The Affair of the Necklace

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When will the world realize that some composers simply are better than some of them think? And one name that keeps haunting my mind is that one of David Newman. Randy, Thomas and the late Alfred have all made it their business about putting the stamp upon their style but David seems to miss the opportunity to do it on a successful movie. That is until now, I consider the movie successful enough to make the notion more then good, and the score that it accompanies is fortunately good enough to consider it deserving. Always did David Newman have a style that I found intriguing enough to notice his scores, no matter if they were released or not. But The Affair of the Necklace is not something just normal and to be overlooked for no apparent reason. No, this soundtrack alone is a sign that good things come to those who wait and David Newman's musical style, combined with interesting use of periodic music and amazing vocal work is just enough to bless this score from the start. More, it shows what on earth David Newman possesses of potential, musical potential to touch the skies and beyond.

The score from Varese Sarabande uses the Studio Symphony, making sure that the score last 10 minutes longer than perhaps first imagined and David's combination of personal sound (piano) and impressively new age vocals makes everything so musically inspiring from the first minute you encounter them. The first track already states that David Newman starts where Thomas (sadly for fans) left off, with an inspiring piece of piano work. Nonetheless, this sound is repeated better with 'Jeanne's Theme', the first statement of the main theme. This theme is broadened with style in 'Jeanne is Found Guilty' when both a vocal and choral depth is added to the inspiring theme. Also the theme is cleverly used in variations, with for instance the harp version during track 6 that works marvelously in its periodic setting. One of the first highlights and different musical palettes is 'Rohan's Arrest', which uses Bram Stoker's Dracula's building tension and vocal work, making the track even better than before. Still, most people got crazy over examples such as 'In Court / Childhood'. Its not only a combination of various instrumentation but also showcases the unique combination of vocals, with the Alanis Morissette (as some have already called it) backings on the foreground, it especially gets really inspiring at the end of that track.

And the more you count them, the more the choral mass start to show itself, with Anastasia wonder in track 11, 'Feast of the Assumption', Galaxy Quest pride in 'Going Home' or classical inspired in the due piece 'Antoinette is Finished' and 'Arrival of the Necklace'. The last tracks run a bit short and perhaps make the album a bit of an unsatisfied finisher but the mere sound of David Newman's writing surpasses the lightweight efforts of other, more big name composers. It is time that some stop reaffirming him as just the low movie scoring composer, Jerry Goldsmith got big that way and perhaps The Affair of the Necklace is the key that can start his career, lets hope so for the future. The whole score might be baroque esque influenced and the various instruments from that time might make it less enjoyable, it is still the own voice that commands the show and luckily David Newman's music contains probably some of the best ideas of his entire career. This is such a score that doesn't has fierce action music, amazing top highlights but just inspired musical magic from start to finish, meaning The Affair of the Necklace is an excellent periodic piece of music.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Opening (1.10)

2. Jeanne's Theme (1.01)

3. Bohmer (0.51)

4. Jeanne Is Found Guilty (2.56) Excellent Track

5. Jeanne & Retaux (0.40)

6. Jeanne's Plan (1.03)

7. Rohan's Arrest (3.12) Excellent Track

8. In Court / Childhood (3.48) Excellent Track

9. Minister Of Titles / On The Lake (4.37)

10. Jeanne & Retaux Love Scene (1.13)

11. Feast Of The Assumption (1.26)

12. Going To Meet Antoinette (1.15)

13. Communion (2.06)

14. Rohan Meets With Fake Antoinette (2.59)

15. Courtroom / Cagliostro Leaves Town (2.51)

16. Going Home (3.18) Excellent Track

17. Jeanne's Sentence / Antoinette (2.28)

18. Antoinette Is Finished (0.37)

19. Arrival Of The Necklace * (0.32)

20. Jeanne & Retaux's Plan (0.42)

21. Jeanne Reads Her Memories (1.18)

* Handel Coronation Anthem No. 4 "Let Thy Hand be Strengthened"

Total Length: 41.11

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: David Newman ===