Dirk Star
Group: Members
Posts: 1331
Joined: Sep. 2007 |
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Posted: Aug. 15 2008, 05:10 |
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Quote (bee @ Aug. 14 2008, 21:58) | Comparisons are interesting because they always throw fresh light onto our existing ideas on things, but I do feel as This Mann said, it all comes down to personal choice, liking one more than another etc, and for so many varied resaons. For me it has to be Music of the Spheres. It is light years ahead of Mont St Michel, but that doesn't mean I don't like M st M, far from it...it is different that's all, and for me , now at this point in my life Music of the Spheres takes me on a very special journey each time I hear it. It is joyful, brimming with energy and optimism, and how I love that. Mont St Micel is more reflective and sedate, but so, so beautiful.
Interesting points have been raised, and reading through what you have all said has made me reconsider why I feel the way I do about certain aspects of Mike's music. Music of the Spheres works for me as a whole piece so well as does Mont St Michel, it's just shorter that's all. I think where Mike is very, very clever here is that in MOTS he has made each part a tiny masterpiece of a whole masterpiece so they stand up well on their own but are at the same time vital to the whole piece. He has said in interviews ( think I am right in remembering this ) that he often finds tiny parts in classical music very interesting and is not that bothered about the rest of it. I feel this too sometimes in other music. You don't have to like everything about a piece to appreciate it's beauty. I could never say that about Ommadawn or Tbular Bells though, they are simply perfect to my ears.
MotS works so well when you hear it all together, naturally progressing, but equally each fragment is perfection in itself. (Although, as I have changed a setting on my ipod and have forgotten how to change it back!, at the moment I am listening to it in a random order each time, but I have listened to it differently as a result of this, ) I think Mike's skill is in thinking of how to link one part to the next, it always gives me great pleasure to search for the threads that join it together.
With the filmscore idea, I just can't decide on that. I would say MOTS is too big for a film score, it would flood the film, and I would be immmersed in sound, not pictures, it's too abstract in a way I guess. And I'd always be drawn to that freedom of thought. Film scores have some memorable music but I think ( and this may be totally wrong to some ) the music has to be in the background of a film, and of a gentler hue, not so vibrant somehow. I'm not a real film buff though, so you can't go by me really, but I'd say bits of Light & Shade would be better suited to Films. Music of the Spheres deserves to be heard as itself.
(But, having said that, I will now contradict myself because it's wonderful to listen to as you look at beautiful landscapes and wide open spaces! |
Well I`ve compared MOTS to film music as well I must admit.I think I`ve even used the whole "soundtrack to a movie that does`nt exist" cliche as well.That said I do agree with what your saying there.MOTS flows start to finish somehow,like the whole piece is the "movie" itself I suppose.It has it`s own built in narration if you like.Mmmm kind of hard to explain for me but I can certainly see where your coming from.Or more appropriatly perhaps "hear" where your coming from anyway.
Imo I think it`s perfectly natural to want to compare MOTS with Mont St Michel.You know they`re Mike`s two longer orchestral pieces after all.I can remember playing Mont St Michel to a friend of mine not long after it was released.And just as that piece starts to get a little bit excited if you like.I can remember he turned to me and said.."Mmmm it`s all getting a bit BIG MOVIE now is`nt it"..I must admit I did kind of agree with him at the time.Plus I`m not so sure that piece really works tagged on at the end of Voyager the way it is.I can see why Mike put it there given the whole Celtic theme of the album etc.I just feel that with the rest of that album Mike somehow conjours up a whole empathic beautiful mood for the Celtic ethos and landscape somehow.Where as with Mont St Michel I suddenly feel like I`m watching a movie about it.Probably spent too many hours watching re-runs of Whiskey Galore on my part though as well.But yeah I just find it a little jarring in the context of that album I feel.Maybe I`m being a little unfair on it I suppose and I should try to listen to it as it`s own seperate entity a few more times.At this moment in time though MOTS is certainly my favourite of the two.
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