The Lion in Winter

This special release of Silva Screen Records is made for just one reason, please those who fancy Barry and surprise those who don't. What I'm saying with this is that The Lion in Winter is typically un Barry like and the whole recording not only features one score but two, one hidden after the cover of the original score. Mary, Queen of Scots (recorded 3 years after The Lion in Winter) receives a time of 16 minutes to proof why it deserved to be released in the first place. But the main reason why I recorded this score is simple, because The Lion in Winter is so un Barry like in nature and especially sound. I'm always the one complaining about Barry scores' who sound so close to each other. Well, I'm not anymore here because the original and most importantly choral score is absolutely refreshing to hear and the 16 minutes that do sound completely Barry like feel like a beautiful piece of music, simply because either way you want a bit of Barry flavor to go with that cherry. More then ever, The Lion in Winter features a Barry I adore listening to.

First of all, the first 38 minutes are spend on the main reason of this release, The Lion in Winter. Why is clearly obvious, the choral accompaniment from start to finish. I think almost each track has choral development, accompaniment and backing, something a Barry score perhaps is missing on occasion to give it that extra dash of wonder and scope. 'The Lion in Winter' which opens the score already confirms that this is no ordinary Barry listen, with an unusual theme and a choral chant in Latin that pretty much reminds you of The Omen of Jerry Goldsmith. In the next track the choir reminds me then easily of Henry V. Either way, you are remembering different scores than say Barry works in advance. 'Richard's Joust / Geoffrey's Battle' offers the first of two mixes of short but great choral singing in where both female as male singing combines the force of the track. Overall, this score offers either the mystical quality (by choir of course) or fanfares that are as menacing as they come. But nowhere a Barry sound that feels romantic or emotional, just one time small Barry trademarks are noticed, in the track 'To the Chapel'. Another good track is 'Chinon / Elenor's Arrival' where the choir is performing a very subtle, beautiful theme. And the last offers perhaps the most exciting music, first 'To Rome' where both mystical qualities as powerful fanfares rain like thunder and last but not least an absolutely intriguing finale. 'We're all Jungle Creatures' is just tantalizing music which offers for the first time music by Barry that gives me the chills (the use of the swirling strings, the choir that gives it the wonder and supporting the main theme of the score). Really great stuff.

The second part of the score, the 16 minute suite of Mary, Queen of Scots is then more to say typically Barry. Lush themes, wonderfully worked out and carefully presented with horns and flutes. It is Barry the way we like it. But here the score really works to its advantage, simply because the first 38 minutes sounded so un Barry like, it actually helped to love the 16 minutes more than before. A score that sounds 60 minutes Barry like or one containing just 16 minutes seems to make a difference all right, at least with me personally. Tracks 15 and 20 present the good main theme but my two personal favorites of the list are 'Elizabeth's Ride' which is a great theme presented on horns and 'But not Through my Realm', which is another great theme and track to listen to. In the case of Mary, Queen of Scots, the music is so interesting simply because The Lion in Winter did things differently to begin with, making the music really better to hear. Together, this soundtrack works to the advantage of it, combining two scores that make the listening experience better then ever hoped. Do not look why there are so few highlights, it is the mere listening pleasure I have of this score that makes it recommended more than say pure Barry classics such as for instance Raise the Titanic. You can pretty much say that the new recording of The Lion in Winter plus the additional suite of Mary, Queen of Scots is a must have for Barry fans all over the world.

The Lion in Winter: ***
Mary, Queen of Scots: ***

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Tracks

Single Disc

The Lion in Winter

1. The Lion In Winter (2.28)

2. Allons Gai Gai Gai (1.40)

3. Richard's Joust / Geoffrey's Battle (1.19)

4. Chinon / Elenor's Arrival (3.38)

5. Fanfare For Philip / The Great Hall Feast (1.21)

6. The Herb Garden (4.14)

7. To The Chapel (1.45)

8. Eya, Eya, Nova Gaudia (2.15) Excellent Track

9. How Beautiful You Made Me (2.59)

10. God Damn You (4.28)

11. The Christmas Wine (2.40)

12. To Rome (4.28)

13. Media Vita In Mortus Sumus (In the Midst of Life we Are in Death (2.05)

14. We're All Jungle Creatures (2.55) Excellent Track

Total Length: 38.16

Mary, Queen of Scots

15. Mary, Queen Of Scots (2.31)

16. Elizabeth's Ride (1.23)

17. Vivre Et Mourir (2.11)

18. But Not Through My Realm (4.47)

19. Mary And Darnley (1.46)

20. This Way Mary (3.27)

Total Length: 16.05

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Barry ===