Earthsea
Jeff Rona
" Once again, Varèse exaggerated when they said this was epic "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Jeff Rona's career took a bold step forward during the late 90's. Directors immediately noticed the potential of Rona's skills. While it remained with several projects per year, it was the diversity in Rona's sound that made us lose focus of his compositions in the process. Earthsea had all the qualifications of bringing us back on track with an interesting project. Earthsea was promised to be a beloved tale for those who adore their fantasy scores. We have come to expect the exaggeration of Varèse for selling their efforts as the next best thing, but one hoped again this might actually be true. Alas.
You have to see the entire picture to discover what's basically wrong about this score. The series on Television failed for many viewers, considering it couldn't capture the books' vision nor the fantasy minds of fans. Score-wise there is not a doubt in my mind that it will be an effective score on screen, but on disc it fails due to the length and its limited appeal.
In fact, it is a very soft listen, occasionally giving the listener a lovely theme or moment. But if you promise the best, then offer the best or face the consequences. Varèse made it seem bigger than it actually was. Secondly, the enormous running length isn't helping either, considering only a quarter is actually worth it. So if you pack that into 70 minutes of just meandering underscore, you're asking for trouble. Again this is an issue that shows you not everything needs to be released.
Actually, thinking of Earthsea's potential, it is not only the length that will make you stumble but equally its lack of any powerful material. Your mind drools when reading track titles as "The Dragon's Tale" and "The Kargide Attack". But the truth is, there's no powerful music, no rhythmic suspense nor any loud fanfares. It is soft and it remains that way. The main theme is a nice one though, a Celtic Mighty Joe Young affair with lovely vocals. It actually sounds loud and melodic enough to remember it at the end. The best moments lie in "Main Title" and "Light over Earthsea".
The use of the orchestra stays hidden in most cues however, leaving the impact upon the various solo instruments like the flute, guitar, Uillian pipes, drums and strings. For instance "Ged and his Teacher" is nice enough with a solo vocal, flute and the main theme.
Tracks are pass you by to easily are "Follow your Path" which uses solo vocals, "The King's Plot" that uses ethnic instruments (albeit darker), "Walk Along the Way" that uses experimental guitar while ethnic material rises in "Atuan" and "Mists of a New Land" (totally forgettable). There are several more noticeable moments though. "The King's Plans" for instance uses a dangerous rhythm that's infectious enough.
Yet noticeable most of all is the total absent power during "The Kargide Attack" (expect throat singing and some darker material) and the light suspension building with brief fanfares in "At Dawn". In fact bells make you fall asleep during "Halls of Wisdom" and "The Dragon's Tale" is four minutes of boring material heightened only through a nice horn solo. The final statements of the main theme with vocals and Uillian pipes are what gives us at least some light magic in "Light over Earthsea", "Sparrowhawk" and "Sailing". In fact "Sailing" is so lovely it actually represents in one track what Varèse described the entire score to be like.
Earthsea sadly doesn't promise what's been promised. It is an overlong listening experience that barely shifts in tone, holding few highlights that are luckily for us fully worth it. It leaves the impression that Rona has what it takes to give us that fantasy music all right, but perhaps the show wasn't ready for it. We weren't expecting LOTR, but if you give us tantalizing explanations, you better expect to deliver us what's been promised.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (1.50)
2. If Not Us (3.21)
3. Ged and his Teacher (1.44)
4. Follow Your Path (1.09)
5. Isle of Roke (1.39)
6. The King's Plans (0.52)
7. The King's Plot (1.14)
8. Time to Go (1.55)
9. The Kargide Attack (1.32)
10. Walk Along the Way (1.02)
11. Sailing (1.33)
12. Atuan (1.02)
13. The Book of Spells (2.04)
14. Sparrowhawk (1.45)
15. Fireside (1.28)
16. When we Meet (5.18)
17. At Dawn (1.09)
18. Halls of Wisdom (2.26)
19. Wonderful Friend (0.45)
20. A Discovery (2.54)
21. My True Name (1.20)
22. Mists of New Land (4.21)
23. A Lesson Learned (1.52)
24. The Chambers (1.01)
25. My Strength (1.56)
26. Visions (1.07)
27. The Nameless Ones (1.56)
28. Catacombs of Atuan (2.02)
29. The Dragon's Tale (5.25)
30. My Successor (2.06)
31. The Last Song (1.07)
32. Into the Catacombs (1.46)
33. Light Over Earthsea (3.47)
Total Length: 67.16
You have to see the entire picture to discover what's basically wrong about this score. The series on Television failed for many viewers, considering it couldn't capture the books' vision nor the fantasy minds of fans. Score-wise there is not a doubt in my mind that it will be an effective score on screen, but on disc it fails due to the length and its limited appeal.
In fact, it is a very soft listen, occasionally giving the listener a lovely theme or moment. But if you promise the best, then offer the best or face the consequences. Varèse made it seem bigger than it actually was. Secondly, the enormous running length isn't helping either, considering only a quarter is actually worth it. So if you pack that into 70 minutes of just meandering underscore, you're asking for trouble. Again this is an issue that shows you not everything needs to be released.
Actually, thinking of Earthsea's potential, it is not only the length that will make you stumble but equally its lack of any powerful material. Your mind drools when reading track titles as "The Dragon's Tale" and "The Kargide Attack". But the truth is, there's no powerful music, no rhythmic suspense nor any loud fanfares. It is soft and it remains that way. The main theme is a nice one though, a Celtic Mighty Joe Young affair with lovely vocals. It actually sounds loud and melodic enough to remember it at the end. The best moments lie in "Main Title" and "Light over Earthsea".
The use of the orchestra stays hidden in most cues however, leaving the impact upon the various solo instruments like the flute, guitar, Uillian pipes, drums and strings. For instance "Ged and his Teacher" is nice enough with a solo vocal, flute and the main theme.
Tracks are pass you by to easily are "Follow your Path" which uses solo vocals, "The King's Plot" that uses ethnic instruments (albeit darker), "Walk Along the Way" that uses experimental guitar while ethnic material rises in "Atuan" and "Mists of a New Land" (totally forgettable). There are several more noticeable moments though. "The King's Plans" for instance uses a dangerous rhythm that's infectious enough.
Yet noticeable most of all is the total absent power during "The Kargide Attack" (expect throat singing and some darker material) and the light suspension building with brief fanfares in "At Dawn". In fact bells make you fall asleep during "Halls of Wisdom" and "The Dragon's Tale" is four minutes of boring material heightened only through a nice horn solo. The final statements of the main theme with vocals and Uillian pipes are what gives us at least some light magic in "Light over Earthsea", "Sparrowhawk" and "Sailing". In fact "Sailing" is so lovely it actually represents in one track what Varèse described the entire score to be like.
Earthsea sadly doesn't promise what's been promised. It is an overlong listening experience that barely shifts in tone, holding few highlights that are luckily for us fully worth it. It leaves the impression that Rona has what it takes to give us that fantasy music all right, but perhaps the show wasn't ready for it. We weren't expecting LOTR, but if you give us tantalizing explanations, you better expect to deliver us what's been promised.
Tracklisting
1. Main Title (1.50)
2. If Not Us (3.21)
3. Ged and his Teacher (1.44)
4. Follow Your Path (1.09)
5. Isle of Roke (1.39)
6. The King's Plans (0.52)
7. The King's Plot (1.14)
8. Time to Go (1.55)
9. The Kargide Attack (1.32)
10. Walk Along the Way (1.02)
11. Sailing (1.33)
12. Atuan (1.02)
13. The Book of Spells (2.04)
14. Sparrowhawk (1.45)
15. Fireside (1.28)
16. When we Meet (5.18)
17. At Dawn (1.09)
18. Halls of Wisdom (2.26)
19. Wonderful Friend (0.45)
20. A Discovery (2.54)
21. My True Name (1.20)
22. Mists of New Land (4.21)
23. A Lesson Learned (1.52)
24. The Chambers (1.01)
25. My Strength (1.56)
26. Visions (1.07)
27. The Nameless Ones (1.56)
28. Catacombs of Atuan (2.02)
29. The Dragon's Tale (5.25)
30. My Successor (2.06)
31. The Last Song (1.07)
32. Into the Catacombs (1.46)
33. Light Over Earthsea (3.47)
Total Length: 67.16