Popular Post Incanus 5,714 Posted November 14, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted November 14, 2016 Schindler's List Review of the Soundtrack Album by Mikko Ojala This was my first CD (along with The Lost World:Jurassic Park) back in the late 1990's and I have listened to it countless of times but the hushed respectful melodicism and on the other hand the raw emotion distilled by Williams into this singular work still makes my heart ache from the grief inherent in the music but also because of its sheer exquisite beauty. Itzhak Perlman's contribution as the solitary voice in the wilderness is immense as he conjures such sensitivity to his violin solos that range from anguish to solace, from sheer cold terror to heart warming pathos in a way it is hard to imagine Williams' music without it. No other soloist has ever come close to encapsulating the emotions of this music in such raw and refined way although the suite has been recorded countless times by many fine artists. Apart from the famous main theme and the secondary theme titled Remembrances that are most often mentioned by people for a good reason as much of the central pieces are built around these two wonderful sorrowful melodies, but the rest of the score is just as full of both cinematic and emotional power. Immolation is like a pained cry of dying souls, full of anguish and mourning, the cries of the chorus "With our lives we give life" in Hebrew haunting and terrifying at the same time. Schindler's Workforce is both suspenseful in its conspiratorial mood and every so subtly comedic as it underscores the understated defiance of Stern and the people he hires for Schindler's factory to save their lives in the film and contains superbly done allusions to Jewish musical idiom both in melody and orchestrations, the jauntily plodding rhythm effectively pacing the scene from start to finish and it works just as well on the album. There is heart breaking fragility to Stolen Memories where chorus softly laments the loss of not only lives but history as well, cruelly taken from these people and Making the List ebbs and flows full of meaning and dramatic significance, at times doom laden at times quietly triumphant in the best Williams fashion with great interplay with the main themes and really is one of the things people should be mentioning about this score as a highlight among highlights. I do not know what part of his soul Williams pulled some of this music from as it seems to come out of nowhere when looking back at his career. To me Auschwitz-Birkenau is probably some of the scariest music he has ever written, Perlman's solo is so malevolent, so cold and cruel it rends your innards with fear and lurching feeling of dread, especially when accompanied by the hellish churning, groaning lower reaches of the orchestra that thunder underneath. Jewish Town (Krakow Ghetto - Winter '41), a concert staple by now, is another completely unexpected piece which has such feeling of time and place and Jewish character to it, the suffering and perseverance but also such elegant beauty with Perlman's voice taking the narrative lead through the piece with the winding violin solo. Williams employs not only Perlman but also a famed Klezmer clarinetist Giora Feidman on the soundtrack for a brief part as he makes an appearance in the simply mesmerizing Oyfn Pripetshok and Nacht Aktion where after a children's chorus intones a Jiddish song by M.M. Warshawsky Feidman's smoky and exotic solo part over a droning background has a brilliant almost hypnotic quality to it. Give Me Your Names on the other hand is the soothing balm with gorgeous violin solo that weaves around the orchestra so full of comforting emotion as Williams combines main theme and Remembrances into one elegant whole. I Could Have Done More comes at midpoint through the album but is actually the emotional finale which starts quietly but turns into an emotional showcase for Perlman as the composer wrings every ounce of feeling from the orchestra and the soloist for this denouement where the main theme receives its most extensive and perhaps most resonant performances, the violin almost weeping at the end. And what could be a better finale for the album than the quiet small piano refrain of the main theme in Theme from Schindler's List (Reprise) that ends the experience on a tender but thoughtful note. The film is sparsely spotted but the album running little over 60 minutes is a perfect encapsulation of the score and again reminded me why, even though it is such a beautiful piece of music, I don't listen to it very often. It is because the score is such an emotionally taxing experience and the years seem not to have diminished its power over me. It is and will forever remain a classic to me and one of the lasting musical testimonies of the genius of John Williams. Will, Jay and Not Mr. Big 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 It's a brilliant score and a great album. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodBoal 7,538 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Well, this is an embarrassingly short review. Is Inky past his prime? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 This isnt Wintory or Johansson! I'm surprised our Moderator spend as much time as he did on common old boring Johnny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 33 minutes ago, BloodBoal said: Well, this is an embarrassingly short review. Is Inky past his prime? I listened the album and decided to jot down a few impressions. This was just something I spent 30 minutes putting on JWFan. My rambling thoughts shall return! Mark my words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,346 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 1 hour ago, BloodBoal said: Well, this is an embarrassingly short review. Is Inky past his prime? Wait for the sessions leak Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 The sessions leaked years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 He meant the review sessions leak of course! Pages upon pages of unused concepts and alternate parts of the review! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 looking forward to reading it tomorrow morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,346 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 5 hours ago, Incanus said: He meant the review sessions leak of course! Pages upon pages of unused concepts and alternate parts of the review! And deleted sentences and cut paragraphs! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I got this OST for Christmas last year but haven't really listened to anything but a couple tracks (yes, BloodBoal). I've heard the main theme a few times but I've never really liked it much, to be honest. Maybe seeing the film would help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,346 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 What do you think of Remembrances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 He forgot! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Can't remember it, so I must not have liked it very much. That's assuming I've even heard it, which I'm not entirely certain of either, although I think I have... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Was that a joke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 19 minutes ago, Stefancos said: Was that a joke? Nope. Dead serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 You can't remember if you've heard a track called Rememberances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 3 minutes ago, Stefancos said: You can't remember if you've heard a track called Rememberances? Oh, I just realized what was funny about that. For real. I'm working on a complicated physics paper right now; it takes up all my mental capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 1 hour ago, Will said: Maybe seeing the film would help... Will, you need to see this movie. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wojo 2,453 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 No he doesn't. It's on my list of films I'm never going to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurkensalat 340 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 It is a movie everybody should see at least once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Of course I will see it at some point. It's Spielberg/Williams! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 It goes beyond Spielberg or Williams. It gets at something essential in our humanity and I agree with the comment above that everyone, literally everyone, should see it at least once. I might not technically list it as my favorite Spielberg movie, but it definitely sits on a plane apart from his other movies. As the great Roger Ebert put it, "The power of Spielberg's film is not that it explains evil, but that it insists that men can be good in the face of it, and that good can prevail." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 It's Spielberg's great movie. Though if one really wants to see/hear about the holocaust than Schindlers List is entry level viewing. Claude Lachmann's 9 hour documentary is authoritative in that regard. Though I watched about 4 hours of it 2 weeks ago and have yet found the courage to return to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 14 minutes ago, Stefancos said: Claude Lachmann's 9 hour documentary is authoritative in that regard. Though I watched about 4 hours of it 2 weeks ago and have yet found the courage to return to it. I bought the Criterion blu-ray box set of Shoah last year and haven't been able to get through all it (emotionally, I mean) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Yes. On the one hand I found it surprisingly "watchable" if you know what I mean. Never boring, and at times actually artistically beautiful. (the juxtaposition between the testimonies of what happened at a camp, or a mass grave in the mid-40's and footage of that same site decades later, pastoral, peaceful...) The subject matter however is savage, and I doubt anyone can watch it without not feeling some sense of anger, or sadness. I couldnt sleep after I watched the first 4 hours. Parts of it are still working in my mind 2 weeks later. I'll return to it for sure, but not yet... Schindlers List, despite the horror it portrays is about survival and hope. Shoah is about those who are dead, and how they were murdered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 13 hours ago, Will said: I've heard the main theme a few times but I've never really liked it much, to be honest. It has a bit of a European feel, doesn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Have you seen Shoah, Alex? It certainly seems like an Alexcremers film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,331 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Never heard of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Really? That's surprising. Or are you disinterested in non-fiction cinema? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,352 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Frankly Will, I was never into the OST much when I was a teenager, either. I blew the dust off it sometime when I was in my early 30s and listened and enjoyed it quite a bit, and we watched the film a year or 2 ago now and it is certainly a very good film. Seeing the film does help but the music into context. I look forward to an eventual complete release of the score, but the OST already certainly covers everything important from it and only minor bits and bobs, and one memorable Insert, isn't included there. Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will 2,215 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 2 hours ago, Stefancos said: It's Spielberg's great movie. Is it really better than EOTS and A.I.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,352 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Will, everyone will have their own opinions on that. There is no universal opinion. Watch them all and make your own! Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 This is my personal top 5. Personal meaning movies I love and that have a particular significance to me. So I'm not arguing from some imagined objective critical POV here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 4 out of 5 aint bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 History will be on my side regarding the greatness of Lincoln! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Just now, Disco Stu said: History will be on my side regarding the greatness of Trump! Fixed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incanus 5,714 Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 2 hours ago, Jay said: Frankly Will, I was never into the OST much when I was a teenager, either. I blew the dust off it sometime when I was in my early 30s and listened and enjoyed it quite a bit, and we watched the film a year or 2 ago now and it is certainly a very good film. Seeing the film does help but the music into context. I look forward to an eventual complete release of the score, but the OST already certainly covers everything important from it and only minor bits and bobs, and one memorable Insert, isn't included there. And even that insert is not used in full, just one short moment actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 7 hours ago, Stefancos said: Claude Lachmann's Claude Lanzmann! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrbellamy 6,285 Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 9 hours ago, Stefancos said: 10 hours ago, Disco Stu said: History will be on my side regarding the greatness of Trump! Fixed... Yes! In the second debate Hillary said she loved Lincoln and then she lost! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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