Quick Review: Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre
Music composed by Dario Marianelli
Orchestrated by: Dario Marianelli and Benjamin Wallfisch
Violin solos by Jack Lieback
Conducted by: Benjamin Wallfisch
Album time: 45 minutes
Available on Sony Masterworks

 

Dario Marianelli is one solid composer.  When I saw they were remaking Jane Eyre, I was pleased to see Marianelli’s name on the list.  He does some great work and doesn't do enough films.  He came into most people's attention with the wonderful score to Pride & Prejudice in 2005, and winning the Oscar for best score in 2007 for Atonement.  Jane Eyre fits nicely with those scores mentioned and the style for all three films work nicely with Marianelli's scores.

Jane Eyre has been adapted numerous times over the years with some great scores as well, mainly Bernard Herrmann's 1944 version and John Williams' version in 1970.  Hopefully this score in time ranks among them.

This score begins with one of my favorite tracks Wandering Jane.  The tremolos in the orchestra give a sense of intrigue and sadness while a woman's voice softly sings.  Then in comes the violin solo.  The piano opens the track Awaken - possibly the most passionate track on the album. The violin soloist, Jack Lieback is featured in almost every track of the score.  It becomes the voice of the film and for the character.  The violin writing reminded me of the solos in James Newton Howard's The Village and Defiance.  The orchestra is really a small ensemble with strings, woodwinds, harp and piano.  The score is overall very light and has some great melodic moments.  The album is so short (around 45 minutes) and I wish it featured more.  The one thing I noticed is that the tracks blended together, it was hard to tell when the track switched. 

The album as a whole is a great listen, I have to commend Dario Marianelli on a beautiful score again.  

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