A Christmas Carol (2009) - Alan Silvestri

[mad777]

A Christmas Carol (2009) - Alan Silvestri




Tracklist:

01. A Christmas Carol (Main Title) (04:21)
02. Scrooge Counts Money (00:48)
03. Marley's Ghost Visits Scrooge (06:12)
04. The Ghost Of Christmas Past (04:58)
05. Let Us See Another Christmas (01:18)
06. Flight To Fezziwigs (01:27)
07. First Waltz (00:59)
08. Another Idol Has Replaced Me (01:40)
09. Touch My Robe (03:41)
10. The Clock Tower (01:50)
11. Carriage Chase (03:24)
12. Old Joe And Mrs. Dilber (02:28)
13. This Dark Chamber (01:56)
14. None Of Us Will Ever Forget (01:33)
15. Who Was That Lying Dead? (03:08)
16. I'm Still Here (01:26)
17. Ride On My Good Man (01:04)
18. God Bless Us Everyone [Andrea Bocelli] (03:15)

Total Time: 00:45:34

mp3 VBR
size: 79,5 Mb

http://rapidshare.com/files/303271716/ACC-AS.rar

[Lens of Truth]

An enjoyable listen so far, but you'll need a sweet tooth! It's basically Silvestri's 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols'. Very full orchestrations.

It probably goes without saying, but the Andrea Bocelli version of the main theme at the end has been scaped from deepest kettle of kitsch. Utterly vile.

Am I right in thinking this is a download only release? Big shame. On my way to amazon to cough up (I wants more Silvestri!!) I notice that said Bocelli monstrosity is 'album only'. Very shrewd, as it's likely to be the most popular track! A few poor unwitting customers merely seeking their alloted portion of the lowest common denominator will be forcibly exposed to brilliantly crafted orchestral music by one of our greatest living film composers

[tangotreats]

Christmas movies... the last bastion of traditional scoring techniques.

It's lovely to hear Silvestri get a shot at "his style" again - whereas clearly in recent efforts like Beowulf (and to a lesser extent, GI Joe) his hand was clearly forced according to modern action movie expectations, in A Christmas Carol, we get what Silvestri is really, really good at; melodic, traditional symphonic scoring.

It's even lovelier to hear that completely over-the-top (in the best possible way) 80s action scoring - the beginning of Carriage Chase is straight out of Back To The Future, with just a hint of Roger Rabbit.

More than ever, I want Silvestri to come back to scoring action movies; and to meet with a director who is brave enough to commission real music without even the slightest hint of concession to contemporary film scoring cliches.

Why is it that all he seems to do nowadays are Stephen Sommers movies, and the occasional shitty comedy that only went to him because John Debney / John Ottman, etc, were too busy?

Pity.

[cuckoo77]

Thanks Mad, I was curious about this one!

Originally Posted by Lens of Truth

Am I right in thinking this is a download only release? Big shame.

I heard Disney has decided to release all their soundtracks in digital format only now......unless it's Miley Cyrus or The Jonas Brothers...........

.....that's too bad, because I really wanted a hard copy of "Up" and was really looking forward to owning a hard copy of Elfman's "Alice In Wonderland".....

...oh well.

[Lens of Truth]

It looks like this is the last we'll hear of him untill 2011

Originally Posted by cuckoo77

I heard Disney has decided to release all their soundtracks in digital format only now......unless it's Miley Cyrus or The Jonas Brothers...........

I know, what are they thinking? Princess and the Frog is getting a CD release though, so it's hardly a consistent policy.

[spaceworlder]

Beowulf was awesome, one of Silvestri's best. Looking foward to listening to this one, though I might wait until after I see the movie.

[Lens of Truth]

Originally Posted by spaceworlder

Beowulf was awesome, one of Silvestri's best. Looking foward to listening to this one, though I might wait until after I see the movie.

I haven't actually heard Beowulf yet, or seen the movie. The whole 'aesthetic' of it looked so horrendous I thought I'd steer well clear. I'll definitely be looking into the score though. Polar Express is another that I passed up, and it seems to get mentioned as something of a companion piece to Carol.

[tangotreats]

Originally Posted by Lens of Truth

I know, what are they thinking? Princess and the Frog is getting a CD release though, so it's hardly a consistent policy.

That's a "prestige" movie and Randy Newman's scoring it.

As far as they're concerned, this is just a crummy Christmas flick that will be forgotten by January, and Alan Silvestri is an old hasbeen who fell off the A-List in 1989. (Remember, if your name doesn't guarantee a million copies sold, you don't exist.)

[spaceworlder]

I haven't actually heard Beowulf yet, or seen the movie. The whole 'aesthetic' of it looked so horrendous I thought I'd steer well clear.

Don't let that stop you from seeing the movie. It's actually very decent, part serious epic and part satire. Also, Crispin Glover as Grendel! And Anthony Hopkins as Hrothgar! The animation isn't Pixar, but it does work most of the time.

As far as they're concerned, this is just a crummy Christmas flick that will be forgotten by January, and Alan Silvestri is an old hasbeen who fell off the A-List in 1989.

Not true. Do you know how much Disney has invested in both this movie and Robert Zemeckis? Enough to be scared about the marketing campaign, which underplays the "scary" parts of the movie and overplays the "comedy". And I doubt Disney sees Silvestri as a "has been". The fact is, "Princess and the Frog" is the bigger movie. (Disney returning to what started their business. That's as big as it gets.) If Silvestri had scored it, it would have still gotten a CD release.

I am merely curious as to why you think so; to me, Beowulf was a noisy, over-egged modern action score

That's precisely why I loved it. That and the main theme, with its gloriously epic brass and choral components. (Awesomely reprised when Beowulf rips the dragon's heart out.) You know how I feel about modern movie scoring, so I don't think I have to elaborate any further.

[Lens of Truth]

Originally Posted by spaceworlder

Don't let that stop you from seeing the movie. It's actually very decent, part serious epic and part satire. Also, Crispin Glover as Grendel! And Anthony Hopkins as Hrothgar! The animation isn't Pixar, but it does work most of the time.

Thanks for the recommendation. Had no idea there was a satirical component. I'll kill to birds with one stone and rent the movie

Originally Posted by tangotreats

(Remember, if your name doesn't guarantee a million copies sold, you don't exist.)

They could solve that issue by putting a massive sticker saying simply BOCELLI on the front. Or better still, a pic of him in looking adorable in an elf hat.

Good news guys, Roger Rabbit 2 is finally real prospect:
[Hidden link. Register to see links.]
That means more classic Silvestri!!

[tofu]

thanks for this one!!

[spaceworlder]

Good news guys:
[Hidden link. Register to see links.]
That means more classic Silvestri!!

I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet. Do you know how long they've been developing and teasing Roger Rabbit II? It's second to Ghostbusters III on the list of "Mythical Revivals That Never Leave Development Hell". Not that I don't want it to happen, of course. :-)

[Globe Trotter]

Good news guys:
[Hidden link. Register to see links.]
That means more classic Silvestri!![/QUOTE]

And I hope them take him for PREDATORS

[spaceworlder]

Having heard the Andrea Bocelli song,... what's with da hate? It isn't really any worse than other seasonal "bless God/the world/santa/etc." songs. Dude's voice also seems okay, though I'm admittedly not much of an expert on things like vocal range.

[tangotreats]

Not true. Do you know how much Disney has invested in both this movie and Robert Zemeckis? Enough to be scared about the marketing campaign, which underplays the "scary" parts of the movie and overplays the "comedy".

Wow, I didn't know it was getting that much attention... My assumption was that they were treating this like just another holiday flick that will be gone and forgotten before long.

And I doubt Disney sees Silvestri as a "has been".

Silvestri's name isn't on anybody's "must ask him first" list any more, apart from the aforementioned Stephen Sommers, and of course, Zemeckis, who I completely forgot about!

Silvestri's time in the big leagues was in the eighties - when his kind of music was the done deal in Hollywood.

Sadly, it's not any more. That fact pains me more than anyone.

The fact is, "Princess and the Frog" is the bigger movie.

I believe that's what I said with "That's a prestige movie" - in comparison, A Christmas Carol doesn't seem all that important. And rightfully so, I suppose - it's going to be GREAT to see Disney returning to their core values - amazing that it took a virtual takeover by Pixar (the technological wizards) to get them making a hand-animated picture again... The industry works in strange (and sometimes wonderful) ways.

That's precisely why I loved it. That and the main theme, with its gloriously epic brass and choral components. (Awesomely reprised when Beowulf rips the dragon's heart out.) You know how I feel about modern movie scoring, so I don't think I have to elaborate any further.

True, true - you love that kind of stuff.

As a score in that genre, it's a lot of fun - as a matter of fact, I've got it on now, and I'm actually enjoying it more than I remembered. Nevertheless, it's a big dumb modern action score - and regardless of how much I'm digging it this time around, it's a product of the times. For that alone, I dislike it from a ideological standpoint - that the modern techniques have become so ingrained in scoring culture that even the old guard, dependable traditionalists (like Silvestri) are getting shoved into writing it.

I truly envy you (honestly - this may sound like sarcasm but it's genuinely not.) Right now is your golden age - you're getting the same excitement, and anticipation from modern scores as I did from past scores. Nowadays I anticipate almost nothing (Western) and it's a really disenfranchising feeling. Enjoy yourself, my friend - because you'll never know how depressing I find the modern scoring climate until the tides change and Zimmerco Ltd's style begins to receed into history.

Lens will know what I'm talking about - that wonderful feeling in your gut when you saw the movie poster, and it said "Music by Jerry Goldsmith / John Williams / Bruce Broughton / etc etc etc" and you knew you were in for something special.

Anybody who gets that feeling now really is living the good life.

Now I'm just going to go away and listen to The Final Conflict.

[tangotreats]

Originally Posted by Lens of Truth

Good news guys, Roger Rabbit 2 is finally real prospect:
[Hidden link. Register to see links.]
That means more classic Silvestri!!

Oh, GOD... Well, it might be all right... But Roger Rabbit is one of my favourite films of all time... and I have a nasty feeling about modern sequels to classic movies.

I'm caught between hoping Spaceworlder is right, and being intensely curious as to how more Roger Rabbit could work... With the original screenwriters, Silvestri, and Zemeckis... who knows?

*tentative excitement*

[spaceworlder]

I'm glad our relations have evolved to the point where we can politely disagree instead of tearing each other apart like rabid dogs. By the way, what's with the new handle? "tangotreats" doesn't have quite the same ring as "DannyFrench".

Silvestri's name isn't on anybody's "must ask him first" list any more, apart from the aforementioned Stephen Sommers, and of course, Zemeckis, who I completely forgot about!

Silvestri's time in the big leagues was in the eighties - when his kind of music was the done deal in Hollywood.

I think what's happening is that the new generation of producers/directors is also heralding a new generation of other talent, including musicians. Consider how high-profile someone like Silvestri is/was, and also consider the fact that a lot of tommorow's talent comes from today's indie scene. If you're some kind of Chris Nolan who's making a first time movie like "Following" or "Memento", you can't afford an Alan Silvestri, so you go with someone like David Julyan. Then, if your movie makes a splash, the career of everyone involved gets a boost, including the composer.

On top of that, producers/directors tend to stick with people they're comfortable with, which is why you get consistent mash-ups like Spielberg/Williams or Opie/Zimmer or Burton/Elfman. Same for the new talent, I think.

I believe that's what I said with "That's a prestige movie" - in comparison, A Christmas Carol doesn't seem all that important.

Yeah, but it's like stacking the next Spielberg movie against the "Second Coming of Christ". Both are big events, but the latter is freaking Jesus. In Disney's eyes, "Christmas Carol" is still a big part of their "3-D" game plan.

amazing that it took a virtual takeover by Pixar (the technological wizards) to get them making a hand-animated picture again...

It's actually less amazing when you consider that John Lasseter was part of the last generation of Disney animators who were trained by the Old Men. The remarkable thing was how Pixar started off as a George Lucas/Apple venture and soon found itself teaming up with and then consuming Disney.

[budarc]

Thanks for this one, MaD. I'm excited about it, but I think I'll wait until I see the movie before listening to the score... No doubt, The Polar Express is a now classic Christmas movie (with a wonderfully rich, "Edward Scissorhands"-y score) and this will one hopefully join its ranks.

Another dannyfrench vs. spaceworlder thread? What is it about Silvestri that riles you two up so?

[Lens of Truth]

Originally Posted by spaceworlder

Having heard the Andrea Bocelli song,... what's with da hate?

Seriously?? Perhaps the fact that it sounds like a South Park uber-parody, but isn’t? Perhaps because the vocal is weirdly synthetic and manipulated? And the choral arrangements are just horrible. Sure, Christmas is all about being as camp and gaudy and tasteless as possible, but even so.. If you can listen to the final spasming cry of ‘God bless us’ without laughing then I don’t know what to say.

Originally Posted by tangotreats

I truly envy you (honestly - this may sound like sarcasm but it's genuinely not.) Right now is your golden age - you're getting the same excitement, and anticipation from modern scores as I did from past scores. Nowadays I anticipate almost nothing (Western) and it's a really disenfranchising feeling. Enjoy yourself, my friend - because you'll never know how depressing I find the modern scoring climate until the tides change and Zimmerco Ltd's style begins to receed into history.
Lens will know what I'm talking about - that wonderful feeling in your gut when you saw the movie poster, and it said "Music by Jerry Goldsmith / John Williams / Bruce Broughton / etc etc etc" and you knew you were in for something special.

I know that feeling well. What I never understand (well I understand, but I can’t empathise) is the hostility that’s generally expressed towards those who feel out of step with the values, styles, fads, fetishes of their own time. Surely such people are already having a tougher time of it? I don’t know why in this age of supposed pluralism and diversity that young people are bashed and considered in some way wrong (even ‘immoral’) if they don’t chow down on the most prevalent brand of tripe. Do we really live in such an age of conformity? To be absolutely honest, I’m continually amazed at how the status quo is so aggressively upheld. I mean there’s some utter trash out there that never even gets called-out for what it is. Ever.

Originally Posted by spaceworlder

It's actually less amazing when you consider that John Lasseter was part of the last generation of Disney animators who were trained by the Old Men. The remarkable thing was how Pixar started off as a George Lucas/Apple venture and soon found itself teaming up with and then consuming Disney.

John Lasseter seems like a genuinely good egg. He’s steeped in the tradition and craft of hand drawn animation and thank god he’s having such a significant influence. From what I’ve seen of The Princess and the Frog, it looks very hyper/fast-talking/flippant in the vein of Pixar’s own style, but at the same time they’re clearly going out of their way cram in as much Disney princessy formula as possible. It may not be to my taste, but it does showcase the talents of superb animators like Eric Goldberg (the Genie, Rhapsody in Blue) and Andreas Deja (Roger Rabbit, Jafar, Hercules) and as a lifelong fan of Disney and animation in general, I’m absolutely over the moon to see its return, and eternally grateful to JL. *Tries to shut-up until the relevant thread materializes*

Originally Posted by budarc

No doubt, The Polar Express is a now classic Christmas movie (with a wonderfully rich, "Edward Scissorhands"-y score) and this will one hopefully join its ranks.

I'll have to check out Polar Express. Christmas Carol is nothing like Scissorhands, but you'll still enjoy it. It feels like Silvestri has tried to make it as wholesome and hearty as possible, and in the process write some fantastic rich chording and buzzing counterpoint.

[spaceworlder]

If you can listen to the final spasming cry of ‘God bless us’ without laughing then I don’t know what to say.

For me, the ultimate low for seasonal music is "Christmas Shoes". (I don't if you've heard it. I don't know if I want to point you to it. Google it at your own risk.) At worst, "God Bless Us Everyone" is corny; but I find the sentiment and presentation to be par the course for this kind of music. That, and I was raised on "Holiday Sing Along with Mitch Miller".

[budarc]

Originally Posted by spaceworlder

For me, the ultimate low for seasonal music is "Christmas Shoes". (I don't if you've heard it. I don't know if I want to point you to it. Google it at your own risk.) At worst, "God Bless Us Everyone" is corny; but I find the sentiment and presentation to be par the course for this kind of music. That, and I was raised on "Holiday Sing Along with Mitch Miller".

Can I expect something along the lines of "A Muppet Christmas Carol"? Corny or not, I love that damn movie... Gets me every time.

Originally Posted by Lens of Truth

I'll have to check out Polar Express. Christmas Carol is nothing like Scissorhands, but you'll still enjoy it. It feels like Silvestri has tried to make it as wholesome and hearty as possible, and in the process write some fantastic rich chording and buzzing counterpoint.

The Polar Express is a pretty good movie, all capture-motion photography aside. The music elevated it even further...if you're interested, I could post the promo, since the soundtrack only contains two cues (it is kind of repetitive score, though; after you've heard the theme a few times, you pretty much get the idea).

I guess I got the idea from the trailer that the music would have a Edward Scissorhandsian touch... Still trying to figure out this cue from 0:07-0:36:

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[Lens of Truth]

At worst, "God Bless Us Everyone" is corny; but I find the sentiment and presentation to be par the course for this kind of music. That, and I was raised on "Holiday Sing Along with Mitch Miller".

I think us Brits have a lower tolerance level for Xmas chintz. But we’re catching up!

Google it at your own risk.

….I’m in pain from the laughter.

Can I expect something along the lines of "A Muppet Christmas Carol"? Corny or not, I love that damn movie... Gets me every time.

I’d say cornier. The Muppets are always so tongue-in-cheek as to counterbalance the sentimentality (or even make it more moving).

The Polar Express promo would be great btw! Thanks very much

I guess I got the idea from the trailer that the music would have a Edward Scissorhandsian touch... Still trying to figure out this cue from 0:07-0:36:

I don’t recognise it. Isn’t it likely to be a custom order Elfman pastiche?

[thejoyrider]

Originally Posted by cuckoo77

Thanks Mad, I was curious about this one!



I heard Disney has decided to release all their soundtracks in digital format only now......unless it's Miley Cyrus or The Jonas Brothers...........

.....that's too bad, because I really wanted a hard copy of "Up" and was really looking forward to owning a hard copy of Elfman's "Alice In Wonderland".....

what about cd-r on demand?
download only is fine as long as its not you tube quality.

[budarc]

Originally Posted by Lens of Truth

The Polar Express promo would be great btw! Thanks very much

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There ya go!

[bsnowman]

I just love how most everyone here feels that the modern world is going to hell. LOL