I purchased Jeff Rona's score to the fantasy series Earthsea about year ago and I fell in love with it immediately. I've been a devout fan of orchestral fantasy scores ever since I bought Jerry Goldsmith's Legend, and Jeff Rona's contribution to this genre is simply wonderful. Earthsea is very magical in tone and the overall feel of the music is waterish and seaesque; every time I listen the score I imagine being beside of great seashores, waterfalls and verdant islands.

Rona combines the forces of the Slovakia Radio Symphony and different ethnic instruments with male choir and many vocal soloists of almost all registers. There are low female voices, very Adiemus-sounding singing à la Karl Jenkins and deep male choir chants, all of which create very mystic and magical touch to the music. Uillian Pipe and Ney are among the ethnic instruments which give Earthsea that wondrous, other-worldly feeling - something that Goldsmith's Legend and Howard Shore's The Lord of the Rings -scores also have accomplished successfully.

All in all I would recommend this score to all who like orchestral fantasy and adventure scores. Earthsea might not be a fortright action score, but rather it is based on calm waterish feeling and beautifully harmonic themes. On the other hand it does contain few very satisfying action tracks, like "The Kargide Attack" and "Sailing". My favourite tracks on this album are the powerful "Main Title", soaring "Sparrowhawk", mystical "Halls of Wisdom", playful and happy "Wonderful Friend", epic "The Dragon's Tale" and the final track "Light over Earthsea". Rona's symphonic and magical journey to Earthsea is simply a winner and worth taking!