Track Listing

1. Opening Title: O! For a Muse of Fire
2. Henry V Theme: The Boar's Head
3. Three Traitors
4. Now, Lords, for France!
5. Death of Falstaff
6. Once More Unto the Breach
7. Threat to the Governor of Harfleur/Katherine of France/The March ...
8. Death of Bardolph
9. Upon the King
10. St. Crispin's Day/The Battle of Agincourt
11. Day Is Yours
12. Non Nobis Domine
13. Wooing of Catherine
14. Let This Acceptance Take
15. End Title

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15409 in Music
• Released on: 1990-05-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Original language: English, French
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Composer Patrick Doyle's first film score accompanied Kenneth Branagh's first movie as director. For both, Henry V (1989) is a triumph. Branagh's vision of the play is a far darker, more realistic depiction than the morale-boosting patriotism of Laurence Olivier's 1945 classic. Doyle's score had to follow in the footsteps of William Walton, but undaunted, the first-timer rose to the challenge magnificently. Briefed by the director to follow "Shakespeare's golden words" and be "as bold as possible," Doyle produced music of epic scope, lyrical passion, and descriptive imagination. The score has a real flavor of opera--a trait that would become familiar in all of this composer's later work--as Doyle underscores the great speeches (notably the St Crispin's Day speech) with a tangible sense of drama, but one that is always sensitive to the nuances of the words. Set-pieces such as the death of Falstaff and the visceral Battle of Agincourt stand out, but the entire score feels operatically through-composed, unified by Doyle's strong instinct for melody. The melodramatic climax of his "Non nobis, Domine" (that's the composer singing at the beginning) unashamedly rivals "Land of Hope and Glory" for--as Branagh puts it--"hummability." Quite how they coaxed Sir Simon Rattle and the CBSO into the studio remains a mystery, but the result is one of the best performed, most orchestrally luxurious soundtracks ever recorded. Patrick Doyle's later scores may be more refined (try Hamlet, for example), but none quite match the sheer exuberance of this debut. --Mark Walker, Amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews

The Best of the Doyle/Branagh Collaborations!
Kenneth Branagh and Patrick Doyle have collaborated on together on several films, but they have yet to outdo Henry V their first collaboration. The movie itself is exceptional, and Patrick Doyle's score is fantastic. He captures the dark essence of the movie along with the medieval feel to the film perfectly in his music. From the opening bars of the first track to the swelling chorus of the final track Doyle writes great music. There are 2 tracks which belong in the masterpiece themes of music however. One is track 10: St. Crispins Day/ Battle of Agincourt. As Henry (Branagh) gives his St. Crispins Day speech, the music begins very low, slowly building with the strength of Branagh's voice until it reaches a climax at the same time as the speech. It is a great moment in cimatic/music history. The second notable track is number 12: Non Nobis Domine, an old Latin hymn adapted for the music. This track captures perfectly the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt, as King Henry mourns for the baggage boys slaughtered by the French, and marvels at the great victory he won over the French. This cd has everything a music lover could want: romantic themes, battle music and just exceptional music. A great cd, one you will want to play over and over again.

A PERFECT COMBINATION
It is quite dificult to find a score that matches so perfectly with the images on the film. But Doyle has done it. Since the first notes, that great, dark opening, the story is told not only by the words of Shakespeare or the images. Music is also a narrator.

Tracks like Death of Bardolph, or the great Battle of Agincourt, express all the emotion, power and passion the play has.

I consider this score as a real piece of classical music. And the direction by Simon Rattle is also perfect. The strings and choirs going together in a perfect blend.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

some of the most beautiful music I have ever encountered
This score is, as my title would suggest, some of the most absolutely beautiful music I have ever encountered. I can't think of many scores I've heard that have songs that can stir the soul the way 'St. Crispin's Day' or 'Non nobis, Domine' can. I really really love this score. If I haven't already made it clear, I also highly recommend it.