THE NAME OF THE ROSE
Rating: 
Original Review: Hmm. Different, to day the least, and not a score for the majority of Horner's fans who like his sweeping orchestral work. This score is mainly electronic and contains some innovative, if not exactly beautiful, synthesiser work. It opens with the dark and moody Main Titles, an unusual cue with a low, growling synth element punctuated by tolling bells and a male voice choir. First Recognition is also a peculiar cue, which is underscored throughout with a sustained single note and contains a plucked melody which I can only assume was played on some kind of lyre or sitar. The Lesson is a heavy-bass theme with a deep, sonorous male voice choir, and The Scriptorium is a further rendition of the bass-and-bells main title theme. The first signs of a true Horner influence on the score begin to appear in the cue The Confession, which starts softly with a gentle melody played on a single guitar and a lonely flute, accompanied by the synthesised strings playing sustained notes. The dark, gloomy cloud hanging over the entire score finally lifts during the finale, Epilogue, which is the most obviously 'musical' cue and contains a Vangelis-like synthesised melody which is rather more upbeat in tone; and 'End Titles'. If you are new to James Horner, do not buy this score as an introduction to his work because it is likely to put you off for life. However, for confirmed Horner fans it would be a choice addition to your collection as an example of his more, shall we say, diverse talents.
Track Listing:
- Main Titles (3:00)
- Beata Viscera (traditional, performed by Charles Brett) (2:19)
- First Recognition (2:27)
- The Lesson (4:20)
- Kyrie (traditional, performed by The Choir School Maria Schultz, conducted by Kurt Reith) (2:23)
- The Scriptorium (3:52)
- Veni Sancte Spiritus (traditional, performed by the Choir School Maria Schultz, conducted by Kurt Reith) (3:13)
- The Confession (3:10)
- Flashbacks (2:04)
- The Discovery (2:28)
- Betrayed (2:56)
- Epilogue (6:05)
- End Titles (3:12)
Running Time: 42 minutes 06 seconds
Virgin Movie Music 880852 (1986)
Music composed, conducted, orchestrated and performed by James Horner. Album produced by James Horner.
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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.