Maria, Ihm Schmeckt's Nicht!
Niki Reiser
" The score is recommended to everyone who likes to hear an ode to the great Nino Rota "Written by Joep de Bruijn - Review of the regular release
Swiss composer Niki Reiser has composed a large number of gems throughout his career; Nirgendwo In Afrika, Liebesleben, Mein Führer - Die Wirklich Wahrste Wahrheit über Adolf Hitler and many more. He primarily writes music to German films, ranging from very solid efforts for great dramas to energetic comedies. Maria, ihm Schmeckt's nicht! can be placed in the comic category.
Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht! is a comedy based on the book by Jan Weiler. Neele Vollmar directed the film version and Christian Ulmen, Mina Tander and the popular Italian actor Lino Banfi play the leading roles. The film is about Jan who is about to marry the German-Italian Sara and both agree they want to keep it small. However this not a option since the Italian father is insisting his little girl marries in catholic church in Italy, with the complete Italian family there to celebrate. The entire group travels to Campobello, a small mountain village, to prepare for the wedding.
Niki Reiser was invited to watch a temp score version of the film that used Nino Rota score only, especially music from La Dolce Vita. He knew it would be an impossible task to exceed the quality of his favourite composer's music. So he took the parts of the temp music (the general Italian mood and rhythms, the timbre) that would still allow him to write his own personal score. Reiser used a-typical instruments like the accordion, mandolin, guitar and an orchestra to create a Mediterranean sound for the score.
There's some appropriate musical clashing between German and Italian music, but it's not that easy to spot. The sound palette is naturally somewhat larger with general instruments (percussion, contrabass, bass, piano, saxophone) from which some add something special to the whole experience (a soprano, tenor, a normal vocal and whistling). Reiser is a composer who likes playing various instruments for its own scores. On Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht! he did the whistling, used his voice as an extra musical effect and played the piano, guitar and Wurlitzer e-piano. I don't know another composer who frequently whistles and sings like this on his own scores.
The score is full of charming rhythms, attractive melodies and is lightheartedly comic from beginning to end. The majority of the score consists of rhythm, melodic music and it is this parade of rhythm and tongue-in-cheek that makes it an energetic listening experience. I think not everyone will like that, even though there are few dramatic cues and a couple of songs providing some variation. But I suspect it would still put a smile on anyone's face nonetheless.
Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht! isn't Reiser's best comedy score, but it's still hugely enjoyable. I haven't seen the film (yet), but can see how well the music would support it. The score is recommended to everyone who likes to hear an ode to the great Nino Rota or another worthy addition to Niki Reiser's comedy legacy. The release by the German label Königskinder is excellent and marks their second Reiser release after Im Winter Ein Jahr. The booklet includes comments on the music by the director, writer of the book and the composer himself and the release comes in a round, 'next generation' jewel case.
Tracklisting
1. Con Me Anche Tu (1.21)
2. Antonios Abschied (2.29)
3. Jans Flucht (1.45)
4. Einsamkeit in Deutschland (2.03)
5. Die Carducci Familie (2.18)
6. Aufruhr in Campobello (1.15)
7. Die Muscheln (1.00)
8. Auf nach Italien (1.25)
9. Sara ist weg (2.25)
10. Pronto Pronto: Bruno Ferrara (3.14)
11. Einmal fremd immer fremd (1.33)
12. Einsam in Campobello (2.09)
13. It's You and Me: Nadia Leonti (1.14)
14. Das Carducci Duell (1.34)
15. Arrivano I Tedeschi (1.49)
16. Norden ist gut (2.28)
17. Il Cuore E Uno Zingaro: Nicola Di Bari (3.13)
18. Sommernacht (4.12)
19. Ein Genpool von Wahnsinnigen (2.20)
20. I finde di uberall (1.16)
21. Domani Domani (1.43)
22. Kenn ein Land: Ronny (2.14)
23. Jan ist weg (2.11)
24. Campobello (2.29)
25. Un Complimento: Sportfreunde Stiller (3.19)
Total Length: 52.59
Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht! is a comedy based on the book by Jan Weiler. Neele Vollmar directed the film version and Christian Ulmen, Mina Tander and the popular Italian actor Lino Banfi play the leading roles. The film is about Jan who is about to marry the German-Italian Sara and both agree they want to keep it small. However this not a option since the Italian father is insisting his little girl marries in catholic church in Italy, with the complete Italian family there to celebrate. The entire group travels to Campobello, a small mountain village, to prepare for the wedding.
Niki Reiser was invited to watch a temp score version of the film that used Nino Rota score only, especially music from La Dolce Vita. He knew it would be an impossible task to exceed the quality of his favourite composer's music. So he took the parts of the temp music (the general Italian mood and rhythms, the timbre) that would still allow him to write his own personal score. Reiser used a-typical instruments like the accordion, mandolin, guitar and an orchestra to create a Mediterranean sound for the score.
There's some appropriate musical clashing between German and Italian music, but it's not that easy to spot. The sound palette is naturally somewhat larger with general instruments (percussion, contrabass, bass, piano, saxophone) from which some add something special to the whole experience (a soprano, tenor, a normal vocal and whistling). Reiser is a composer who likes playing various instruments for its own scores. On Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht! he did the whistling, used his voice as an extra musical effect and played the piano, guitar and Wurlitzer e-piano. I don't know another composer who frequently whistles and sings like this on his own scores.
The score is full of charming rhythms, attractive melodies and is lightheartedly comic from beginning to end. The majority of the score consists of rhythm, melodic music and it is this parade of rhythm and tongue-in-cheek that makes it an energetic listening experience. I think not everyone will like that, even though there are few dramatic cues and a couple of songs providing some variation. But I suspect it would still put a smile on anyone's face nonetheless.
Maria, ihm schmeckt's nicht! isn't Reiser's best comedy score, but it's still hugely enjoyable. I haven't seen the film (yet), but can see how well the music would support it. The score is recommended to everyone who likes to hear an ode to the great Nino Rota or another worthy addition to Niki Reiser's comedy legacy. The release by the German label Königskinder is excellent and marks their second Reiser release after Im Winter Ein Jahr. The booklet includes comments on the music by the director, writer of the book and the composer himself and the release comes in a round, 'next generation' jewel case.
Tracklisting
1. Con Me Anche Tu (1.21)
2. Antonios Abschied (2.29)
3. Jans Flucht (1.45)
4. Einsamkeit in Deutschland (2.03)
5. Die Carducci Familie (2.18)
6. Aufruhr in Campobello (1.15)
7. Die Muscheln (1.00)
8. Auf nach Italien (1.25)
9. Sara ist weg (2.25)
10. Pronto Pronto: Bruno Ferrara (3.14)
11. Einmal fremd immer fremd (1.33)
12. Einsam in Campobello (2.09)
13. It's You and Me: Nadia Leonti (1.14)
14. Das Carducci Duell (1.34)
15. Arrivano I Tedeschi (1.49)
16. Norden ist gut (2.28)
17. Il Cuore E Uno Zingaro: Nicola Di Bari (3.13)
18. Sommernacht (4.12)
19. Ein Genpool von Wahnsinnigen (2.20)
20. I finde di uberall (1.16)
21. Domani Domani (1.43)
22. Kenn ein Land: Ronny (2.14)
23. Jan ist weg (2.11)
24. Campobello (2.29)
25. Un Complimento: Sportfreunde Stiller (3.19)
Total Length: 52.59