Michel Legrand: Film Songs and More!

The material may be familiar, but the perspective is that of a great composer and arranger looking back on his body of work and mining new interpretations, with all the resources of a symphony orchestra at his command. The iconic "The Windmills of Your Mind" gets a wry and witty take, with wind instruments swapping notes of the melody. Even the tuba takes a turn; yet the poignancy and drama which typify Legrand aren't lost. The winds also get a thorough workout in the big band-style "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," which makes use of the parallel dissonances from his superb jazz combo arrangement found on the album "Michel Plays Legrand", but with the added flourish of Baroque turns. "I Will Wait for You" is the ultimate, orgiastically lush realization of one of Legrand's earliest and best works, with a heart-stoppingly suspenseful climax. An especially welcome inclusion is the suite of songs from "Yentl"; we haven't heard a lot of this music outside the original soundtrack, and the augmentation of the harp's existing role into that of principal soloist proves an inspired choice. It doesn't quite pack the emotional punch of Streisand wailing from the deck of the ship at the end of the movie, but what could?

Um. That's not "Brian's Song" the way I remember it.

gorgeous...especially wuthering heights...wonderful, lush. Legrand at his best...been fan for lots of years...think this combination is great

For those of us who actually appreciate the art of the film score, and the composers who create them, this is a really fine collection of some of Legrand's best known work. From the lovely "I Will Wait for You" to the haunting "Summer of '42" and "Wuthering Heights" to the swashbuckling "The Three Musketeers," they are all here. The arrangements are as you remember them, and the performances are well done. Do yourself a favor and check it out!