 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Conducted by:
|
David Snell
|
Performed by:
|
The Irish Film Orchestra
|
|
|
|
|
Release Date:
|
November 7th, 1995
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Availability:
Regular U.S. release, but completely out of print.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Filmtracks Editorial Review:
 |
| | Portman | |
|
War of the Buttons: (Rachel Portman) A largely unknown
film, John Robert's adaptation of Louis Pergaud's French novel "La Guerre
des Boutons" pits two idealistic groups of young, Irish school boys against
each other. Their outdoor adventures are realized with the backdrop of
beautiful cinematography and location behind them, causing the film to serve
as a true representation of Ireland and its beauty and culture. Composer
Rachel Portman wrote and then recorded the score with Irish players in
Dublin, making the project one of ethnic authenticity all around. Portman
was in the process of bursting into the American mainstream while continuing
her writing of lesser-known dramas back in Europe. Her score for The Joy
Luck Club had been met with a chorus of cheers the previous year, and
her concurrent efforts for Only You would prove to define the
composer from that year forward as the expert of lush, romantic music for
the big screen. Her styles are easily recognizable and frightfully
consistent (especially for those who believe that one score of hers is more
than enough of a sampling from all of them), but War of the Buttons
stands out as a distinct piece in her career. The defining element in this
particular score is the extra percussion that Portman demanded through her
composition in order to adequately rumble the floor during the scenes of
battle between the two groups of boys. With the settings for these
confrontations often being spectacular, the music would have to match the
visuals with a similarly powerful bass. Also of importance, of course, is
the Irish flavor necessary for the project, and Portman handles this
requirement through the usual heavy use of woodwinds to carry her themes. To
her credit, Portman inserts just enough of that ethnic flavor to keep the
score effective without allowing it to become burdensome to those who aren't
fans of Irish-tinted music.
The film opens with these statements of ethnicity. A solo
flute carries most of the catchy, Irish tune at the heart of the score, with
the usual string accompaniment from the composer. Even in these sensible and
often cute performances of theme, Portman immediately establishes the brass
with much more authority than in her other scores. On the whole, War of
the Buttons is a brass and percussion-inclined effort from Portman,
which is exactly why the work is unique in her career. Early battle
sequences are performed with a more messy, though effective set of rhythms
performed by timpani and other assorted drums, with brass often accenting
rhythmic notes. The battle sequences would slowly gain more composure as
those scenes of imagination become seemingly more weighty, with the opening
of the "Battle of Bunduff Castle" cue starting with an inspired snare rhythm
and leading into nearly noble bursts of thematic energy. As the composer
would do in the similarly percussive live-action Pinnochio in 1997,
Portman allows the percussion to lighten its attitude for a few of the cues,
including the inventive "Mobilization" cue near the beginning. The brass
occasionally break through their supporting roles and offer heroic
statements of theme at the end of battle sequences, and they would flourish
in the helicopter rescue scene near the finale of the film (and at the end
of that cue, the brass would finally take the title theme away from the
woodwinds). Between the heightened role of the brass, the rumbling
percussion heard throughout the score, and the truly spirited Irish flavor
of the music, War of the Buttons is a score that Portman fans will
recognize and appreciate as a unique endeavor in her career. In many ways,
this score has more convincing militaristic writing than her dramatic
composition for Hart's War nearly ten years later. Overall, it isn't
strong enough to easily capture the attention of non-Portman listeners, but
it will likely interest fans of her melodic styles. ***
 |
|
Viewer Ratings and Comments:
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
• 1. Front Titles (4:34)
• 2. Murphy's Dunes Mobilization (1:28)
• 3. Chasing the Fox (3:30)
• 4. Night Manoeuvres (1:18)
• 5. Battle of Murphy's Dunes (1:16)
• 6. Fergus is Captured (2:22)
• 7. Naked Battle (4:11)
| |
• 8. Fishy's Mushrooms (1:16)
• 9. Buttons (1:29)
• 10. Battle of Bunduff Castle (7:32)
• 11. Fergus Hides in the Woods (2:09)
• 12. Helicopter Rescue (4:16)
• 13. Pillow Fight/End Titles (3:43)
|
Insert includes no extra information about the score or film.
|
