This extraordinary 6-part series by the BBC, now airing in the USA on PBS Masterpiece, is for me the most brilliant bit of television in a long, long time. Based on a couple of Booker-prize winning novels by Hilary Mantel (which are also just excellent, at least so far - just started reading because of the show). This is historical fiction with rare depth and subtlety, and the best dialogue in years. [Sadly, I've come to this late, and am reporting it late - the next-to-last episode aired last night. But on watching episode three just cause it was sitting on my cable box, I rushed to Amazon to buy the set, and I NEVER do that.]
It's about Henry VIII's establishment of the Church of England through divorce, and the marriage and eventual death of Anne Boleyn, and Thomas More, and on and on. But the key to this version of the oft-told story is that it's from the point of view of Thomas Cromwell, the court's master manipulator, usually shown as the villain of the piece (memorably so by Leo McKern in A Man from All Seasons). Revered stage actor Mark Rylance is giving the performance of the decade if you ask me - showing a simplicity and economy of style that belies his extravagant reputation.
Trailer:
Warning: if you were fond of The Tudors, or the Virgin Queen from 10 years ago (or Game of Thrones), be warned this is the polar opposite. No dangling naughty bits, no flash-cut violence - even bloodstains on the floor are comparatively restrained, if full of meaning (you'll see what I mean when you watch it). The pace is quite deliberate and the pervading tone is melancholic, and Debbie Wiseman's score is extraordinarily effective throughout. Just what you would expect, a mix of renaissance and modern instruments with a sensibility to match, but so well-wrought and well-spotted that the music has an importance so rare in this time.
A couple of samples:
Entirely Beloved (Cromwell's Theme)
And my favorite bit comes 2/3 of the way into this quiet track, The Scholar, three solos for recorder, viol and then harpsichord:
NOTE: The music is for me the very best kind of score - effective on its own, but only fully revealed in the context of the program.
Here's a fuller version of the harpsichord piece at the end of The Scholar track above, which goes into the Cromwell theme. Another of Wiseman's piano-solo versions of her themes.
Thanks for posting that, William. Such a striking song - knew it instantly.
FYI, Soundtrack.net has the tracklist of the the period album. I love how they link the pieces to scenes.
1. A New Beginning: Trumpet Parley 0:13 2. Court Masque: Lady Carey's Dompe 2:55 3. Cromwell at York Place: Hoboekendans 2:07 4. Smeaton, Anne's Lutenist: Ah Robyn 2:26 5. Cromwell is Happy: Scaramella 1:04 6. A Play about Wolsey's Fall: Romanesca 2:59 7. Henry Sings of Anne: Alas what should I do 0:48 8. The Feast at Calais: Bassadansa 1:29 9. Anne's Music: Browning 2:23 10. Anne's Coronation: Fanfare No.1 0:32 11. The Coronation Feast: En Vray Amour 1:10 12. Anne and Henry's Court: Tandernaken 2:25 13. The Baby Princess: Lady Carey's Dompe V2 3:06 14. Thomas More: Helas Madame 0:45 15. Christmas: Hoboekendans Extra 1:30 16. Court Masque: Ce Qui Souloit 1:51 17. Henry at Greenwich: Tourdion 3:11 18. Henry Sings of Jane: Whereto Should I 0:47 19. Anne's Last Supper: Chiaranzana 3:04 20. Henry Embraces Cromwell: Green Grows the Holly 0:53 Total Album Time: 35:38
Mary Boleyn's proposition of "don't ask, don't get" seemed a little out of place. Cromwell himself fell out of favor after he proposed the dynastic coupling with Anne Of Cleves, which completely backfired, leaving him undone. Over the years, the Bill Of Attainder saw to the demise of every advisor required to be out of sight pronto. The series stopped short of this. Henry's blood spurting reign seems like so much wasteful effort considering it was during his unwanted daughter's tenure of the throne the greatness of Britain was forged.
After seeing six episodes, it's Gentle Robin at the start just as the brief synopsis is presented for each episode, that kind of lingers. I couldn't help wondering what the whole thing would have looked like if it had been filmed using video for the interiors and 16mm for the outdoor scenes. Ah, but for the headiness of those long lost days! They wouldn't have been able to pull the dynamic matte shots of Tudor styled buildings on the horizon with the old technology, though.
Apparently the series ends where Mantel's second book does. She's working on a third, to wrap up the last four years of Cromwell's life. And the team is raring to do an adaptation when that's published.
Considering that the two great Beeb historical costumers currently are this and 'Poldark' by Anne Dudley, it'd seem the women composers are getting their hour at last.
It was the posts about POLDARK last week around these parts that got me to thinking about watching this first, especially after I heard the terrific theme by Dudley for the new adaptation - sort of put me in the mood for BritLit. (Even watching the old Poldark series concurrently, one of my mother's favorites nearly 40 years ago.)
