtrack itself. The 2 suites are more or less repeating music we heard before, but their variations on the themes make you revisit the tragedy once again, this by listening to spine tingling Oscar winning music.
Tracklisting
1. Titanic Suite (19.04) Excellent track
2. An Irish Party in Third Class +* (3.47)
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band ++ (2.30)
4. The Portrait (4.43) Excellent track
5. Jack Dawson's Luck (5.38)
6. A Building Panic (8.08) Excellent track
7. Nearer my God to Thee (2.49)
8. Come Josephine, in my Flying Machine: Maire Brennan * (3.32)
9. Lament (4.36)
10. A Shore Never Reached (4.27)
11. My Heart Will Go On: Celine Dion * (4.42)
12. Nearer my God to Thee +++ (2.22)
13. Epilogue / The Deep and Timeless Sea (12.36) Excellent track
* contains dialogue
+ performed by Gaelic Storm
++ performed by I Salonisti
+++ performed by Eileen Ivers
Total Length: 79.06