Pride and Prejudice: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Pride and Prejudice: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
Book Review: sometimes simple, but with a wonderful touch
Summary: 4 Stars
I found this sheet music perfect, both for playing for hours on the piano when having nothing to do, and to let people appreciate what a composer like marianelli can do with a few notes. Truly it contains some of the most wonderful modern, yet somehow going back to the past, pieces i have ever played. Georgiana is perfect and liz on top of the world produces such liberty... it is a treasure which one most definitely must have.Book Review: A Love Story Not to be Missed
Summary: 4 Stars
You can't judge a book by its cover, but this story is just as beautiful as the cover. Taking place in 19th century England, the novel follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet as she learns about family, politics, and most importantly - true love.
After seeing the feature film Pride and Prejudice (2005), I really wanted to read the book. However, I didn't anticipate the amount of time need to actually complete the novel. But it was so worth it. The portrayal of the Bennet family was so intimate and thorough that I felt like I was one of them myself. And learning all the hidden agendas of the characters was great for me, because I like knowing the exact motives behind a character's behavior. Mr. Darcy, for example, was such a complicated character. On the outside, he seems arrogant and harsh, yet those who really know him will passionately defend him as the kindest, most loyal person. His character is so misunderstood by some, yet he comes to the realization that he must find it in himself to change that image. He is a testament to Jane Austen's insightful, entertaining writing.
Why only four out of five stars? My complaint is based not on style or the story, but on the dense language Austen wrote it in. I found myself flipping to the explanatory notes in the back of the book for literary, social, and language references so often that I eventually needed two different bookmarks to keep track of my place in the story, and my place in the appendix.
Overall, this book is an essential to anyone's literary experience. Such a timeless love story should be experienced by all. And to any fans of the movie, the book is even better.
Book Review: An excellent translation
Summary: 5 Stars
Since my first hearing of it, I have become addicted to this music. A literal addiction; I can't fall asleep if I haven't listened to the soundtrack at least once during the day. Unfortunately, I have not watched the movie, so what caught me about this music wasn't the pivotal movie scene it reminded me of, it was that feeling of beauty transcending time, getting lost in the flurry of arpeggios, legato chords, and sharp piano melodies. Luckily, the feeling is not lost in the transition to piano sheet music.
Although the music does not sound the same without the Chamber Orchestra, it by no means sounds worse. Marianelli did a wonderful job in filling in the orchestrated parts with the piano. Unlike many other "music to sheet music" transitions, the songs to not lose their impact when these other instruments are lost. This happens with many Broadway songs; they start to sound thin. And instead of trying to impress us with elaborate translations, he maintains the simplicity which made the music so emotionally complex. The pieces may be about intermediate in technical difficulty, but it is not easy to convey the intricate mood and to play it with a feeling that would be comparable to the quality which Jean-Yves Thibaudet played the music.
My favorite pieces are The Living Statues of Pemberly and The Secret Life of Daydreams. The left hand in the Living Statues of Pemberly sets the dramatic tone with its rolling notes while the right hand plays a longing melody with held out single notes that seems to vibrate through your hand. The Secret Life of Daydreams has an airy feeling that is just so enjoyable to play. It has a flowing rhythm that is hard to capture but worth the practice to get. Liz on Top of the World is the most challenging to me simply because of the sheer speed you have to play all those half-notes at.
Verdict: This is well worth it and will make your piano playing experience an enjoyable one. All the songs have a faithful trabslation. All it needs is a good measure of determination and a love for the music. It is simply irresistable and will "bewitch you body and soul" (I heard that in a preview).
Book Review: At long last...
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no longer the need for trying to transcribe the songs on the soundtrack anymore. Dario Marianelli finally released the sheet music for his beautiful and sensual soundtrack: Pride and Prejudice. It was known for its luscious swells of the strings, and soft tinkle of piano to set the scene of the movie. There are splashes of melancholy, childishness and cheerfulness, sensuality and boldness here and there. It took a while for my copy to arrive, but it was worth the wait! The pieces may look simple, and easy, but at a closer glance, it's all simply intricate.
Out of the 17 songs on the CD, the songbook possessed 12 of the compositions (A POSTCARD TO HENRY PURCELL, CAN'T SLOW DOWN, THE MILITIA MARCHES IN, YOUR HANDS ARE COLD, and CREDITS are not in there). Not bad. DAWN starts off slow with arpeggios and then fast with alternate hands playing; ARRIVAL AT NETHERFIELD: with both the left and right hands are constantly moving with even more arpeggios, and chords near the end of the song; STARS AND BUTTERFLIES is played slowly, and softly through out; MERYTON TOWNHALL is played light and cheery with the right hand setting the melody; GEORGIANA is played with the left hand as the repeated arpeggios accompaniment, and right hand the sweet and childish melody; LIZ ON TOP OF THE WORLD with both hands in unison, builds up to the large swell in the middle with its large scale, and slowly retreated back to its slow and soft pace; LEAVING NETHERFIELD, though short, is not as simple as it looks. With the left hand constantly moving to produce the accompaniment, the right hand slowly eased its way around to make the soft melody; ANOTHER DANCE is a cute little piece, and it feels like you are jumping along the keys as you are playing it; THE SECRET LIFE OF DAYDREAMS is chock full of arpeggios for both hands; DARCY'S LETTER does, of course, start off with chords, and a gradually increasing scale, until its sudden drop in pace, and mood; and, lastly, MRS. DARCY is like a recycled piece, since most of it appeared in an earlier piece, DAWN.
My favorite piece has to be LIZ ON TOP OF THE WORLD with its large buildup and the emotions and expressions swelling deeply within the song just left me completely breathless.
Overall, though some of the compositions are short, and it is missing its beautiful strings accompaniment, the book is very well worth it. At first look, it may not be a lot, and you may think it was arranged for a beginner or intermediate level player (that's what I thought at first), but at a deeper investigation, a lot of elements (especially the expressions, and tempo) have to be considered to make the pieces sound just like the soundtrack. This is a book you MUST have to go along with your soundtrack!
Book Review: Ooooh I love this book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I went to the movie, and have been listening to the soundtrack over and over. And now the beautiful piano music is available! Marianelli did an excellent job of making some of the pieces sound like the classical music of the day. 'Darcy's Letter' is my favorite, with a brooding opening and then poignant, longing finish.
These pieces aren't quite the same without a cello and other string instruments, but the piano arrangements are very good. At first glance, the music seems very simple. But some of the pieces are quite fast. This book would be excellent for piano teachers who want to focus on voicing in different hands, and basic technique (arpeggiated patterns, etc.)