Tall Ships: Privateer Lynx Composed by David James Nielsen
Moviescore Media (2011)
Rating:
5/10
“Whilst the music
never achieves the thematic individuality of what one would expect
from a major Hollywood film, NIELSEN has certainly crafted an
evocative backdrop to the documentary.”
Sails or Floats?
Review by Richard Buxton
Expeditions in the infinite blue of the oceans have provided audiences
with many a good listening experience down the years. From the likes of
TITANIC to THE PERFECT STORM, to the swashbuckling adventures of THE
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, the high seas have regularly exhibited memorable
musical moments. With the occasional use of artistic license, cinema has
been crafted in a mould that permits composers to produce scores of
outstanding thematic content to accompany these sailing adventures, yet a
documentary exists purely to convey real life. Are the bold themes of the
sea-faring blockbusters attainable, or better yet appropriate for a
production such as TALL SHIPS: PRIVATEER LYNX?
DAVID JAMES NIELSEN’S music for TALL SHIPS answers that question with a
somewhat indecisive answer. Whilst the music never achieves the thematic
individuality of what one would expect from a major Hollywood film,
NIELSEN has certainly crafted an evocative backdrop to the documentary.
The overarching atmosphere of NIELSEN’S music is one of reserved boldness,
an attribute expertly conveyed in the main theme. First heard in “Tall
Ships: Privateer Lynx (Theme” (1), the brass-led main theme is one of
heroism but also of restrained dignity. On first listen this may be hard
to interpret as the synthetic nature of the score is perhaps the first
noticeable element to the score, but on repeat listens the theme soon
shines through. The theme is of a relatively simplistic construction
melodically and harmonically, and can be heard on numerous occasions, and
in various variations throughout the 38 minutes of music present on the
soundtrack. The theme can easily become associated with the ocean, even
when listened to outside the context of the documentary. The reverb
splashed across the majority of the tracks provides a strong flavor,
reminiscent of the all-powerful seas. Announcing itself in the opening
track, the main theme makes a swift reappearance in the background of
“Sailors at Work” (3), supporting the various chopping string and guitar
motifs. It again resurfaces, mildly altered, in “She’s A Fast Ship” (5),
in the form of a delicate brass melody. The two greatest variations on the
main theme come in two consecutive tracks. A militaristic and reflective
variation can be heard in “200 Years Apart” (10), starkly contrasting the
soft guitar rendition that dominates “First Mate Killick’s Message” (11).
The stirring guitar plucks debuted earlier in “Our Precious Mother Earth”
(2), glossing the score with a more reflective and relaxed texture. The
score rounds out with “Sailing In A New Era” (16), a summary of the
score’s main themes.
Somewhat diverting from the overuse of the main theme, “The Forces of
Nature” (14) generates ample excitement, using a potent rhythm and strong
string ostinato that support the percussive string melodies. The switch in
emphasis is a welcome one, providing a sufficiently different landscape to
that of the rest of the score.
The greatest drawback of NIELSEN’S music for TALL SHIPS is the immediate
recognition upon hearing the music that it is clearly of a synthetic
disposition. The endless pursuit of the perfect orchestral simulation
continues, and this is a constant blight on the score. This is never more
obvious than in the more hectic moments in the score. The chopping strings
are a constant reminder, while the robotic consistency of the guitar and
brass genuinely begins to grate as the final tracks approach. NIELSEN’S
tendency to use swift ascending and descending patterns often fall victim
to the artificial finish of the score, the proximity, interval and
duration of each note regularly stating the synthetic approach used.
Despite such a major drawback for a score, NIELSEN has produced some
genuinely invigorating moments for TALL SHIPS, moments that induce
appropriately stirring oceanic images. The reliance on the main theme is
occasionally glaring however, as the remaining tracks offer little to
divert a listener’s attention, and this makes TALL SHIPS: PRIVATEER LYNX
hard to recommend to those unfamiliar with NIELSEN or the documentary
itself.
