The Chronicles of Narnia: The Television Scores of Geoffrey Burgon

• Artist: The Philharmonia Orchestra Conducted by Geoffrey Burgon
• Rating:
• Release Date: November 08, 2005
• Total Time: 58:33
• Type: Soundtrack
• Genre: Soundtrack

Review

Since this album was released one month in advance of the opening of the 2005 motion picture adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, it is important to note that it does not contain the soundtrack of that film. Nor, actually, does it contain the soundtrack for the 1988 BBC television miniseries version of The Chronicles of Narnia. What it does contain is a seven-part, 13-and-a-half-minute suite of composer Geoffrey Burgon's score for that series, performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and conducted by Burgon in a recording made in January 1992. Also included on the album are similarly produced suites from other British TV miniseries scored by Burgon: Testament of Youth (1979); Bleak House (1985); Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979); and Brideshead Revisited (1981). Thus, the album's title, if not actually deceptive, is at least unfortunate. The subtitle, which can be viewed only on the spine of the CD jewel case, "The Television Scores of Geoffrey Burgon," would have been a better main title, and even better would have been the relatively small-print legend that does appear toward the bottom of the cover, "The Television Music of Geoffrey Burgon." That major disclaimer aside, Burgon proves to be a capable composer on these suites, using the orchestra to create lively, melodic themes that, as must have been necessary to the classy dramas it accompanied, alternates thrilling and soothing moods, but without going to any extremes. The recordings on this album were released previously in 1993 as Silva Screen Records, catalog number 105, under the title Brideshead Revisited: The Television Scores of Geoffrey Burgon, in a different sequence (i.e., with the Brideshead Revisited tracks at the beginning). ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: Aslan's Theme	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:30)
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: The Great Battle	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:45)
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: Mr. Tumnus' Tune	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:11)
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: The Storm at Sea	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:33)
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: Aslan Sacrificed	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:32)
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: The Journey to Harfang	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:22)
Chronicles of Narnia~Suite: Farewell to Narnia	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:47)
Testament of Youth~Suite: Testament of Youth	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:31)
Testament of Youth~Suite: Intimations of War	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(3:30)
Testament of Youth~Suite: Elegy	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:25)
Testament of Youth~Suite: Finale	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:14)
Bleak House~Suite: Bleak House	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:40)
Bleak House~Suite: The Streets of London	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(3:57)
Bleak House~Suite: Dedlock Vs Boythorn	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:17)
Bleak House~Suite: Lady Dedlock's Quest	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:53)
Bleak House~Suite: Finale	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:35)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy~Opening Music	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(1:34)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy~Nunc Dimittis (Closing Music)	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:17)
Brideshead Revisited, television film score~Variation: Brideshead Revis	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:03)
Brideshead Revisited, television film score~Variation: Julia	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(3:44)
Brideshead Revisited, television film score~Variation: Julia's Theme	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(4:03)
Brideshead Revisited, television film score~Variation: The Hunt	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:21)
Brideshead Revisited, television film score~Variation: Fading Light	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(3:53)
Brideshead Revisited, television film score~Variation: Farewell to Brid	Geoffrey Burgon	Geoffrey Burgon	(2:56)

Credits

Mike Ross-Trevor (Editing), The Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Reynold da Silva (Executive Producer), Geoffrey Burgon (Conductor), Hugh Bean (Leader), Geoffrey Burgon (Producer), James Fitzpatrick (Producer), Damien Doherty (Cover Design), Richard Balcombe (Associate Producer), Mike Ross-Trevor (Digital Engineer), Lesley Garrett (Soprano (Vocal))