Notting Hill

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Much like many romantic efforts, the combination of things is the same when it belongs to the representation of music on an album. We have the usual dozen of songs (of which the most are already released on single or CD) and a minute of two to 10 of score actually written for the movie itself. Sometimes I can make myself so angry over these things, when of course a winning score is unreleased to a certain degree but sometimes I just don't seem to care. Caring is actually not the word I would use to symbolize Trevor Jones' contribution to Notting Hill because it is decent, fine and good. But a winner it is not and so the 8 minutes perhaps will do fine for the overall fan, perhaps not for the overall Trevor Jones fan. However, that was the commercial album, I'm talking here about the promo of Notting Hill. First off is how Jones got The London Symphony Orchestra at his disposal here, because more or less their true strength and perhaps biggest effort lies within the 25 seconds to a minute where they swell to something romantically charming. This is of course exaggerated to the bone, yet still I heard far bigger romantic scores and in the case of this one, such an orchestra wasn't really necessary, even though its always lovelier to have than to have not. The rest could have come from a small unaccredited ensemble. Anyway, apart from the massive orchestra's presence, Notting Hill is an intimate listen of Jones, where usually guitar and piano crop up the right kind of flair. 'Notting Hill' or the opening track is the main theme on guitar while the piano performs alongside the guitar the most romantic material in 'The Book Store / The Kiss'. In 'Video Melancholy' the piano is supported through the strings and flute, but here the first time the swelling is noticed briefly.

With 'To the Hotel' the score's first somewhat playful moment is reached, with a small yet intimate piece. The Lounge music of the love theme in 'The Lobby' is carefully hidden under the piano while the easy flowing 'Interviews' is made especially for guitar. Briefly on guitar the love theme in 7 while this returns slower in 'Sadness' under emotional strings and a harmonica (ala The Mighty). 'All New Girls' performs soothingly pleasant the material with the piano in favor of the guitar. 'Love Scene' just reposts the love theme back under guitar control carefully, but then Jones adds his Loch Ness strings to it and magically romance and love is created, nice. In the remaining tracks the love theme is repeated, usually on guitar and apart from the nice summarization in 'Notting Hill Suite' or 'Go', the one piece where electric guitar is heard in funky ways, the score stays focused on the love of Anna and Will. Trevor Jones score is barely making a grand slam point here, the theme is really lovely but its appearance is so much heard that I wonder if anything else was written for the movie. Of course there is and the very light variations still correct what is a one theme minded score, with a couple of brief hints of rocking music. Notting Hill obviously didn't need The London Symphony Orchestra, so don't fool yourself that this is another grand Jones score. It is intimate, gentle stuff and the commercial album puts about 8 minutes down alongside Ronan Keeting (When you say nothing at all), Elvis Costello (she), Shania Twain (you’ve got a way) and Bill Withers (ain't no sunshine), the promo brings forth 34 minutes of it, together the romantic tone is represented lightly but lovely.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Notting Hill (1.41)

2. The Book Store / The Kiss (1.54)

3. Video Melancholy (1.10)

4. To The Hotel (0.47)

5. The Lobby (1.57)

6. Interviews (2.25)

7. Love Theme (0.56)

8. Sadness (1.59)

9. Source Music (3.19)

10. She's In London (1.18)

11. All New Girls (2.38)

12. To The Book Store (1.28)

13. Love Scene (2.15)

14. The Henry James Film (2.15)

15. Secret Talk (2.05)

16. Go (2.25)

17. Notting Hill Suite (4.09)

Total Length: 34.41

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

=== Link to Composer Site: Trevor Jones ===