Paul McCartney –
Ocean’s Kingdom
2011, 2011 MPL Communications/HEAR Music
2011, 2011 MPL Communications/HEAR Music
If you are Sir Paul McCartney, you can do pretty much
anything you want musically. He’s
certainly earned the right over the years, from his early work with The Beatles
through a long and storied solo career (on his own and with Wings). In recent years McCartney has turned his
impressive ear to classical music with increasing success. On September 22, 2011, McCartney’s Ocean’s Kingdom, opened with the New
York City Ballet. Written without the
strictures of formal ballet style, McCartney nevertheless managed to create a
viable work writing from the heart.
McCartney created an undersea world, telling a love story against the
backdrop of a world threatened by human expansion and carelessness. Ocean’s
Kingdom is set for wide release on October 4, 2011.
Comprised of four movements, Ocean’s Kingdom shows an emotional and narrative breadth that is
surprising. Movement I: “Ocean’s Kingdom”,
starts is muted, peaceful tunes, setting the scene of an undersea world of
beauty. McCartney uses a long, slow
build in both intensity and complexity to set the stage for the struggle for
life that lies at the heart of the story.
The movement rises to majestic heights before residing a bit and moving
into Movement II: “Hall Of Dance”; the latter alternates between lilting, jaunty
mini-movements and lyric forms full of distinctive beauty. McCartney creates some “Wow” moments here,
and seems to understand the heart of the dance better than you might
expect. The movement closes in dark,
distressful tones, implying a tirade or a tragedy.
Movement III: “Imprisonment” begins, surprisingly, in
contemplative, peaceful tones. Judgment
and hardship build through the use of horns into an emotional and pervasive
darkness. All the while, woodwinds try
to spread the light that holds back the storm.
This juxtaposition becomes a wonderful, if understated dance; a
call-and-response style between the darkness and the light that is
intriguing. McCartney builds through the
movement to grand themes reminiscent of some of John Williams’ finest films
core works. Movement IV: “Moonrise” is
vibrant and active; almost violent at times.
The movement begins with a grand struggle, musically, but resolves in
theatrical style, with the herald of trumpets.
The celebration grows to full orchestra, bringing out various voices in
the process.
Paul McCartney really can do anything, Sir or not. If anyone questioned the validity of
McCartney’s BRIT Award for Classical Album for 2006’s Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart)”, the jury is in. It was not a fluke. Ocean’s
Kingdom is quite literally, worthy of a world premiere with the New York
City Ballet. Whether or not you buy into
the environmentalist apocalyptica that seems to be prevalent in pop culture
these days, it is an impressive work that is artfully crafted. A succinct and well told story invested with
deep emotion, and a melodic enterprise that perhaps only McCartney himself
could craft. This is the real deal.
Rating: 4 Stars (Out
of 5)
Learn more about Paul McCartney at www.paulmccartney.com. Ocean’s
Kingdom drops on October 4, 2011.
The album is available for pre-order from Amazon.com as a CD,
on Vinyl
or as a Download. The New York City Ballet will perform Ocean's Kindgom again on September 29, 2011, and again for five dates in January of 2012. Ticket information is available here.
1 comment:
He never ceases to amaze me. Unbelievable! I'm hoping there's a rock-pop album sometime in the near future. He and Dylan have really been having great runs lately. Thanks for the review of that one. I know most people will overlook it, but Macca's just a jaw-dropping talent...
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