[.ca] Elizabeth

From Amazon.com:
Australian pop musician and producer turned film composer David Hirschfelder garnered an Academy Award nomination for the impressive pop and classical musical alchemy he conjured up for Shine. For Elizabeth (director Shekhar Kapur's nouveau-feminist take on the political and religious barrier-breaking rise of Queen Elizabeth I), Hirschfelder has again imbued familiar period-music clichés with just enough pop rhythmic and melodic flourishes to create a score that's fresh yet deceptively familiar. To his credit, Hirschfelder wears his influences proudly, interpolating Mozart, Elgar, Byrd, and Susato into his own, modern, sensibilities with seamless aplomb (only Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War" seems trotted out just once too often). The composer (who also orchestrated) walks a fine musical line on Elizabeth, ultimately creating a musical fusion of the best kind. --Jerry McCulley

Long may "Elizabeth" reign (in my CD player)!:
One of the most stunning historical dramas ever filmed is "Elizabeth," directed by Shekhar Kapur and starring Cate Blanchett as England's Queen Elizabeth I. A crucial element of the film's overall effect is David Hirschfelder's superb musical score. The CD of "Elizabeth" is one of those great scores which succeeds as compelling music on its own, apart from the film. "Elizabeth" starts off strong with the amazing "Elizabeth: Overture." This composition features an eery blend of male and female choirs. The ominous overture builds to a strikingly frenzied crescendo. The rest of the music is equally masterful, and features a good blend of choir and orchestra on certain tracks. The music captures the many moods and flavors of Elizabeth's world: martial, majestic, frightening, elegant, haunting, joyful. I especially liked the tender love theme. The music of "Elizabeth" successfully evokes both the violence and beauty of this memorable film. I highly recommend this CD, especially to fans of outstanding film scores.

Elizabeth - a tour de force:
Without a doubt, David Hirschfelder is a name that will become increasingly popular in the soundtrack industry in the coming years. 'Elizabeth' will arrest and captivate the listener from beginning to end - with a tour de force of energy. While this happens it will displace your timespace and time-warp you into a 16th century castle court. It will arouse your passion, anticipate your fear, and tingle your spine with joy and anxiety. Despite reference (and intertextuality) to great composers gone by, the soundtrack is entirely appropriate for the film as it generates its own sense of drama. It is not a soundtrack that will pass by unregistered by the mind. In this sense it is never a mere accompaniment - instead working alongside the film and heightening drama in its own right. Displaying a fine range of tempos, themes, and moods - 'Night of the Long Knives' juxtaposed with 'Coronation Banquet' exemplify the soundtrack's ability to mix these while remaining true to a high level of intensity. The fact that the Oscars gave their ultimate nod of approval to 'Life is Beautiful' for 'Original Dramatic Score' and 'Shakespeare in Love'for 'Best Picture' shows how they continue to get it wrong. Such a decision would have the mighty queen turning in her grave but move on undeterred she will. It is highly unlikely that anyone will dislike this soundtrack and those are pretty good odds for the prospective buyer! To quote Shakespeare - "if music be the food of life, then play on".

An admirable work of art:
This soundtrack includes two works by famous composers(Mozart and Byrd) but the score is a seamless blend. Listening to the wonder that is the very first track, I could hardly believe it was the product of a movie composer. It seemed too good to be true. It had a classical era feel to it, but was full of engaging elements of dissonance that reflected an intriguing influence of modern sensibilities. All the music sounded as though it could have been composed in the 17th century and it was so excellently moody. How well it emphasized those dark, draughty hallways with only sputtering, smoky torches to light them! How dark and sinister was the royal court as everyone conspired against each other in the shadows. And then for occasions of levity were excellent dances. I couldn't help but think it appropriate as a sad voice spirals up and up as Lord Robert Dudley sits with tears running down his face. This is easily one of the best soundtracks I have ever had the pleasure of coming across. Not only is it perfect for the movie, but it is by itself an admirable work of art.

Sadly missing:
I have read the reviews of this soundtrack and they tend to be quite high. I honestly have not seen this entire movie nor have I listened to the soundtrack. I have come across this in search of an incredible piece of music that someone has seen fit to delete from this soundtrack. Either that or has been uncredited. The piece is by Thomas Tallis. It's called Te Deum. It is played during the sequence of her coronation, I believe. I have had the honor to be a part of the performance of this piece and am very sorry to see it unincluded in this soundtrack. Tallis was one of the predominate choral masters of the time. If you can find it, you will be truly lucky! It is nine minutes plus of beauty in music!

Elizabeth:
I think this is a wonderful score. It is one of those scores that when I hear the music I can automatically think of the scene and situation in the movie in which the music is playing. David Hirschfelder definitely composed a magical, beautiful score. It is true that this score lost in its Oscar category. It is disappointing, but I like to leave that kind of thing to people who have been in the entertainment/movie score business their whole life. I would like to say something to Shana Snyder that posted a review about this score on March 6, 2000. "Shakespeeare in Love"'s score did not beat "Elizabeth" for the Oscar. "Shakespeare in Love" was nominated for and won Best Comedic score. "Elizabeth" was nominated in the Best Dramatic score category. "Elizabeth" lost to "Life is Beautiful." I think "Shakespeare in Love" and "Life is Beautiful" are exceptional scores as well. They are all great and nothing should be taken away from them based on the results of the Oscars.

• Elizabeth: Overture
• Love Theme-Arrest
• Tonight I Think I Die
• Walsingham
• Night of the Long Knives \oByrd: Domine Decundum Actum Meum\c
• Coronation Banquet
• Love Theme
• Aftermath
• Parliament
• Rondes I & VII \oSusato: Dansereye\c
• Conspiracy
• Ballard
• One Mistress, No Master
• Nimrod \oElgar: Enigma Variations\c
• Requiem: Introitus \oMozart: Requiem\c