CLIFFHANGER

TREVOR JONES

Rating:

Original Review: I've got an announcement to make. Trevor Jones is an excellent composer. Although some parts closely resemble his score for Last of the Mohicans, I have to say that Cliffhanger is one of the best action scores I have ever heard, and that his absolutely stunning 'Cliffhanger' Theme is one of the most memorable I have ever heard. It's a glorious, full-bodied orchestral piece, with a soaring string section reaching up to the mountaintops and a heroic brass melody like nothing you have ever heard. The theme recurs frequently throughout the album in between the action cues and is always welcome: when it appears, the chills always come back too, be it tenderly, as in 'I Understand' or 'Fireside Chat', or tragically, as in the ending of 'Frank's Demise' Of the other cues, 'Sarah Falls' is an exciting cue, with a rapid, tense string section and an urgent percussion element. It ends on a dramatic note, with an extended drumroll ending with a cymbal clash and subdued bells tolling in the background, as the reality of death sets in; 'Bats' is a menacing sounding cue, with a slow and dangerous violin section, and increasingly prominent percussion which then turns into a deep, bass-laden action piece featuring a very different rendition or the main theme; 'Kynette is Impaled' is a hyper-kinetic cue with a throbbing trumpet and a militaristic percussion. The album ends with the highest possible flourish, a breathtaking 7-minute cue with an amazing rendition of the Cliffhanger main theme, all brasses and violins, as well as encompassing lots of the movie's minor themes, before finally ending with a glorious, triumphant statement which concludes with a marvellous crescendo (like the end of Top of the World from Mohicans).

Track Listing: Running Time: 50 minutes 44 seconds

Scotti Bros. 514-455-4 (1993)

Music composed by Trevor Jones. Conducted by David Snell. Performed by The London Philharmonic Orchestra. Orchestrations by Brad Dechter, Jeff Atmajian, Larry Ashmore, Guy Dagul, Geoffrey Alexander and Trevor Jones. Recorded by John Richards. Mixed by Roger King. Edited by Dan Carlin Sr.. Mastered by Martin Giles. Album produced by Trevor Jones.


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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.