Anne Dudley
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Ok. So, here is the the Anne Dudley thread. Let me start what is probably my favourite score of hers: POLDARK.
There is this single disc deluxe edition and the ultimate 3-disc boxset. Both are great. The deluxe edition is more or less equal to disc 1 of the ultimate edition, but it has that wonderful piano arrangement of the main theme performed by Lang Lang.Musically it is folk infused romantic orchestral music including some nice songs. Reminds maybe a little of McCreary’s OUTLANDER. But I prefer this score here by far.
Reminds maybe a little of McCreary’s OUTLANDER. But I prefer this score here by far.
Wasn’t it first, too? 😉 I have this on my library listen list for some time with some other Dudleys but have only sample it until now. But what heard was really nice, I remember also some songs.
I repeat what I wrote. I have two scores: The a bit film noireish FELIDAE and TRISTAND AND ISOLDE which is also a bit folky. I also know some of her (totally different) 80s elecronica band Art Of Noise.
Let me start what is probably my favourite score of hers: POLDARK.
Yes, great score. I love those British scores that capture the windswept moors, whether they’re romances or crime stories or whatever. Other examples in the same vein – in addition to OUTLANDER – are Olafur Arnald’s BROADCHURCH, Patrick Cassidy’s CALVARY or Amelia Warner’s WILD MOUNTAIN THYME (and yes, I suppose you can throw in FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, JANE EYRE etc. while you’re at it). It’s often bleak, but also somehow comforting.
I have the digital, 52-minute release, which fulfills my every need. Wasn’t aware it had other versions.
OK, so POLDARK is a good place to start? Both the single disc as well als the 3Disc seem to be available at Qobuz, so I can easily check them out.
OK, so POLDARK is a good place to start?
It’s as good as any. I’m just going to comment on Gerate’s suggestions as he mentions them, rather than list a bunch of my own upfront.
I have the digital, 52-minute release, which fulfills my every need.
I think, that is more or less the content of the deluxe edition plus this piano prelude:
But I really like this.
Next there is the score for that fantasy TV series THE 10TH KINGDOM.
I am struggling with this ever since. On the one hand it is a versatile melodic orchestral score. On the other hand it is full of distracting electronic sound effects, that make it sometimes sound a little cheap.
And it doesn’t have super great themes. But just looking at the orchestral parts it’s nice, but I can’t fully enjoy it.Next TRISTAN & ISOLDE.
I really like this one. Maybe also because I like the movie a lot. The medieval colorings in the music are well set. Very atmospheric and calm most of the time with sparse piano figures or romantic solo violin or flutes. The few action pieces fit well in but are no outstanding part of the score. But the romance and desperation of the story is well expressed in the music.
Next there is the score for that fantasy TV series THE 10TH KINGDOM.
I agree with your assessment. I’ve given it several chances over the years, but just can’t connect to it.
Next TRISTAN & ISOLDE.
Agreed again. One of her best, maybe even top 5. I even prefer it to the Wagner (except maybe the “Prelude”, which was used so wonderfully in EXCALIBUR). 😀
I know I even saw THE 10TH KINGDOM on TV but never listend to the score. Lots to explore regarding Anne Dudley.
Other examples in the same vein – in addition to OUTLANDER – are Olafur Arnald’s BROADCHURCH, Patrick Cassidy’s CALVARY or Amelia Warner’s WILD MOUNTAIN THYME
I saw at least the first season of BOARDCURCH which I liked. I had the score from the library once but somehow it didn’t get me at all. The other named I don’t know even by name. Another score that might loosely fit here is John Lunn’s SHETLAND.
One more for today. FELIDAE is a good one again.
Very dramatic and playful. This was my first Dudley score. I don’t remember how I got it. Obviously it is a burned copy and not the original CD. I never watched the movie but I had read the book and found it so so.
It is a score for an animated movie, so there is a lot of mickeymousing going on which can be a little exhausting. But it has a nice dark tone overall. The template were obviously old Disney classics which is not the worst.
And the Boy George title song is nice, too.THE CRYING GAME.
About half of the album are nice 80s songs and then there is Dudley’s score which is not bad at all, but mainly leaves the impression of a moody suspense sound carpet of strings, piano and percussion. Here and there a trumpet, but no melody line that sticks anywhere, but well made.Was never able to connect much to that either, but it is one of the most respected FILMS on Dudley’s resume.
Just wonder if it wouldn’t be nice to have such “composer lists” as articles on the site? Must not always be a full discography or even filmography. And surely compatible with nowadys short atention span 😉
A long time ago I was watching a movie and I remember that I was impressed with the score but I didn’t know who the composer was. When I found out that it was Anne Dudley I was quite surprised because I only knew her from ‘The Art Of Noise’. The score sounded much more musically developed than anything I knew by the Art Pop group (not that I was all that familiar with their discography). The problem is that I don’t remember the movie at all. Heck, it even could have been a TV series (but it certainly wasn’t Poldark, which I never watched). Anyway, my surprisement is actually the core of my post.
Just wonder if it wouldn’t be nice to have such “composer lists” as articles on the site? Must not always be a full discography or even filmography. And surely compatible with nowadys short atention span
When I am done with my walk through and you still think, it makes sense, I could offer to summerize it as an article. Then you could still decide to use it or not.
I think some things are fine just for the messageboard. Informal, breezy, conversational. Without the criteria related to language, length, formatting etc. that an article piece would have. A casual, informal walkthrough of some composer recommendations is more messageboard food.
THE HUSTLE is probably the worst comedy I have seen in the past 20 years. And that means something. I never watched the original starring David Niven and Marlon Brando. But I love Frank Oz’s remake with Michael Caine and Steve Martin. In this latest version now you never know what is worse. When they cringely copy scenes from the previous movie one to one or when they deviate from it and end up in sucking any logic out of the events.
Anyway, Dudley’s score is brillant and gives the images of the movie a swing and soul that they don’t fulfill. The music is lead by Django Reinhard’s guitar playing style as Dudley states herself. Great memorable melodies. This score deserves a better movie.
A casual, informal walkthrough of some composer recommendations is more messageboard food.
I agree.
This is another good one: AMERICAN HISTORY X
That one really lifts up the movie, on one hand supports the movies play with that black and white Leni Riefenstahl aestetics and adds with that religious children choir a layer of inner wounds behind the facade. At least that’s my interpretation.
For sure one of Dudley’s best works.Never heard THE HUSTLE.
But AMERICAN HISTORY X is probably Dudley’s singular masterpiece. So heartbreaking and gorgeous for something so dark and disturbing – a requiem for lost innocence. It’s also my favourite score of hers, although there is another one that you haven’t mentioned yet that comes pretty darn close.
I don’t have a great deal of stuff by Anne Dudley, certainly in comparison to Rachel Portman, Debbie Wiseman or Shirley Walker (other female composers of some regard in my collection). I don’t know why.
I know I have AMERICAN HISTORY X, which may have been the first film I ever really took notice of her music.
I also have a nice compilation CD of her stuff (A Different Light, I think it’s called), which features some good pieces.
I may (or may not) have TRISTAN & ISOLDE and 10th KINGDOM on CD, I would have to check my stash. I certainly don’t recall much about them, if I have.
I was always mad that she won an Oscar for THE FULL MONTY, over much stronger works (especially ANASTASIA by David Newman and MEN IN BLACK by Danny Elfman), since the score is threadbare (and a bad ROCKY/Bill Conti knock-off) and the film is mainly full of classic/needle-drop songs (we all know how stupid those American Academy voters are when it comes to music).
Doesn’t she now score the films of Paul Verhoeven, since Jerry and Basil died? I keep meaning to check out BLACK BOOK, which is highly regarded.I was always mad that she won an Oscar for THE FULL MONTY, over much stronger works (especially ANASTASIA by David Newman and MEN IN BLACK by Danny Elfman), since the score is threadbare (and a bad ROCKY/Bill Conti knock-off) and the film is mainly full of classic/needle-drop songs (we all know how stupid those American Academy voters are when it comes to music).
I wonder how the score fulfilled the minimum criteria for a nomination.
On the album there are hardly five minutes of score and to be honest I can’t remember there being more in the movie. But yes, that was her big moment at the Oscars.
Doesn’t she now score the films of Paul Verhoeven, since Jerry and Basil died? I keep meaning to check out BLACK BOOK, which is highly regarded.
I will come to that. 🙂
Yeah, I remember that it was absurd that THE FULL MONTY won the Oscar for “Best Original Score”. Come on! (Though it was a fun movie.)
THE FULL MONTY is probably her least interesting work, and yet that’s the one she’s most known for. Weird how these things go sometimes.
I think some things are fine just for the messageboard. Informal, breezy, conversational. Without the criteria related to language, length, formatting etc. that an article piece would have. A casual, informal walkthrough of some composer recommendations is more messageboard food.
Don’t fully agree. Although the forum is indexed it would help the site more SEO wise as a proper re-formatted article. Especially since articles are not added that regulary. But of course it’s your site to decide such things. Just trying to help with ideas 😉
Now that you mention it, didn’t Thor publish a buy guide describing his favourite Danny Elfman albums in FSM? 😉
Yeah, that was basically what we call a «filmography», going through his entire work up to that point. If anyone wants to do a Dudley filmography or Buyer’s Guide or article, or any other thing, the door is always open! We could use more «content», as the kids say. But the bar is slightly higher than copy/pasting casual messageboard posts. 😉
Ah, ok. I wasn’t aware, that the buyers guide actually scanned Elfman’s entire work. That really sounds like a lot of work. I thought, you focussed on essentials.
I would actually like to read a good article about Anne Dudley. I mean, she has quite an interesting career as arranger and composer apart from film, not even talking about Art of Noise. Actually I know very little about her.
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