Christopher Columbus: The Discovery
Cliff Eidelman
" Hello, Epic'ness calling Cliff Eidelman! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Getting used to a composer's voice is a dangerous thing nowadays. You never know if he will ever reach that same kind of quality again, or even worse if you'll ever HEAR him again. Who would have thought that Cliff Eidelman would almost disappear from the radar, right after another wonderful year in 1992. One year after his big breakthrough with Star Trek VI, Eidelman once again delivered us an example of his talent, namely with the epic Christopher Columbus: The Discovery. Frankly a movie I never saw, but I did hear what it represented. And that's an adventure that lives on. Enter Cliff Eidelman to make us aware of quality music yet again.
Because how else could you describe the almost lyrical entrance of 2 gigantic themes in "The Great Sea". I mean this is the kind of music you just don't hear anymore, 2 themes that don't hide for hours but immediately unleash their magic upon you, a main theme that sells and tells you it's there, and a noble theme that graces you with its presence. Filmmusic back then still wowed you for its never ending assault of full scale music, not like today where supportive music is hiding somewhere in the background. And just luckily, the begin doesn't mean the end at all. In "Come O Come Emanuel" that noble theme returns in a choral hymn, stunningly spectacular and beautifully captivating. And if that isn't enough, Eidelman throws a third epic moment in the mix with "The Broken Cloud", after a rather exciting action minute preceding it.
These 3 tracks tell you it's a grand shame that composers like Cliff Eidelman just aren't getting the chance anymore. The reason is not that he hasn't got it, the reason is simply that this kind of filmmusic isn't asked anymore. And the few directors who do are usually already working with other composers. Nevertheless that loss doesn't have to lure us away from the fact Christopher Columbus is quite spectacular in the really important moments. Like the main theme blasting away on trumpets in "The Voyage", the truly amazing choral encore in "The Discovery (Gloria)" and a compilation of the best theme statements in the brilliant "A Hero's Welcome (Epilogue)".
And in between all that we have softer main theme statements, Star Trek VI like darker music, truly inspiring JFK nobility in "Saint Elmo's Fire" and a cue with additional ethnic instruments for the introduction of "The New World". If we could say something negative too, perhaps everything is a bit too much focused on the 2 themes, showing perhaps a lack of some musical difference. But what it earns high marks on are the 2 themes, the emotional lyrical music and the never failing Cliff Eidelman magic. It may repeat its strengths a bit too much, but those strengths show what today's music is lacking a heck of a lot off. Namely explosiveness. For Cliff Eidelman fans, a must for sure.
Favorite Moment - A Hero's Welcome (Epilogue) (6.19 - 7.24)
Basil Poledouris' magic graces the final theme statement, WOW
Track Listing
Act 1: Spain
1. The Great Sea (1.35) Excellent track
2. Come O Come Emanuel (2.23) Excellent track
3. The Broken Cloud (3.38)
4. Never Forget (1.59)
5. Spain Defeats the Moors (3.09)
6. House of Gold (1.06)
Act 2: The Sea
7. The Voyage (1.28) Excellent track
8. Mutiny on the Bounty (3.16)
9. Remembering Home (1.31)
10. Saint Elmo's Fire (4.07)
11. The Discovery (Gloria) (3.03) Excellent track
Act 3: The West Indies
12. The New World (3.21)
13. Alvarao's Fatal Act (2.17)
Act 4: The Sea
14. Storm (1.02)
Act 4 Part II: Spain
15. The Return (0.41)
16. A Hero's Welcome (Epilogue) (7.27) Excellent track
Total Length: 42.50
Because how else could you describe the almost lyrical entrance of 2 gigantic themes in "The Great Sea". I mean this is the kind of music you just don't hear anymore, 2 themes that don't hide for hours but immediately unleash their magic upon you, a main theme that sells and tells you it's there, and a noble theme that graces you with its presence. Filmmusic back then still wowed you for its never ending assault of full scale music, not like today where supportive music is hiding somewhere in the background. And just luckily, the begin doesn't mean the end at all. In "Come O Come Emanuel" that noble theme returns in a choral hymn, stunningly spectacular and beautifully captivating. And if that isn't enough, Eidelman throws a third epic moment in the mix with "The Broken Cloud", after a rather exciting action minute preceding it.
These 3 tracks tell you it's a grand shame that composers like Cliff Eidelman just aren't getting the chance anymore. The reason is not that he hasn't got it, the reason is simply that this kind of filmmusic isn't asked anymore. And the few directors who do are usually already working with other composers. Nevertheless that loss doesn't have to lure us away from the fact Christopher Columbus is quite spectacular in the really important moments. Like the main theme blasting away on trumpets in "The Voyage", the truly amazing choral encore in "The Discovery (Gloria)" and a compilation of the best theme statements in the brilliant "A Hero's Welcome (Epilogue)".
And in between all that we have softer main theme statements, Star Trek VI like darker music, truly inspiring JFK nobility in "Saint Elmo's Fire" and a cue with additional ethnic instruments for the introduction of "The New World". If we could say something negative too, perhaps everything is a bit too much focused on the 2 themes, showing perhaps a lack of some musical difference. But what it earns high marks on are the 2 themes, the emotional lyrical music and the never failing Cliff Eidelman magic. It may repeat its strengths a bit too much, but those strengths show what today's music is lacking a heck of a lot off. Namely explosiveness. For Cliff Eidelman fans, a must for sure.
Favorite Moment - A Hero's Welcome (Epilogue) (6.19 - 7.24)
Basil Poledouris' magic graces the final theme statement, WOW
Track Listing
Act 1: Spain
1. The Great Sea (1.35) Excellent track
2. Come O Come Emanuel (2.23) Excellent track
3. The Broken Cloud (3.38)
4. Never Forget (1.59)
5. Spain Defeats the Moors (3.09)
6. House of Gold (1.06)
Act 2: The Sea
7. The Voyage (1.28) Excellent track
8. Mutiny on the Bounty (3.16)
9. Remembering Home (1.31)
10. Saint Elmo's Fire (4.07)
11. The Discovery (Gloria) (3.03) Excellent track
Act 3: The West Indies
12. The New World (3.21)
13. Alvarao's Fatal Act (2.17)
Act 4: The Sea
14. Storm (1.02)
Act 4 Part II: Spain
15. The Return (0.41)
16. A Hero's Welcome (Epilogue) (7.27) Excellent track
Total Length: 42.50