This is a review of the BBC 1995 adaptation. For a review of the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie click here.
Carl Davis was a veteran composer for BBC dramas when he wrote the soundtrack for Pride and Prejudice, having worked on scores for the corporation since the mid-1970s. He was a great fan of the book, having said in an interview that he battered down the door for the chance to compose the soundtrack, especially when he heard producer Sue Birtwistle was making the series. An anglophile born in New York, Davis came to England in 1960 to pursue his love of English literature, theater and cinema. He ‘…thought Elizabeth Bennet must be one of the greatest heroines of English literature, and the book is wonderfully easy to read, with its strong themes and bright wit.’ He was, in other words, the perfect choice to compose the score for the BBC Pride and Prejudice 1995 series.
Colin Firth looking wistful during 'Thinking about Lizzy'.
Davis also chose the source music along with Sue Birtwistle, picking, for example, a Handel piece that was just outside of Mary’s vocal range for her cringeworthy performance at Netherfield. The soundtrack, however, only contains Davis’ original pieces – not that I am longing to have Mary’s performance on CD!
To capture a ’small town in 1810′ feel, Davis chose against using a full symphony orchestra. For the larger scenes, no more than 18 musicians were used, and the soundtrack features the fortepiano. This is an instrument from the Regency era which was, as Davis explains in the sleeve notes, a forerunner of the modern piano. ‘The ’slight, hunting refrain’ that flows through the entire score reflects the theme of the hunt for husbands, and also gives continuity to the soundtrack as an album, making it delightful dining, driving or even husband-hunting music.
Mr Darcy and Elizabeth professing love to 'Darcy's Second Proposal'.
The opening song of the album is unsurprisingly the opening title music for the series, and of course the most familiar song to fans of the TV show. In a nice homage, this is the tune used for the ring-tone on Amanda Price’s cell phone in Lost in Austen. It’s a tune that instantly brings back fond memories for those of us who fell in love with the series back in 1995, and stands on its own as an excessively diverting, bright and lively piece. Once you’ve become tired with hitting the rewind button and had your fix with this opening gem, it’s time to move on and explore the rest of the soundtrack.
Most of the tracks should be instantly recognizable to the more ardent fans of the series, and it’s suprising how evocative it is to relive the scenes through the music that accompanied them. A few tracks may have you scratching your head, but the CD comes with explanations of where each song is used, and in any case it’s a welcome excuse to dust off the DVD and find them all again…
Overall, this is a great album for lovers of the 1995 series, looking for a calming, yet bubbly soundtrack for their commute, workout session or candlelit bath. This album will surely be trespassing on the hospitality of my iPod for some time to come.
Your aurally intoxicated friend,
Lizzy
