Wonderland Soundtrack CD

Hailed as one of the most prolific and solid composers of the 20th century, Michael Nyman certainly made a name for himself with the elegant film score to the Academy Award winning drama The Piano. With various compositions under his belt, Nyman added the original score to the Peter Berg-directed film Wonderland in mid-2000. ~ MacKenzie Wilson

Import only release. Nyman's score for Michael Winterbottom's film about the lives of three sisters in London is at once somber and hopeful; it conveys, in a word, wonder. Those who are familiar with his rejected score to Practical Magic will hear the most obvious similarity to his former work, as one of the secondary themes from Wonderland is quite similar to one from that film. Even with all of the Nyman-isms, though -- the snap rhythms, the almost Baroque structuring, and the Michael Nyman Band -- there's enough here that's new to keep one interested. Some of the solo piano work on this album actually sounds almost jazzy, and the main theme is quite memorable, if not so much hum-able. EMI.

Original score composed by Michael Nyman.

Recorded at Whitfield Street Studios, London, England on March 15-17, 1999.

Michael Nyman Band: Michael Nyman (piano); Jackie Shave, Beverley Davison, Jonathan Rees, Katherine Shave, Sophie Landon, Fran Andrade, Miranda Fullylove, Jonathan Evans-Jones (violin); William Hawkes, Andrew Parker, Kate Musker (viola); Anthony Hinnigan, Sophie Harris (cello); Paul Morgan (double bass); Andrew Findon (flute, tenor & baritone saxophones); Simon Haram (soprano & alsto saxophones); David Roach (soprano saxophone); Steve Sidewell (trumpet); David Lee (french horn); Nigel Barr (trombone); Martin Elliot (electric bass).

Personnel: Michael Nyman (piano); Katherine Shave, Beverley Davison, Johnathan Rees, Jackie Shave (violin); William Hawkes, Kate Musker, Andrew Parker (viola); Sophie Harris, Tony Hinnigan (cello); Andrew Findon (flute, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Steve Sidwell (trumpet); Dave Lee (French horn); Nigel Barr (trombone); Paul Morgan (double bass); Martin Elliott (bass guitar).

Recording information: Whitfield Street Studios, London, England (03/15/1999-03/17/1999).

Illustrator: Dave McKean.

Photographers: Marcus Robinson; Douglas Brothers; Dave McKean.