Great Expectations (Score)

Composer: Patrick Doyle
Lable (Release Year): Alantic Records (1997)
Availability: ****
Rating: *****

Among all of the Patrick Doyle scores I own, this is by far the most enjoyable. Sense and Sensibility is beautiful but it is not unforgettable. I think Doyle is the only composer who does not compose a bad score. This guy spends a great amount of effort on his works. Although it is not a Kenneth Branagh (or Shakespeare related) film, it definitely falls in to Doyle's genre.

This half classical, half modern orchestral score is really over the top. The orchestrations are very light and soft (not as symphonic as Much Ado About Nothing). The use of Guitar and Vocals blends extremely well with the orchestral score. Electronic instruments are also used in some tracks. They not only don't disturb the style of the score, but make the score more effective. "Kissing In The Rain" and "The Price of Success" are the two good examples. Both tracks get gorgeous melodies and electronic beats are used as the rhythm. Estella's Theme is the main theme and it quickly becomes one of my favorite themes. It is very elegant and unforgettable. The variations of the theme are also well arranged and composed. I can't describe how excellent the theme is. You have to hear to believe it. Doyle, again, composed a song for the score: "I Saw No Shadow Of Another Parting." It is very similar to the one in Sense and Sensibility in terms of style.

This score is extremely melodic. Every single track is highly enjoyable. I enjoy this score from top to bottom. The only tracks seem to be out of place are the last two jazz tracks. I think that's probably why they are sequenced at the end. "By The Inch Or By The Hour" is the small group jazz version of "Estella's Theme". The big band tune "The Big Trip" just does not conclude the soundtrack well. But of cause they are just some minor factors. I highly recommend this score to everyone, especially for those who have not own a Doyle's score yet.



    Track Listing:
  1. Finn (2:54)
    (Featuring: Instrumental Vocalization - Tori Amos/Whistler - Carey Wilson)
  2. Crossing The Gulf (1:48)
  3. Paradiso Perduto (2:09)
    (Featuring: Vocal - Tori Amos)
  4. Estella's Theme (3:28)
    (Featuring: Guitar - John Williams)
  5. Ain't Love Grand - (0:55)
    (Featuring: Guitar - John Williams)
  6. A Walk In The Park (1:21)
    (Featuring: Guitar - John Williams/Vocal - Janis Kelly)
  7. I Saw No Shadow Of Another Parting (The Aria) (2:38)
    (Featuring: Vocal - Kiri Te Kanawa)
  8. Kissing In The Rain - (3:06)
    (Featuring: Vocal - Miriam Stockley)
  9. Joe Leaves (1:38)
    (Featuring: Piano - Cyrus Chestnut)
  10. The Day All My Dreams Came True (1:30)
  11. Pyramid Of Pain (2:27)
  12. Planes On A Plane (0:46)
    (Featuring: Vocal - Janis Kelly)
  13. A Toast - (1:24)
    (Featuring: Guitar - John Williams)
  14. Benefactor - (1:33)
    (Featuring: Guitar - John Williams)
  15. Lustig Dies (3:35)
  16. Pardiso Perduto Revisited - (0:44)
    (Featuring: Whistler - Carey Wilson)
  17. It Was Just My Memory Of It - (2:22)
    (Featuring: Guitar - John Williams)
  18. The Price Of Success - (2:03)
    (Featuring: EWI - Phil Todd)
  19. Underfloor - (2:42)
    (Featuring: Vocal - Miriam Stockley/EWI - Phil Todd)
  20. Besame Mucho - (4:55)
    (Featuring: Vocal - Cesaria Evora)
  21. By The Inch Or By The Hour (2:42)
  22. The Big Trip (3:30)
    Total Time: 50:19



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