Change of mind

[anteros_lmc]

Now here's a thing. The first time I watched Peter Weir's Master and Commander, not long after it came out on dvd, the one thing I really didn't like about it was the soundtrack. The use of Vaughn Williams' Variations on a Theme by Thomas Tallis struck me as particularly crass and annoyed me beyond reason. I was particularly disappointed because I normally adore Peter Weir's use of music. As far as I'm concerned he wins the prize for the best use of Bach in a movie ever for the Prelude No. 1 in C Major in Picnic at Hanging Rock. (This also happens to be the one and only piece of Bach I ever mastered on the piano but that's beside the point.) I couldn't find a clip of this scene on youtube so here's Glen Gould playing it instead.

Now I re-watched Weir's M&C a month or so ago and this time round I adored the soundtrack. So much so that my dear beloved bought me a copy for Christmas. So now here I am sitting listening to the M&C soundtrack and writing Hornblower fic. (Does this count as Hornblower / M&C cross over? ;)

ETA Having listened to the sound track for several weeks in rotation I decided that the real stand out piece is the Corelli rather than the Boccherini or Vaughan Williams. So I am now the proud owner of a beautiful recording of Corelli's Concerti grossi, Op.6, performed by Cantilena and Adrian Shepherd and recorded in Glasgow's Henry Wood Hall :)

Comments

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

The M&C soundtrack has to be an improvement on the same bloody song that plays constantly on Hornblower.

I love Variations on a Theme though (although I cant remember it being used in M&C, but I only watched it the once), was it just the context you objected to or are you not a fan in general?

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

The M&C soundtrack has to be an improvement on the same bloody song that plays constantly on Hornblower.
Oh god yes! Isn't it awful? *cringe* And I now have that bloody Indy theme stuck in my head. Thanks missus! ;)

I love Variations on a Theme though (although I cant remember it being used in M&C, but I only watched it the once), was it just the context you objected to or are you not a fan in general?
Oh no, it's a beautiful, beautiful piece, it was definitely the context that got me first time round. It's definitely worth another watch if you have a copy, I really enjoyed it on second viewing.

[thehappyreturn.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you about Weir's use of music - actually, of sound in general (though I didn't go through the M&C period of doubt; I'm not knowledgeable enough either about music nor M&C to really know how to object). Both in Picnic at Hanging Rock (one of my all-time favourite films) and M&C, sound is such a strong formal presence.

And my copy of La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid is totally overplayed. I have no idea if it's not a bit cheesy, but hey. It's lovely.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't Picnic at Hanging Rock beautiful? I saw it when I was very young and, I suspect, far too impressionable ;)

I'm soooo not an authority on any kind of music whatsoever however my impression of the Boccherini piece is that it's a pastiche of earlier Spanish baroque dance styles such as folias and chaccones. In fact that's what I thought it was when I first heard it, I never suspected a classical Italian! And you're right it's absolutely lovely :)

[esteven]

Sorry for butting in unanounced, but I can never resist a tag that reads Master and Commander :D

Maybe Weir used the Variations, because Tallis is mentioned in Yellow Admiral?

'It is long since I had the pleasure of seeing you,' said Stephen's neighbour on the left. 'Are you in town for some time?'
'At the Academy of Ancient Music, so it was,' replied Stephen. 'No: for a few days only, I think.'
'Still, you will be here tomorrow and I trust disengaged? They are singing a great deal of Tallis.'

There indeed he was, with Jack, and they took a deep pleasure in the music, deriving a sense of inward peace that certainly did Jack Aubrey a great deal of good...

*slinks away*

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Sorry for butting in unanounced, but I can never resist a tag that reads Master and Commander :D

Hey, feel free to but in anytime! :)

Maybe Weir used the Variations, because Tallis is mentioned in Yellow Admiral?

Ooh that's fascinating. This is exactly the kind of subtle influence I would expect Weir to pick up on. Thanks for the reference!

[esteven]

Pleased to have been of service. Indeed, this is something to have been expected from Weir. I generally like his works.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I like most of Weir's films but there are one or two I just adore, particularly Picture at Hanging Rock and M&C obviously!

[esteven]

Before Master and Commander I thought of Dead Poets Society and as a wonderfully light piece of fluff Green Card. But then I like Depardieu. His Cyrano is one of my all-time favourites.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Depardieu's Cyrano is just magnificent. I even liked Burgess translation which I know some people have panned. I am always a sniffling wreck by the end though!

[(Anonymous)]

It is Depardieu's best performance and I tried to follow the original to my best abilities.

I am always a sniffling wreck by the end though!
So am I.
*shares box of tissues*

[esteven]

The anonymous wuz me!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Alas my French is about as good as Mr Bush's so I must rely on the subtitles.

*accepts anonymous box of tissues gratefully*

[(Anonymous)]

:D
I've known Cyrano in several versions and have read it dozens of times. So I can chance the original. *g*

*offers another box*

[esteven]

Oh, dear. Me again. I tend to push the post button too fast.