Young Star, The - Lena Horne

Advantages: Two outstanding peices of chamber music for an unusual combination of instruments
Disadvantages: On the surface quite contrasting works, listener must be openminded

...The work of Ligeti has been at the forefront of Western avant-garde since his escape from the oppressive communist regime of Hungary in 1956, and he is widely appreciated as one of the most outstanding contemporary composers. The Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano because it was born out of a three-year period of illness and writer's block after the completion of Le Grand Macabre in which time he laboured over a piano concerto but completed only two short harpsichord pieces (Continuum and Hungarian Rock), yet the result in 1982 was the Trio, one of the finest and most complex pieces written so far. His career up to this point had included such sucesses as his Requiem, Atmosphères and the soundtrack for Stanley Kubrick's film 2001. Tiring of his own cluster-textural techniques and the avant-garde, Ligeti refreshed his compositional... Read review

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Advantages: Some hugely effective underscore cues that bring a lot of dramatic gravitas the music needs
Disadvantages: As a final Star Wars score by Williams it misses it's mark in the end

..."Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious"; and even appropriate themes for the Emperor, Luke and Leia, the Death Star, and Yoda are unusually underplayed or are missing entirely. As mentioned previously, the primary new theme in Revenge of the Sith is "Battle of the Heroes," an epic, choral heavy piece written for the climactic lightsaber battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan. The concert version of the theme has already been circulated widely as a music video in the manner of "Duel of the Fates" (a trend sadly omitted for "Across the Stars") and is on itself a spectacularly effective theme. It opens with a turbulent string figure to which the brass and choir augment a more drawn-out melody with trumpets and horns surging above the other elements. The main contrast in the cue comes in the form of a quotation of the Force theme near the end before... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great music from the movie, includes a bonus DVD
Disadvantages: Tracks in bizzare order.

...with a recognisable 'force theme.' 6. Palpatine's Teachings Eerie, dark, primarily background music take up most of this track. This track is unlike any other Star Wars music until the 'Emperors theme' from Return of the Jedi followed by a sinister 'force theme' is heard. Unfortunately, the track is ended with a very brassy upbeat cue from 'The Phantom Menace.' I consider this to be unfortunate because firstly its in complete contrast to the rest of the track and secondly reminds me of 'The Phantom Menace' cue so much I can hear Jar Jar's 'Mesa going home!' in my head. 5. General Grievous This track is a fast pace mix of horns and wooden instruments which accompanies the Obi-Wan vs. Grievous pursuit onscreen. At just over 4 minutes the track seems a little long as the music is repetitive with no recognisable themes. 8. Padme's Ruminations This... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful