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Avg: 4.5 (17 ratings)
- Date Released: September 30, 2002
- Genre: Soundtracks/Other
- Style: Film Soundtracks
- Label: Silva Screen Records / KOCH Dist.
The eerie soundtrack to a cult horror classic
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We Say...
According to legend (and a book about the Gallic Wars, written by Julius Ceasar), ancient Druids once routinely erected giant wicker figures, strapped in human sacrifices, and burned them down in effigy, as a homicidal homage to Pagan gods. Neo-pagans have since ditched the murderous bits, but still build big wicker men and set them on fire — see the annual Burning Man festival.
In 1973, British director Robin Hardy released the cult horror classic The Wicker Man, which follows a devout Christian detective to the remote Hebridian island of Summerisle to investigate an anonymous missing-girl report. Alas, there is no missing girl, and the detective is eventually tucked in the belly of a wicker man and sacrificed by the neo-Pagans now occupying the island, who believe he will save their harvest. (Neil La Bute directed a considerably less successful American version in 2006.)
The soundtrack to Hardy's film was unavailable until 1998, when Trunk Records dubbed a mono version from an abridged cut (like the original negatives, the master tapes had been mysteriously misplaced), complete with dialogue and audio clips from the movie. Composed and arranged by Paul Giovanni and Magnet (a band birthed solely to perform Giovanni's work for the film), the original soundtrack consists of traditional British folksongs, nursery rhymes and original pieces, culminating with the creepy Middle English round "Sumer Is Icumen In," warbled by the cast as the detective, screaming Psalm 23, is burned inside the Wicker Man.
In 2002, Silva Screen Records released a stereo version, drafted from the (now found) original tapes, including the previously unreleased "Gentle Johnny." Giovanni's strange, vaguely sinister treatments of folksongs influenced an entire generation of British folksingers (and, subsequently, a new class of freak-folk strummers), and have been revived by former Pentangle players Danny Thompson and Jacqui McShee. Magnet's unsettling blend of recorder, mouth harp, acoustic guitar, violin, concertina, harmonica, bassoon, piano, fife and Nordic lyre, coupled with Giovanni's deep, billowing vocals, is ancient and unsettling without feeling unreal — making it the perfect accompaniment to an archaic tradition, revived to horrific ends. -
They Say...
The Trunk Records version of the Wicker Man soundtrack is significantly different from the Silva (U.S.) reissue. The former contains songs, incidental sounds, and short snippets of dialogue taken directly from the original version of the film; that is, what you hear during the film is exactly what you hear on the soundtrack. The effect is similar to a sound collage or field recording. The Silva version, while shorter in length, keeps the songs separate from the incidental sounds, effects, and dialogue, producing a more cohesive (if conventional) listening experience. It also includes the song "Gently Johnny," which appeared in a longer, later cut of the film and was therefore omitted from the original Trunk soundtrack. The other big difference is that the Trunk version is in mono and the Silva version in stereo. Also, despite the addition of "Gently Johnny," the Trunk version is still longer, as it contains much more incidental material. So, which one to buy? Fans of traditional British folk music are advised to pick up the Silva release; soundtrack aficionados and seekers of curious sounds should go with the original on Trunk. Completists, of course, will need both, as each contains exclusive material. In any case, The Wicker Man is a stunning soundtrack. Paul Giovanni, together with Magnet, uses flutes, lyres, harmonicas, and guitars in a mixture of original and traditional material to create a mysterious and sinister world that comes to life apart from the film.
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| 01. |  |
Corn Rigs |
2:37 |
|
| 02. | |
Landlord's Daughter |
2:39 |
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| 03. | |
Gently Johnny |
3:33 |
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| 04. | |
Maypole |
2:46 |
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| 05. | |
Fire Leap |
1:28 |
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| 06. | |
Tinker of Rye |
1:52 |
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| 07. | |
Willow's Song |
4:42 |
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| 08. | |
Procession |
2:16 |
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| 09. | |
Chop Chop |
1:44 |
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| 10. | |
Lullaby |
0:58 |
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| 11. | |
Festival/Mirie It Is/Sumer Is A-Cumen In |
4:29 |
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| 12. | |
Opening Music/Loving Couples/The Ruined Church |
4:16 |
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| 13. | |
Masks/The Hobby Horse |
1:25 |
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| 14. | |
Searching for Rowan |
2:22 |
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| 15. | |
Appointment With the Wicker Man |
1:18 |
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| 16. | |
Sunset |
1:07 |
|
16 Total Tracks, 39:32 Total Length
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Credits
- Christopher Lee - Vocals // Christopher Lee - Liner Notes // Ian Cutler - Violin // John Timperley - Engineer // Gareth Williams - Mastering // Michael Frye - Tambourine // Michael Frye - Tom-Tom // Reynold da Silva - Executive Producer // David Stoner - Release Coordinator // Andrew Tompkins - Guitar (Acoustic) // Michael Cole - Harmonica // Michael Cole - Bassoon // Michael Cole - Concertina // Gary Carpenter - Piano // Gary Carpenter - Conductor // Gary Carpenter - Fife // Gary Carpenter - Lyre // Gary Carpenter - Ocarina // Gary Carpenter - Recorder // Gary Carpenter - Recorder (Tenor) // Gary Carpenter - Liner Notes // Gary Carpenter - Associate Director // James Fitzpatrick - Release Coordinator // Sean Mowle - Art Direction // Sean Mowle - Design // Lesley Mackie - Vocals // Wicker Man Chorus - ? // Wicker Man Ensemble - ? // Rachel Verney - Vocals // Rachel Verney - Vocals (Background) // Peter Shaffer - Lyric Adaptations // Diane Cilento - Vocals // Sally Presant - Vocals // Sally Presant - Vocals (Background) // Paul Giovanni - Guitar (Acoustic) // Paul Giovanni - Vocals // Walter Kerr - Vocals // Bernard Murray - Hand Drums // Rick Clark - Compilation Mastering
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