The Other Boleyn Girl
Paul Cantelon
" The score for The Other Boleyn Girl has a lot of atmosphere, but is also thematically strong, full of hidden agenda's. "Written by Marie-Lise Van Wassenhove
As a big fan of costume dramas and British history, I really started rubbing my hands when I heard a new adaptation of The Other Boleyn Girl was on its way.
The film is based on the best-selling novel by Philippa Gregory, who on her turn found inspiration in some lesser known facts of history. Anne Boleyn, second wife of notorious English King Henry the Eighth ("with his Six Wives"), had an older/younger sister (historicists don't agree on the matter) Mary, who also shared His Majesty's bed. The story focuses on the growing rivalry between both sisters. Anne eventually manages to take the crown, but as your history teacher might have told you (if you happened to be awake!), her beautiful head won't wear it very long.
The music is written by Paul Cantelon, a violist/pianist with already some scoring on his cv (oa. Everything is Illuminated). Concerning The Other Boleyn Girl, the tracks on the album follow the movie chronologically, making it easy to follow. This doesn't necessarily mean the music is easy-listening. Cantelon's work is one you have to listen to a couple of times before you're able to pass final judgement.
The album starts very promising in the sparkling "Opening Titles", in which a German flute and a piano (played by the composer himself) bring the elegant main theme. The track sounds idyllic, but also already a bit sad. The theme will be reprised in other tracks, sometimes performed lyrically by passionate strings ("Mary Leaves Court"), then sounding more as a lullaby ("Henry Wants a Son") or triumphantly ("Finale").
The next tracks are mostly underscore, sometimes soft, then more sullen and insecure. In "Henry is Hurt" King Henry gets his own theme/motive, started by deep strings around 0'29, but more developed in "Henry Returns", with rhythmical and dynamic strings and percussion. This is the first track that kind of lingers and makes an impression.
A soft love theme for Mary and Henry is introduced in the underscore of "Mary Tends to Henry". This theme will be further developed in "Mary and Henry". Near the end of this track, Anne appears musically on the scene. An exotic flute brings her theme around 0'57, almost secretly. Anne is jealous of her sister's success.
Anne"s theme can be heard in almost every following track. In the beginning of the score/story, it sounds mostly seducing, manipulative ("Mary Tends to Henry", "Anne Charms Henry", "Mary in Labour" - she seduces Henry while her sister is giving birth to his child! - "My Sweet Lord", "Mary Lies for Anne"), hard and even angry ("Anne is Exiled"). On a side note, it's quite remarkable that Cantelon didn't write a love theme for Anne and Henry. There's only Anne's seduction, manipulation and eventual tragic ending. Mary, with whom the movie clearly sides, does have this privilege.
From "Anne's Coronation" onwards, the theme becomes more varied. A children's choir, a moment later accompanied by adults, bring, after a short introduction by woodwinds, more variations on the theme. It all sounds rather sharp and bombastic on disc, but it works well on screen.
Anne's theme begins to lose its manipulative and seductive strength in "Henry Wants a Son", in which the theme pops up after a rather long segment of underscore. The seduction begins to decrease and Anne's power over Henry starts to falter. She doesn't succeed in giving him his oh-so important male heir and she is becoming desperate. In "Anne Conspires" distress increases. The short nervous bursts of piano (for example 0'49) describe someone who is totally loosing her grips on reality, resulting in the dark cello for "Anne & George", like a perverted variation on Anne's seduction (for some strange reason, Anne wants to sleep with her brother George, in the hope of thus getting pregnant and giving the King his son). Despite the fact that "nothing eventually happens", consequences of this "almost-adventure" are dire: brother and sister are found guilty of incest, providing Henry the perfect reason to dispose of his wife...
"The Execution" follows, in which Anne's theme gets a whole new tone colour. All seduction is gone; all that rests is pure melodic despair, performed by heavy and chilling strings (with around 2'25 my personal favourite musical moment).
Cello and sparkling piano perform in "Finale" one last variation of the theme, followed by a hopeful version of the main theme. Anne lives on in her daughter Elisabeth, who will prove, quite ironically, to be the strong heir Henry was so desperately wishing for.
The score for The Other Boleyn Girl has a lot of atmosphere, but is also thematically strong, full of hidden agenda's. The music works very well with the movie, but on cd, there is just too much underscore - especially in the middle part - to keep things interesting. The album just keeps going on, without wondering if you've jumped on the bandwagon or not. A missed opportunity after all?
Tracklisting
1. Opening Titles (2.29)
2. The Banquet (0.54)
3. Henry is Hurt (2.05)
4. Henry Returns (2.09)
5. Mary Tends to Henry (1.15)
6. Going to Court (0.47)
7. Mary and Henry (2.14)
8. Anne's Secret Marriage (2.08)
9. Anne is Exiled (2.20)
10. Mary is Pregnant (1.05)
11. Anne Returns (4.08)
12. Anne Charms Henry (2.22)
13. Mary in Labor (3.30)
14. Mary Leaves Court (1.42)
15. My Sweet Lord (0.58)
16. Mary Lies For Anne (2.47)
17. Queen Katherine's Trial (2.40)
18. Banished (2.33)
19. Anne's Coronation (1.19)
20. A Baby Girl for Anne (1.15)
21. Henry Wants a Son (2.10)
22. Anne Miscarries (2.38)
23. Anne Conspires (3.00)
24. Anne and George (2.03)
25. Guilty (2.40)
26. The Execution (6.12)
27. Finale (2.10)
Total Length: 61.33
The film is based on the best-selling novel by Philippa Gregory, who on her turn found inspiration in some lesser known facts of history. Anne Boleyn, second wife of notorious English King Henry the Eighth ("with his Six Wives"), had an older/younger sister (historicists don't agree on the matter) Mary, who also shared His Majesty's bed. The story focuses on the growing rivalry between both sisters. Anne eventually manages to take the crown, but as your history teacher might have told you (if you happened to be awake!), her beautiful head won't wear it very long.
The music is written by Paul Cantelon, a violist/pianist with already some scoring on his cv (oa. Everything is Illuminated). Concerning The Other Boleyn Girl, the tracks on the album follow the movie chronologically, making it easy to follow. This doesn't necessarily mean the music is easy-listening. Cantelon's work is one you have to listen to a couple of times before you're able to pass final judgement.
The album starts very promising in the sparkling "Opening Titles", in which a German flute and a piano (played by the composer himself) bring the elegant main theme. The track sounds idyllic, but also already a bit sad. The theme will be reprised in other tracks, sometimes performed lyrically by passionate strings ("Mary Leaves Court"), then sounding more as a lullaby ("Henry Wants a Son") or triumphantly ("Finale").
The next tracks are mostly underscore, sometimes soft, then more sullen and insecure. In "Henry is Hurt" King Henry gets his own theme/motive, started by deep strings around 0'29, but more developed in "Henry Returns", with rhythmical and dynamic strings and percussion. This is the first track that kind of lingers and makes an impression.
A soft love theme for Mary and Henry is introduced in the underscore of "Mary Tends to Henry". This theme will be further developed in "Mary and Henry". Near the end of this track, Anne appears musically on the scene. An exotic flute brings her theme around 0'57, almost secretly. Anne is jealous of her sister's success.
Anne"s theme can be heard in almost every following track. In the beginning of the score/story, it sounds mostly seducing, manipulative ("Mary Tends to Henry", "Anne Charms Henry", "Mary in Labour" - she seduces Henry while her sister is giving birth to his child! - "My Sweet Lord", "Mary Lies for Anne"), hard and even angry ("Anne is Exiled"). On a side note, it's quite remarkable that Cantelon didn't write a love theme for Anne and Henry. There's only Anne's seduction, manipulation and eventual tragic ending. Mary, with whom the movie clearly sides, does have this privilege.
From "Anne's Coronation" onwards, the theme becomes more varied. A children's choir, a moment later accompanied by adults, bring, after a short introduction by woodwinds, more variations on the theme. It all sounds rather sharp and bombastic on disc, but it works well on screen.
Anne's theme begins to lose its manipulative and seductive strength in "Henry Wants a Son", in which the theme pops up after a rather long segment of underscore. The seduction begins to decrease and Anne's power over Henry starts to falter. She doesn't succeed in giving him his oh-so important male heir and she is becoming desperate. In "Anne Conspires" distress increases. The short nervous bursts of piano (for example 0'49) describe someone who is totally loosing her grips on reality, resulting in the dark cello for "Anne & George", like a perverted variation on Anne's seduction (for some strange reason, Anne wants to sleep with her brother George, in the hope of thus getting pregnant and giving the King his son). Despite the fact that "nothing eventually happens", consequences of this "almost-adventure" are dire: brother and sister are found guilty of incest, providing Henry the perfect reason to dispose of his wife...
"The Execution" follows, in which Anne's theme gets a whole new tone colour. All seduction is gone; all that rests is pure melodic despair, performed by heavy and chilling strings (with around 2'25 my personal favourite musical moment).
Cello and sparkling piano perform in "Finale" one last variation of the theme, followed by a hopeful version of the main theme. Anne lives on in her daughter Elisabeth, who will prove, quite ironically, to be the strong heir Henry was so desperately wishing for.
The score for The Other Boleyn Girl has a lot of atmosphere, but is also thematically strong, full of hidden agenda's. The music works very well with the movie, but on cd, there is just too much underscore - especially in the middle part - to keep things interesting. The album just keeps going on, without wondering if you've jumped on the bandwagon or not. A missed opportunity after all?
Tracklisting
1. Opening Titles (2.29)
2. The Banquet (0.54)
3. Henry is Hurt (2.05)
4. Henry Returns (2.09)
5. Mary Tends to Henry (1.15)
6. Going to Court (0.47)
7. Mary and Henry (2.14)
8. Anne's Secret Marriage (2.08)
9. Anne is Exiled (2.20)
10. Mary is Pregnant (1.05)
11. Anne Returns (4.08)
12. Anne Charms Henry (2.22)
13. Mary in Labor (3.30)
14. Mary Leaves Court (1.42)
15. My Sweet Lord (0.58)
16. Mary Lies For Anne (2.47)
17. Queen Katherine's Trial (2.40)
18. Banished (2.33)
19. Anne's Coronation (1.19)
20. A Baby Girl for Anne (1.15)
21. Henry Wants a Son (2.10)
22. Anne Miscarries (2.38)
23. Anne Conspires (3.00)
24. Anne and George (2.03)
25. Guilty (2.40)
26. The Execution (6.12)
27. Finale (2.10)
Total Length: 61.33