Seven Years in Tibet

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Every year since Jurassic Park, fans began to notice that John Williams matured to a dark, emotional and serious style. No more Hook or Superman or Indiana Jones but something a bit harder. It may have scared several people, the class beyond all the scores remained the same and of all the examples Schindler's List stands as the biggest and proudest example of all. Those that follow in that direction are Seven Years in Tibet and Angela's Ashes. Both have a lot in common, the same style, the same mood and a typical trademark of emotion that links both scores flawlessly together. And while Seven Years in Tibet may have the better main theme, it is Angela's Ashes that has the constant listen throughout. Jean - Jacques Annaud's movie wasn't my favorite of the list, but it became time classic when John Williams and renowned Cello player Yo-Yo Ma enlisted the main theme with the glorious landscapes of the Himalayan mountains and the Tibetan remote kingdom. Especially Yo-Yo Ma adds an unfelt magic and pride to John Williams score that makes it not better nor worse then all the others majestic scores of his career.

Seven Years in Tibet introduces the exact same emotion that would return in Angela's Ashes, a piano, a cello, it all becomes supreme when those instruments are heard together. The first track 'Seven Years in Tibet' and the last 'Seven Years in Tibet (Reprise)' are the absolute highlights of this score. When John Williams emerges with his main theme, then not only the emotion rises high but also the supreme class of Yo-Yo Ma becomes noticeable. Williams knew what the movie required and Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma have become legendary for doing it on classics as Schindler's List and Seven Years in Tibet. The continuing strong emotional touch is witnessed in 'Leaving Ingrid' and supreme solos are discovered in 'Reflections', 'Approaching the Summit', 'Heinrich's Odyssey' and 'Quiet Moments'. Several tracks still listen completely different, one of those is 'Peter's Rescue' when the tension tones of Jurassic Park make a surprising entrance, fans of Williams' works will especially think back of the Raptor sequences and the various chase scenes. Also 'Palace Invitation' is different, being especially light and bouncy in the first 2 minutes, a welcome change of pace and mood. But in the end there are still several things I don't quite approve.

What I liked so much (even if it was emotional) about Angela's Ashes was the smooth listen throughout and that it didn't become boring, Seven Years in Tibet sometimes loses me completely when it reaches several moments in the score, I was not fully captured by 'The Invasion' with its more authentic sound or through the two chanting excerpts in track 2 and the already mentioned 'The Invasion'. But all is forgotten when Yo-Yo Ma starts to pour his heart in the score with some amazing cello solos. A cello can become a colorful instrument when it is played with the right emotion and when is backs up the best thematic material, luckily we are talking about a John Williams score here. So in the end people didn't discover a Superman heroic theme or a majestic fanfare for Jurassic Park, but emotionally Seven Years in Tibet belongs with the all best of their time, and Schindler's List is still the king of the parade. Fans of John Williams who enjoy both the thematic fantasy tone as the serious emotional sound will surely think the world of Seven Years in Tibet's theme, score as feel. Then those seventy years can feel like a short experience of pride and wonder.

\도도/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Seven Years In Tibet * (7.08) Excellent Track

2. Young Dalai Lama And Ceremonial Chant *+ (2.16)

3. Leaving Ingrid * (3.43) Excellent Track

4. Peter's Rescue (3.46)

5. Harrer's Journey (4.02)

6. The Invasion ++ (5.07)

7. Reflections * (4.41)

8. Premonitions * (2.56)

9. Approaching The Summit * (5.46) Excellent Track

10. Palace Invitation * (4.46)

11. Heinrich's Odyssey * (8.02)

12. Quiet Moments * (4.23)

13. Regaining A Son (1.49)

14. Seven Years In Tibet (Reprise) * (7.10) Excellent Track

* Cello Solos by Yo-Yo Ma

+ Includes excerpt from "Mahakala" written and performed by the Gyuto Monks

++ Includes excerpt from "Yamantaka" written and performed by the Gyuto Monks

Total Length: 65.46

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

=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===