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Filmtracks Recommends: Buy it... if you enjoy boys choirs and heartwarming, sentimental choral performances with resounding orchestral backing. Avoid it... if the idea of simplistic and repetitive choral songs deters you from your willingness to experiment with a uniquely European endeavor. Filmtracks Editorial Review:
Studying Coulais' work for The Chorus from a technical standpoint would reveal a very simplistic score, with easy melodies, a minimum of counterpoint, and significant repetition. But the key element in the equation is the charming heart of the music, and not only has Coulais' simplistic approach won the ears of fans, but it also serves the plotline of the film quite well. The score is comprised of two intermingling parts: the actual choral themes performed by the boys, and the adaptation of those songs into the dramatic underscore. The actual performances by the boys in the film mirror those you hear on the album, and they vary in sonic depth depending upon the level of orchestral backing that Coulais provides them. For instance, a simple voice-only performance of theme is often accompanied by the piano --a common instrument in any school-- but Coulais masterfully adds the strings, woodwinds, and percussion of the orchestra as these pieces progress. The building momentum that these songs end up achieving by their finales is resounding, and you begin to fall in love with the cues during which Coulais allows the boys to perform above the orchestra for several minutes. The "In Memoriam" cue at the outset of the album highlights the title theme with this beautiful and expressive combination. Cues near the latter half of the album, in which the choir performs solo (without any instrumental accompaniment) do begin to wear thin your patience with their repetitive nature. But the second part of the music --the score itself-- often interjects with outstanding results. Almost always pleasant and optimistic in tone, Coulais' underscore often consists of deep bass strings with the choir performing wordless vocal renditions of primary themes. The militaristic, drum-rhythmed "L'Incendie" cue presents a forceful introduction of brass and snare with the boys choir chanting that is not be missed. Tender melodies for piano and woodwind occasionally exists without the boys' presence, perhaps for the teacher's love interest in the film. The highlights of the album are the several Coulais underscore cues that utilize the boy's talents, as well as, of course, the songs that also incorporate the full orchestra. The American album includes two snippets of dialogue (in French, of course) that begin and end abruptly in the final tracks. Overall, for fans of boys choirs and heartwarming, sentimental choral performances, The Chorus is a strong, albeit repetitive album. ****
The Nonesuch Records insert includes lyrics from all of the major song performances in both French and English, as well as extensive credits. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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