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I CAPTURE THE CASTLE
Fine melodic music full of charm
A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

Music composed by
DARIO MARIANELLI

Rating
* * * *



Performed by
UNNAMED ORCHESTRA
conducted by
DARIO MARIANELLI

Orchestration
DARIO MARIANELLI

Engineered by
STEVE PRICE
Produced by
DARIO MARIANELLI

Album running time
53:33

Released by
MOVIESCORE MEDIA
Catalog number
MMS-07004

Album cover copyright (c) 2007 Trademark Castle Ltd and Momentum Pictures; review copyright (c) 2007 James Southall

A popular British film from 2003, I Capture the Castle tells the story of an offbeat family trying to scrape a living together in 1930s England, from the point of view of the family's daughter.  It won praise especially for its acting, and is notable to film music fans as being one of the first major projects scored by Dario Marianelli, who in the short time since has notched up an Oscar nomination and plenty of new fans for popular scores for films like Pride and Prejudice and V For Vendetta.

His music for I Capture the Castle is sublime - it's probably his finest score to date.  It opens with "As It (perhaps) Was", a charming piece with a cheerful disposition bolstered by a dreamy piano solo.  "Simpsons!" is even more summery, full of all the joys of a fine sunny day where life's problems can be parked somewhere else if only for a short while.  Of course, at some point that short while comes to a close, and "Heartbreak" presents the score's other main feature, a far more wistful piece anchored around a deep sense of longing, with a simply gorgeous theme to boot.

"The Bear Hunt" gives off a very faint comic air through its clarinet-and-accordion orchestration, turning into a full-scale gallop as it develops; a lovely little piece.  Marianelli deftly treads through the rest of the score, weaving a path incorporating these various styles, in an intelligent way which results in very beautiful music.  It manages to be both touching and poignant without ever losing its graceful, charming appeal.  Marianelli has shown several sides to his compositional character already, and it's already clear how good he is at scoring English period drama - between this and Pride and Prejudice there's a wealth of fine material.  Highly recommended.  

Tracks

  1. As It (perhaps) Was (3:27)
  2. Simpsons! (1:33)
  3. Heartbreak (3:32)
  4. The Bear Hunt (1:58)
  5. Life is a Beach (2:46)
  6. Scotney Hall (2:06)
  7. Cassy's Daydreams (4:11)
  8. Take Him Down! (1:49)
  9. Rose's First Night (:57)
  10. Farewells (2:17)
  11. I Knew It Was Love (2:40)
  12. Cassy Gets Lost (2:49)
  13. Fragmentary Consciousness (1:59)
  14. I Am Going to Stay Here (4:33)
  15. Cassy Takes Off (3:£6)
  16. The Pagan Rites (1:44)
  17. I Let Everyone Down (3:38)
  18. The Lansdowne Quickstep (:41)
  19. You and the Night Richard Shelton (2:32)
  20. Clair de Lune (Debussy) (4:44)
    21.