Search - Nick Glennie-Smith :: We Were Soldiers: Original Motion Picture Score

Commendable Achievement !

Eran Cohen | Israel | 09/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For some reasons , most of which are related to bad publicizing , this magnificent soundtrack hasn't done well in the market . Let me get things straight : If you liked the film "We Were Soldiers" , and even if you didn't , you will definitely love this score .Seeing the movie has been quite traumatizing experience for me , yet I managed to hear , carefully listen and instantly admire the chords , tunes and tempo that escorted it . They sounded just right , fitting perfectly to the events on screen , becoming one with the film and made me feel the same emotions I had felt hearing the scores of "Saving Private Ryan" , "Gladiator" and "BraveHeart" . Yes , numerous war-movies' soundtracks have been made throughout the years , still , Glennie-Smith's work shows there is more room for new efforts ; just when you imagine you must have heard all the best ways to express musically the emotions, sentiments and responses to war trials that are generated in a composer's mind , you are offered with this remarkable creation to realize you were completely wrong .In his most significant solo-composed attempt , Nick Glennie-Smith succeeds superbly . He manages to play subtle and restrained strings in nearly all the tracks , gradually bringing them to the climax , staying there for sometime and then slowly drifting downhill back to the quiet end . In that , Glennie-Smith follows the great footsteps of John Williams score of "Saving Private Ryan" , and does it brilliantly .The soundtrack lasts almost an hour and includes relatively short tracks of no more than 3 minutes , and long ones , as the longest breaks the 10 minutes barrier . I cannot think of any weak link in the grand scheme , instead I would like to illuminate two standouts :Pay special attention to the memorable Joseph Kilna Mackenzie's "Sgt. Mackenzie" which is entwined in "Flying High" . This track is repeatedly used in the film and more than everything in the score succeeds in conveying the horror and pain present on the screen . When I saw the film , my heart truly ached each time it was played , and I believe the emotions that surrounded me matched exactly those Glennie-Smith wanted the viewer to experience . "End Credits" emerges in the end and can be viewed as equal in impact , beauty and wholeness to Williams' "Hymn To The Fallen" . In contrast to the latter , that is completely original within the score of "Saving Private Ryan" , "End Credits" contains some of the main threads that assemble the soundtrack , with the exception of its first 2:20 minutes that are completely unique in the score . Listening to it with its context in mind might bring tears to your eyes as it did for me , and as its pointed-out predecessor had done when first released . As "Hymn To The Fallen" is recognized with World war II as a musical monument to the ones that did not return , so can "End Credits" of "We Were Soldiers" be recognized with the Vietnam War as an epitaph to all the fallen soldiers , wherever and whenever they fell .Nick Glennie-Smith has demonstrated commendable capabilities with this score . I hope he will continue to provide such outstanding creations in the future - this kind of music makes you wonder what is to come next . . .In all , this is a guaranteed deal that will make you feel every dollar you paid was properly spent ."

President Reagan Funeral

J. Sheffield | NEWTON-LE-WILLOWS, Lancashire United Kingdom | 06/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Anthem and The "Suite" is featured on the album it's title is "Mansions Of The Lord", The (Suite) - (with United States Military Acadamey Cadet Gl Club & Metro Voices. though on some CD's It's just listed as Final Credits, the track and album is produced by Nick Glennie-SmithTo fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord.No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the nightJust divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord.Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord.Randall WallaceYou can see the full order of Service on The National Cathedral (...)"

Reply to Reagan Service at the National Cathedral

Lance Berryman | Worland, WY ; USA | 06/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"River run,
The piece that was playing at the end of Reagan's funeral at the national cathedral was the track 17 on the "We Were Soldiers" Soundtrack Score. It was composed by Nick-Glennie Smith and the words were written by producer/director Randall Wallace. It is titled "Mansions of the Lord." Track 17 is a combination of Mansions of the Lord" & "Sgt. Mackenzie". Hope that helps. I was very impressed to see that they used this song at his funeral, it was a great tribute to a great man. Though all in all, if you liked what you heard on that particular piece this CD is very much the same way, not once do I get "bored" with listening to this CD."