Search - Philip Glass, Michael Riesman :: Philip Glass : Music from the Thin Blue Line

Philip Glass : Music from the Thin Blue Line
Philip Glass, Michael Riesman
Philip Glass : Music from the Thin Blue Line
Genre: Soundtracks
 
  •  Track Listings (19) - Disc #1

In 1988 Philip Glass scored Errol Morris' extraordinary documentary film entitled "The Thin Blue Line". This film helped exonerate a man named Randall Adams who was serving a life sentence for the murder of a police office...  more »

     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Philip Glass, Michael Riesman
Title: Philip Glass : Music from the Thin Blue Line
Members Wishing: 5
Total Copies: 0
Label: Orange Mountain
Original Release Date: 4/4/2003
Release Date: 4/4/2003
Album Type: Import, Soundtrack
Genre: Soundtracks
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 801837000726, 080183700072

Synopsis

Album Description
In 1988 Philip Glass scored Errol Morris' extraordinary documentary film entitled "The Thin Blue Line". This film helped exonerate a man named Randall Adams who was serving a life sentence for the murder of a police officer that he didn't commit. It was also responsible for exposing the actual murderer. Mr. Morris' repetitive, obsessive storytelling style is perfectly supported by Philip Glass' hypnotic score and the overall effect is so engaging and irresistible, that it is impossible not to be drawn into this true-life drama. That same year Nonesuch Records released a CD of the film's soundtrack that interestingly included the narration and interviews from the film and it tells the entire story. In continuing with Orange Mountain Music's mission to expose prime material from the Philip Glass archive of recordings, we have decided to release the original score without the voice-over so it can be experienced thoroughly. We have also included the extra material that was written and recorded for the film but was never used. The Munkasci/Riesman team produced the original recordings and the ensemble includes strings, flutes, trumpets, French horns and percussion. The music is dark and moody, full of tension appropriately for such a chilling film. You can expect to be captivated by this masterful score.
 

CD Reviews

Off the Beaten Path!!
Kevin Currie-Knight | Newark, Delaware | 01/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"As with most of Philip Glass's soundtrack's the music to The Thin Blue Line is amazing (in a suprisingly subtle way). So why in the world was this soundtrack released in 1989 with DIALOGUE ON TOP OF IT?! What's more, to the dismay of all of us diehards', the dialogue was quite out front, with the music off in the background. What were they thinking? Well, I can't complain anymore - and I'll gladly stop. This soundtrack - without any dialogue, thank you - is available for our enjoyment and it has been making regular rounds on my CD player ever since. For those whove not heard the soundtrack before, but have some familiarity with Glass, this music probably sounds most (loosely) akin to "Dancepieces". The instrumentation is sparse, the pieces are inventive while maintaining an openness and accessibility, and the chord changes have a tendency to give you chills (well, they do to me anyway). There are plenty of highlights: really the first five tracks are all brilliant (the third being rearranged as Glass's solo piano piece 'metamorphisis 1'). I also really liked tracks 9, 10 and 11 (which are all extremely short peices exploiting the same chordal theme). Also, track 19 (a longer peice for strings that I don't think made it into the film or the other soundtrack) has a calm but mighty sound that I've only heard Glass be able to pull off. There are, to be sure, a few...well...bizarre tracks that almost sound more like a Michael Nyman experiment than something Glass would do. Two tracks use jazz brushes on a snare, playing a soft swing underneath strings that are playing in straight syncopation. A mismatch, in my opinion. Another two tracks (one of them track 20 - the 'hidden' track) use a surf-sounding guitar and a peppy - almost poppy - feel akin to Michael Nyman. Besides that, track 20 uses more studio effects than I've ever heard Philip Glass use. Very bizarre indeed (but you may well like it, and at any rate, it is very different)!!Long and short, this album is a gem, even if some of the tracks are a bit eclectic. Glass is to be commended for creating a soundtrack that is a.) this compelling, b.) this diverse from track to track, and c.) simply put, this beautiful!"
Very Haunting Film and Score
Hugh Hancock | Bakersfield, CA United States | 11/25/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Several years ago I watched the film The Thin Blue Line. The film is stylistically terrific, haunting, and twisted. I loved it AND the music. I wanted the soundtrack, but it included the dialogue from the film (I nevertheless bought the soundtrack). Now Orange Mountain Music has released the soundtrack without the dialogue. Once again, Glass has created a masterful score. The music is appropriate as a filmscore, or it can stand on its own. The music is haunting, wonderful, beautiful. I can't praise this album enough. Buy this one!"