Reviewed by Tony Cummings

My one major disappointment last Christmas was that no cinema in the Stoke-on-Trent area showed The Nativity Story movie over the holiday period. So my intended trip to my local Odeon didn't take place. I still haven't seen the film and must now wait for the DVD. In some ways though, a failure to see a film is no bad thing when reviewing a movie soundtrack album. Many, far too many, soundtrack albums make little or no musical sense when removed from the connecting thread of the visual images for which they were composed or compiled. But I'm delighted to report that there is no sign of such aesthetic disconnection on 'The Nativity Story'. In fact, experienced Canadian film composer Mychael Danna has put together a work that for me stands comparison with the very best of the classical 'sacred' composers (Part, Penderecki, etc). The music is a stunning fusion of European classical and ethnic elements and is so beautifully played and arranged that the listener is presented with a rich and vibrant soundscape. Fascinating and unexpected sounds waft in and out. The gentle tones of Persian and Turkish ney flutes waft eerily, but soon the mood changes where strident Roman horns and drums (performed by early music specialists Synaulia) powerfully depict the ghastly deeds of King Herod. Then we're into beautiful passages where the L A Zimriyah Chorale chant the prophecy of Isaiah in Hebrew before pre-Baroque instruments such as the viola da gamba, vielle, harp and recorders explore more textures and tones. Interspersed with Danna's haunting mood pieces are masterpieces of European sacred music like the opener, the French carol "Veni Veni Emanuel" (sung in eighth century Latin), Aurelius Clements Prudentius' "Corde Natus Ex Parentis", the famous "Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen" ("Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming") and the much loved Coventry Carol. The integration of classical and ethnic, ancient and new music is astonishingly satisfying and the whole epic work deserves the widest airing outside of the movie itself. Mychael Danna has, to my mind, created a masterpiece.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.