Search - John Debney & The Royal Scottish National Orchestra :: Somewhere In Time

When Love Is Composed As Music

thecollector1971 | Canton, MI USA | 10/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw the movie for this soundtrack quite some time ago, back when I was too young to understand "love". I only watched it because "Superman" was in it. Now that I'm older, I appreciate alot of things in life, and have just been re-introduced to the story of Richard Colier. I bought the movie, the book, and this CD soundtrack very recently. The beautiful music literally brought tears to my eyes. Every track on this CD is haunting, yet comforting. Not only did I recall the scenes from the movie as certain tracks were playing, but I also experienced a true feeling of joy and happiness as the melodies ran through my ears. If the actual feeling of "love", or "being in love" could be put into song...this is THE finest example of it!! It's difficult to explain, but once you listen to the CD, you'll know exactly what I mean, because you'll feel it too! Don't pass up this oppurtunity. It's a wonderful feeling."

The definitive version of John Barry?s most eloquent score

Veggiechiliqueen | 06/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1980's "Somewhere In Time" is the only film that I know of (besides Bernard Herrmann's score to "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir") that seamlessly marries score with dialogue and ambiance: not only serving a supporting role, but uplifting the film with the power of the music, as well as succeeding as a standalone album. Barry's score is simple yet elegant, based around the sweeping, romantic "Somewhere In Time" theme, which is reprised on nearly every track. A gentle, plaintive melody started by flute and harp, bridged by shimmering strings, and wistfully ended by piano reprising the theme, the "Somewhere In Time" theme has been played at countless weddings and has served as the soundtrack to true love everywhere.Initially, due to the film's halved Universal budget, Barry was never in the running as composer since the production team couldn't afford his services. However, Barry happened to be a friend of Jane Seymour's, and he finally signed on to the project, accepting a portion of the soundtrack sales as payment-a wise move, since the "Somewhere in Time" soundtrack continues to sell well to this day, almost fifteen years since its initial release.This version is a 1998 Varese Sarabande rerecording conducted by John Debney that extends the original 1980 soundtrack release (which only clocked in at a scant half an hour) by half, adding lyrical passages that compliment onscreen action and underscore montages (as well as setting a romantic mood for a candlelight dinner). Soloists Lynda Cochrane (piano) and Edwin Paling (violin) rise amply to the challenge of Rachmaninoff and the score's tender solos. Another bonus is the excellent sound quality of a newer recording: the original 1980 release (and subsequent gold CD release in the mid-1990s) suffered from less-than-ideal clarity (and the aforementioned brevity). Care was even taken in the new packaging: rather than a bland case design and booklet per the original CD, the 1998 version features a beautiful Impressionistic oil painting of one of the film's pivotal moments: when Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) meets Elise McKenna, the actress of his dreams (Jane Seymour), for the first time as she walks by the lake. She gazes at him, enraptured, and whispers, "Is it you?" The back of the CD features the fateful portrait of Elise that hangs in the Grand Hotel's Hall of History.A beautiful, decadently romantic soundtrack and easily my favourite of all time. "Somewhere in Time" was, in a way, the soundtrack to my childhood summers spent Up North (Harbor Springs and Petoskey, MI)-we would play it in the car, at home, while relaxing and as a soundtrack to Sunday dinners for as long as I can remember. A wonderful gift for fans of the film, or if you are simply seeking beautiful background music to dream and relax to."

Lovely re-recording, but original much better.

Veggiechiliqueen | 03/03/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Just purchased this re-recording and it's just lovely, but I still prefer John Barry's own original soundtrack to this one. This one is beautiful, as how can any of John Barry's music be anything but beautiful, but it's still not John Barry conducting his own music. I definitely notice a difference, although very slight. I think John Barry's own conducting skills really come through on his own original recording of this soundtrack. But if you are a true John Barry fan as I am (and have been for years), you still will love this new recording just the same."