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Composed, Arranged, and Produced by:
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Mychael Danna
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Conducted by:
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Nicholas Dodd
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Soprano Voice by:
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Isabel Bayrakdarian
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Release Date:
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November 5th, 2002
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Availability:
Regular U.S. release.
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Filmtracks Recommends:
Buy it... if you have an open mind about Danna's style of scoring off the beaten
path, with true ethnic authenticity overshadowing a western orchestra.
Avoid it... if you can't tolerate lengthy solo performances by traditional folk
instruments of Armenia in between occasionally lush orchestral passages.
Filmtracks Editorial Review:
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Ararat: (Mychael Danna) The collaboration between Mychael Danna and director Atom Egoyan is well into
its second decade, with Danna continuing to produce a unique sound when compared
to his contemporary peers. The film Ararat is the tale of the persecution
of the Armenian people in 1915. It is a grim, but defiant showing which,
necessarily, is heavy on the religious history of the event. Danna therefore
produces a score rich with human emotion and simplisticity in its existence. Much of the music for the film was recorded on location by Danna in Armenia. While the orchestral portions, including the massive performances of theme in a
selection of tracks, were recorded in London, the choral voices and many
traditional instruments were performed by native musicians on location (with a
few instruments added in Canada at a later date as well). The daunting task for
the recording of Ararat, therefore, was the piecing together of all these
elements into the impressive finished product as heard in the film and on
album.
The success of Danna's Ararat lies in its ability to adequately portray
the region's history through the use of truly authentic instrumentation and
performances. The sparse surroundings in which the recording was largely made
has produced an admirably precise impression of Armenia in 1915. Modern
listeners should beware, though, that although the orchestral might heard in a
few cues is considerable, it is the collection of very low key, somber
performances by the duduk (Armenian flute), zurna, and other Armenian folk instruments which dominate this score and album. These lengthy periods can test the patience of even some of the most experienced film score listeners, but rest assured knowing that you will be rewarded when those native instruments are are added to the London orchestra. The highlight of the album is the operatic vocal performance in "Oor Es Mayr Eem," during which Danna's theme for the film takes flight and steals the album. Attention to detail and authenticity of sound make this score a clear winner, though you may need to wait until the end of the album to truly evaluate its careful balance between the Armenian aspects and those that you are more accustomed to hearing in film scores today. ****
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Viewer Ratings and Comments:
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• 1. Groonk (4:13)
• 2. Oor Es Mayr Eem (4:15)
• 3. Siege (3:37)
• 4. Something in your Heart (2:12)
• 5. Ancient History (1:06)
• 6. Need to be Remembered (6:07)
• 7. The Dance (3:30)
• 8. Mothers and Sons (1:27)
• 9. Yeraz (2:56)
• 10. They will take my Island (1:25)
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• 11. Ani (1:25)
• 12. His Land was Lost (2:27)
• 13. Final Stand (0:53)
• 14. Silent Witness (1:21)
• 15. Call to Action (1:05)
• 16. The Power to Imagine (2:11)
• 17. How Did He Die? (2:30)
• 18. Return to Ararat (2:41)
• 19. All that is Sacred (2:07)
• 20. The Ghost of my Father (1:01)
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Insert includes detailed notes about the score and film.
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