Search - Karaindrou, Cmat, Hellenic Vocal Ensemble :: Weeping Meadow

Karaindrou has done it again

PhantomOfTheOpera | Norway | 10/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I watched Angelopoulos' film about 6 months ago and I have to say that his film is the one that have made the greatest impression with me ever; but even so, the film wouldn't have had the same impact if it weren't for the music composed by Eleni Karaindrou. I bought this soundtrack a few months ago and when playing it at home it gave me the exact same feelings that I had when watching the movie. The music is achingly beautiful; melancholic as well as dramatic. It's as if this music is coming from a different era; yet it's not old-fashioned. It has the sound of East European traditional music; still it's easily recognisable as Greek music even if there's not a bouzouki in sight. Eleni Karaindrou has her own distinct "sound". It's the music of a genius; the film of Angelopoulos demands no less and she really lives up to the task. If you've seen the film then this soundtrack is a must; if you haven't I still think you will enjoy the music as it is absolutely beautiful. I just love this music, but as with all the ingenious music, it requiers your full attention at all times; otherwise it's a waste of the composers' ingeniousness. It's really difficult describing this music, so my best advice is to buy this and listen and judge for yourselves. I can't imagine that you will be disappointed."

Brilliance

S. E. Vogiatzis | Athens, Greece | 08/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Karaindrou is not at all a lucky composer. She has an extremely demanding task: to compose for Angelopoulos's films. She has to reach an equally aesthetic point. In order to perceive the amount of effort, it is quite necessary to understand that behind Angelopoulos films is the touchy subject of modern Greek history. The after WWII Greek society in continuous political and economical turmoil. In order to convey his message, Angelopoulos uses something more than conventional cinema, something more than the image: He uses poetry in its photographic version. It takes more than mere moving pictures. It takes a kind of slow motion close to the stillness of photography to make a poetical narration of history



Karaindrou has to make it with sound, an inherently weaker means of expression compared to the visual one. And finally she performs. You can see Angelopoulos through her music. You can feel the images. Or forget everything about the motion picture that gave birth to this gem and enjoy the musical experience as you can do with Mahler without ever watching "Death in Venice""

Complete Soundtrack is Anything But

Diane Richwine | Richmond, CA | 05/28/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"After watching The Weeping Meadow I immediately ordered the "complete soundtrack" CD because the music is hauntingly beautiful. I play the accordion and wanted to learn the stunning accordion audition, as well as the other pieces of music played 1) in the tavern, 2) the dancehall, 3) the musicians railcar, and 4) the funeral raft. The CD contains only a number of versions of the main theme - as beautiful as that theme is - but none of the above music. And the accordion audition piece is played poorly, seemingly by a different musician. I couldn't have been more disappointed."