Hamlet
Patrick Doyle

Review

Patrick Doyle has been Kenneth Branagh's composer of choice for all his Shakespearian productions, though his finest work would have to be the music he wrote for a radio serial of this very same play. And it wasthe music for the radio version of Hamlet that I was expected when I first heard this score on the radio.

This is exceptionally different to other versions of Hamlet as the music is less dark and more sorrowful. The pieces are short and varied enough that they work well with events. Overall a good score, but maybe a little bland.

Track Listing and Notes

  1. In Pace (3:09) - would have to be very well thought out to use
  2. Fanfare (0:49) - useful in all sorts of circumstances
  3. "All that lives must die" (2:42) - opening (happy tinged with sadness)
  4. "To thine own self be true" (3:05) - leave taking
  5. The Ghost (9:55) - attack ~ lull ~ lament ~ builds up
  6. "Give me up the truth" (1:06) - demands
  7. "What a piece of work is a man" (1:50) - uplifting
  8. "What players are they" (1:34) - happy times
  9. "Out out thou strumpet fortune" (3:11) - weighing on the mind
  10. "To be or not to be" (1:54) - eerie
  11. "I loved you once" (3:29) - sadness
  12. "Oh, what a noble mind" (2:43) - sorrowful
  13. "If once a widow" (3:37) - harp music (lament?)
  14. "Now could I drink hot blood" (6:59) - danger
  15. "A foolish prating nave" (1:06) - attack
  16. "Oh heavy deed" (0:56) - doom
  17. "Oh here they come" (4:40) - and death approaches
  18. "My thoughts be bloody" (2:53) - pride
  19. "The doors are broke" (1:20) - race
  20. "And will 'a not come again?" (1:59) - sad
  21. "Alas poor Yorick" (2:50) - loss
  22. "Sweets to the sweets - farewell" (4:40) - longing
  23. "Give me your pardon sir" (1:25) - an ending
  24. "Part them they are incensed" (1:48) - terror
  25. "Goodnight, sweet prince" (3:40) - sadness
  26. "Go bid the soldiers shoot" (2:53) - military march ~ ending

Total Running Time: 76:25

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© 1997 - 2002 David Schibeci

Hamlet © 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.