Oscar and Lucinda
Thomas Newman
" Dare I say Thomas Newman necessity? "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
You often wonder when a certain moment will touch you so deeply, so passionately, so profoundly in life. In film music terms, you often wonder when that moment comes during a certain listening experience, during a listen to a composer's work when you thought you had heard everything of him there is to hear. Wrong! Welcome to Thomas Newman's masterpiece in terms of passion, richness, religion. Oscar and Lucinda, starring Cate Blanchett, Ralph Fiennes and Tom Wilkinson is based on the 1988 Booker Prize-winning novel by Peter Carey. And it carries music you didn't expect at all.
Now considering the movie goes about 2 gamblers, it is interesting to see whether a certain person had any idea about what they would receive here. And honestly, your bet wouldn't look good. Because I can bet you'll lose your wager the moment "Prince Rupert's Drop (Main Title)" starts fooling your very beliefs. Honestly, few Thomas Newman scores start so magically and so pastoral. Welcome to piano, oboe and a choir that starts lifting your very spirit from the very first note. Destination heaven. Expect the same in what is essentially the crowning jewel of this score namely "The Church of Glass" and the beautiful final track "Oscar and Lucinda (End Title)". There's even some room for reflective choir in "Never Never" and "Prayer Wounds", pieces that touch you as well despite their soft whispering nature.
Of course choir and the magical use of it isn't the only mesmerizing element of this score. Themes or tunes are another reason. For instance the eruption of a keeper in "Sydney Harbor", the lovely tranquility of "The Caul", the wonderful eclectic rushes in "Rumors", "Floorwashing" (Meet Joe Black in style) and "Odd Bod" and some of Thomas Newman's most boisterous tracks yet ("Six Rivers to Cross" through the brass" and "Leviathan" through the flutes and brass). Add to that the addition of several classical pieces (including the choral magic of Anton Brucker which fits well with Thomas Newman's material) and you have a score that listens very passionately.
Oscar and Lucinda is typical Thomas Newman material, but with that something extra that elevates it beyond that typical border. At times it's charming, at times rambunctious, at times mesmerizing, at times softly. Either way it's what I want my Thomas Newman scores to be like. Getting what I desire, and receiving what I do not expect. Yes, Oscar and Lucinda is magical stuff, music that will move the very core of your heart, and will keep you interested during the remaining selection. Essentially, it is music I love to listen to, because I didn't expect it would move me so deeply, so passionately, so profoundly at all.
Track Listing
1. Prince Rupert's Drop (Main Title) * (2.37) Excellent track
2. Throwing Lots (0.48)
3. Dutch Hazards (0.50)
4. Sydney Harbor (1.57) Excellent track
5. Rumors (1.26)
6. The High Downs and the Sea (1.52)
7. Forgive Me (1.02)
8. On Justi ** (4.39)
9. Six Rivers to Cross (1.14) Excellent track
10. Two Gamblers (2.22)
11. The Murder of the Blacks (1.42)
12. Never Never (1.16)
13. Floorwashing (0.40)
14. Cards and Dogs (1.02)
15. One Obsessive (1.09)
16. The Church of Glass * (3.50) Excellent track
17. Letters on the mantel (1.25)
18. Odd Bod (1.05)
19. Prayer Wounds (2.11)
20. Leviathan (1.08) Excellent track
21. Magic Boxes (White Man's Dreaming) (1.49)
22. The Other Compulsive (1.02)
23. A Broken Thing (0.59)
24. The Seduction of Mrs. Chadwick (2.31)
25. Wesley: Blessed Be the God and Father *** (1.19)
26. Aqua (4.10)
27. The Caul (1.22)
28. Oscar and Lucinda (End Title) * (2.49) Excellent track
29. Excerpt from the Random House Audio book + (5.10)
* Featuring the Paulist Boy Choristers of California
** Os Justi - Written by Anton Bruckner - Performed by La Chapelle Royale & Collegium Vocale
*** Blessed Be the God and Father - Written by Samuel Wesley - Performed by The Paulist Boy Choristers Of California
+ Read by "Ralph Fiennes"
Total Length: 55.26
Now considering the movie goes about 2 gamblers, it is interesting to see whether a certain person had any idea about what they would receive here. And honestly, your bet wouldn't look good. Because I can bet you'll lose your wager the moment "Prince Rupert's Drop (Main Title)" starts fooling your very beliefs. Honestly, few Thomas Newman scores start so magically and so pastoral. Welcome to piano, oboe and a choir that starts lifting your very spirit from the very first note. Destination heaven. Expect the same in what is essentially the crowning jewel of this score namely "The Church of Glass" and the beautiful final track "Oscar and Lucinda (End Title)". There's even some room for reflective choir in "Never Never" and "Prayer Wounds", pieces that touch you as well despite their soft whispering nature.
Of course choir and the magical use of it isn't the only mesmerizing element of this score. Themes or tunes are another reason. For instance the eruption of a keeper in "Sydney Harbor", the lovely tranquility of "The Caul", the wonderful eclectic rushes in "Rumors", "Floorwashing" (Meet Joe Black in style) and "Odd Bod" and some of Thomas Newman's most boisterous tracks yet ("Six Rivers to Cross" through the brass" and "Leviathan" through the flutes and brass). Add to that the addition of several classical pieces (including the choral magic of Anton Brucker which fits well with Thomas Newman's material) and you have a score that listens very passionately.
Oscar and Lucinda is typical Thomas Newman material, but with that something extra that elevates it beyond that typical border. At times it's charming, at times rambunctious, at times mesmerizing, at times softly. Either way it's what I want my Thomas Newman scores to be like. Getting what I desire, and receiving what I do not expect. Yes, Oscar and Lucinda is magical stuff, music that will move the very core of your heart, and will keep you interested during the remaining selection. Essentially, it is music I love to listen to, because I didn't expect it would move me so deeply, so passionately, so profoundly at all.
Track Listing
1. Prince Rupert's Drop (Main Title) * (2.37) Excellent track
2. Throwing Lots (0.48)
3. Dutch Hazards (0.50)
4. Sydney Harbor (1.57) Excellent track
5. Rumors (1.26)
6. The High Downs and the Sea (1.52)
7. Forgive Me (1.02)
8. On Justi ** (4.39)
9. Six Rivers to Cross (1.14) Excellent track
10. Two Gamblers (2.22)
11. The Murder of the Blacks (1.42)
12. Never Never (1.16)
13. Floorwashing (0.40)
14. Cards and Dogs (1.02)
15. One Obsessive (1.09)
16. The Church of Glass * (3.50) Excellent track
17. Letters on the mantel (1.25)
18. Odd Bod (1.05)
19. Prayer Wounds (2.11)
20. Leviathan (1.08) Excellent track
21. Magic Boxes (White Man's Dreaming) (1.49)
22. The Other Compulsive (1.02)
23. A Broken Thing (0.59)
24. The Seduction of Mrs. Chadwick (2.31)
25. Wesley: Blessed Be the God and Father *** (1.19)
26. Aqua (4.10)
27. The Caul (1.22)
28. Oscar and Lucinda (End Title) * (2.49) Excellent track
29. Excerpt from the Random House Audio book + (5.10)
* Featuring the Paulist Boy Choristers of California
** Os Justi - Written by Anton Bruckner - Performed by La Chapelle Royale & Collegium Vocale
*** Blessed Be the God and Father - Written by Samuel Wesley - Performed by The Paulist Boy Choristers Of California
+ Read by "Ralph Fiennes"
Total Length: 55.26