First Knight

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Scores like these are hardly made these years. You know the ones I'm talking about: full bombast coming from both speakers, thematic majesty almost raining from any track and one composer that guides it with his masterful touch into the right hands. Jerry Goldsmith has probably been doing it all his life, but still something just needed to click with First Knight. It is a tale of everything that makes music fans drool over, and what better way to represent it all in full orchestral color. There have been two releases covering First Knight. This one is the short release and the commercial publicized version, covering very good parts and an excellent 40 minutes of music. Yet, the promo has 77 minutes of that, unreleased highlights that give you more of the same class and suites and compilations that makes it clearly the winner of the two. It doesn't matter what you pick or which one you contain because you have to remind that both scores receive the highest quotation. Yet apart, the commercial release is excellent and the promo is twice that. So pick the best and you will still figure out that First Knight, from whatever release you can hear it blows you from your seat with its majestic orchestral and choral magnitude.

The score has indeed a lot less in material than discovered on the promo, but you still have to reconsider, that apart from several highlights all the best tracks are here. The first is already the one that glooms with the main theme of the score. 'Promise Me' opens and closes with the main theme and between it you hear the love theme, which has some resemblance with Star Trek: Insurrection. And 'Camelot' has that wonderful majestic fanfare I love so much. But apart from the wonderful main and love theme performances you also receive these furious action pieces. 'Raid on Leonesse' is violent action music in every way and states the darker side of the story, with versions of Malagant's leitmotif appearing vividly at the end. Still, between it you receive the most prominent versions of the main theme in all its glory. 'A New Life' states the main theme with bells and full amazement and is another track that oozes with pride. Another track that simply thrusts like never before felt is 'Night Battle', frustratingly furious from begin to end, this track doesn't leave you gasping for air. It is the most single-handedly bombastic track of the last years, even after all this time. First Knight doesn't have much of those, but what they bring is good enough to give you orchestral blushes on the cheeks. And then I'm not even talking about what follows.

The best track perhaps ever composed by Goldsmith, or at least one of the very best remains forever 'Arthur's Farewell', a Carmina Burana legendary fury of choral Latin chants covering the massive fight for the freedom of Camelot. Between it you have the orchestra controlling the pace and covering it you have the fanfares of dark doom or either the magical Excalibur moment (4.10), which is still the moment on screen. It is a guaranteed highlight. And even a super majestic main theme performance, with full choir enlightens the skies in the closing track 'Camelot Lives'. Together, this score simply doesn't stop kicking you in the face. From one exploding track to another, giving you fury and majesty and ending even with a climatic choral based action track, First Knight simply is a necessary purchase in your film music collection. Without it you will not have experienced the pure wonder of Goldsmith's orchestral ruckus. Which score you simply buy is up to you, both scores rock the house and receive the highest possible recommendation. But still, I know which score I would buy if I still had the chance. Perhaps it is a bit more money, but you receive the price of admission back in decibels.

First Knight "Promo"

"We interrupt this review for a special announcement. Reporting to sources there have been casualties at the premiere of the movie First Knight. People seem to have been infected with the 'I came in contact with damn good film music' syndrome". It is not the first time Jerry Goldsmith's music completely blew people out of the theater. While some thought differently about Jerry Zucker's interpretation, First Knight was an enjoyable and epic love story. Of course the movie is also a dream come true for a composer: big orchestras, choral power from begin to end and make it as bold as possible. It is fair to say that Jerry Goldsmith didn't disappoint, he rarely does in these situations. First Knight as an album received its treatment but were 40 minutes enough to represent the scope of this score? Nope and Camelot Records felt the same thing. They presented the listener with an immense challenge. Trying to stay relaxed while the one bombast of sound after the other enters your sound system. There isn't a better surround system then your ears and Goldsmith attends to exercise them a bit. For 78 minutes it is Goldsmith that attends to verbalize in scope what epic soundtracks an orchestra can bring. And for that time, fans of First Knight will have the time of their life. And it also gives you the opportunity to find out that Goldsmith used leitmotifs to represent each important character in the movie.

The entire score (which seems to be a well produced promo) offers us score fans a lot of new bombast. Mostly the new released tracks are rather short but some do tend to run for more then 3 minutes. And easily they are the best of the list. One of those best new entries is 'The Ambush'. The entire track shifts from heroic fanfares underscored with percussion to energetic racing chase music, the whole piece is one mother to take hold off. Lancelot's brave noble motif is best heard in 'The Gauntlet' and 'Lancelot in Pursuit / The Cave' and the threatening and brute action music for the bad villain Malagant will more then ever be heard during the massive action tracks. Briefly during 'The Ambush', 'Lancelot in Pursuit / The Cave' (with the attention at the second title) and full in 'Abduction of Guinevere', 'Escape', 'Malagant Intrudes Camelot' and the already released action pieces 'Main Titles / Raid on Leonesse', 'Night Struggle' and our beloved choral entry 'Fight for Camelot'. Really Goldsmith gave it all he could with First Knight and together with Total Recall it has some of the most explosive action music alive. We all adore him for that really.

And finally I have not emphasized enough on the love theme (still one of his best) in 'Lancelot and Guinevere' and 'The Kiss' and the main theme of First Knight and the king himself Arthur (excellent role of Sean Connery) heard through the entire score. Short and beautiful in 'Prologue' and repeated enough in the last two surprises of the score, the two compilation pieces 'End Credits' and 'First Knight Suite' (seeming to introduce a variation of several themes). Together they do not bring new material but worthy mixes of the entire score. Like for instance Arthur's main theme, his noble fanfare, the love theme for Lancelot and Guinevere and some drum marches. Together this score costs around $40 but is that a problem if you truly want the entire musical selection of First Knight? No and enjoy yourself with this awesome bombastic treat of epic action music. One word about the best track of First Knight, of course being 'Fight for Camelot'. It mixes Malagant's furious action music with Omen chants into one amazing fit. Still my favorite moment is when Lancelot spots Excalibur and being supported through heavenly choral chanting (4.10). Enough to give you the chills. First Knight, original or full score is one of the best scores of Goldsmith and it makes that original release sound like a waste of money. But that's my thought, not yours.

First Knight: *****
First Knight "Promo": *****

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Arthur's Fanfare (0.44)

2. Promise Me (4.04) Excellent Track

3. Camelot (2.18) Excellent Track

4. Raid On Leonesse (4.25) Excellent Track

5. A New Life (4.53) Excellent Track

6. To Leonesse (3.24)

7. Night Battle (5.38) Excellent Track

8. Village Ruins (3.20)

9. Arthur's Farewell (5.23) Excellent Track

10. Camelot Lives (5.39) Excellent Track

Total Length: 40.12

First Knight "Promo"

1. Prologue (0.57)

2. Main Titles / Raid On Leonesse (4.24) Excellent Track

3. A World With Oswald (0.38)

4. The Ambush (4.57) Excellent Track

5. Rescued By Lancelot (0.51)

6. The Lady Of Leonesse (1.21)

7. Promise Me (2.00)

8. Arthur Welcomes Guinevere (2.17) Excellent Track

9. Camelot (2.36) Excellent Track

10. Arthur's Fanfare (0.44)

11. The Gauntlet (1.13) Excellent Track

12. A Gentleman (0.47)

13. Lancelot Leaves (0.33)

14. Riding Lesson (0.49)

15. Knights Of The Round Table (0.38)

16. The High Council Advises (1.04)

17. Abduction Of Guinevere (2.03)

18. Lancelot In Pursuit / The Cave (2.12) Excellent Track

19. Escape (3.24)

20. Lancelot And Guinevere (1.27)

21. Brother To Brother / The Wedding (4.53) Excellent Track

22. Night Struggle (5.37) Excellent Track

23. Leonesse In Ruins (3.18)

24. The Kiss (1.52)

25. Malagant Intrudes Camelot (1.20)

26. Fight For Camelot (5.24) Excellent Track

27. Arthur's Farewell / Pyre At Sea (5.39) Excellent Track

28. End Credits (4.30) Excellent Track

29.First Knight Suite (8.28) Excellent Track

Total Length: 77.55

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Jerry Goldsmith ===