Disney's Beauty and the Beast Feb 16 '02    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line The Soundtrack of Disney's Beauty and the Beast gives evidence that Disney presents the best in children's music by presenting quality music, and teaching truths. I'm reviewing the Special Edition Soundtrack for Beauty and the Beast published by Walt Disney Records in 2001 (Music by Alan Menke, Lyrics by Howard Ashmon). I just picked it up at the Disney Store (don't go there unless you can spend some money!) I'm not sure if I bought it because of the music or the nostalga for a time when my almost 11 year old granddaughter was about two and I played the cassette tape of this music for her every time I had her in my car. We wore out the cassette tape and since she had gotten the video by then, I didn't replace it. It was like renewing acquaintance with an old friend when I listened to it again. If you've seen the video maybe you haven't appreciated the music as much as the story, but hearing just the soundtrack, you get to concentrate on the music. It's wonderful! 1.The Prologue: tells the background of how an old woman had appeared to the prince to teach him that beauty is on the inside, but was turned away because of her not attractive appearance. Because of this he was turned into a beast and given a rose that would bloom until his twenty-first year. If during that time he can find someone to love and to be loved by, he will be turned back into a prince. If not, he will be doomed to be a beast forever. He despairs, for "who could ever learn to love a beast?" 2.Belle: Belle sings about the sameness of the little village where she lives. It's obvious she escapes through the books she reads...so many that the villagers call her a strange girl. Belle dreams "there must be more than this provincial life". She's pleasant and friendly to everyone, but her favorite place is the local bookshop where she has read everything in stock and borrows her favorites more than once to reread. "her name means beauty, her looks have no parallel". 3. Belle(reprise) 4.Gaston: Obviously considered the "catch" of the village by all the other girls, Gaston's determined "to make Belle my wife". The villagers continue to sing of how "she doesn't quite fit in". After she turns down Gaston's proposal of marriage she sings of her desire for adventure and someone to understand that she wants so much more than the village people plan. The guys in the local tavern sing the praises of Gaston. He responds, overcoming his discouragement from being rejected by Belle and soon regains his confidence. 5.Gaston(reprise): Belle's father, Maurice, appeals for help because the Beast has Belle locked in his castle. Everyone promises to help, then laughs at "kooky old Maurice". But a plan is hatched to get to Belle through her father. 6.Be Our Guest: The dining room presents dinner and entertainment as the dishes sing and dance-all for Belle's enjoyment and pleasure. 7.Something There: One of my favorites songs as Belle begins to see "something sweet, something almost kind" in the Beast. He, in turn, is amazed that she didn't shudder when she touched his paw. Beautiful, sweet, lyrical music that matches the awakening feelings and the awakening hopes of the staff. 8.Human again: The staff dares to imagine that the spell may be lifted so that they can stop being the dishes and furniture and become "human again". Fun and light music. Human again ends with Belle helping the Beast with his reading because it's been so long he's forgotten. 9.The Mob Song: Gaston eggs on the village mob by telling them the Beast will take off their children and they won't be safe until his head is on Gaston's wall! He sings, "Kill the Beast" to rouse them to action. The music echos their ride to the castle. 10.Beauty and the Beast: "Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change, learning we will die." "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast". 11.To the Fair: Wonderful musical interlude indicating activity and fun. 12.West Wing: The orchestra repeats some of the earlier themes,then becomes ominous in anticipation of the coming battle. 13.The Beast Lets Belle Go: The music builds to a crescendo as the story reaches the point where the Beast loves Belle enough to release her. The Beauty and the Beast theme is repeated. 14.Battle on The Tower: Interestingly the Be Our Guest Theme begins the background music for the battle, interspersed with a little of The Mob Song and some new music which sounds like horses and action and ending with a little of the Prologue and Belle themes. 15.Transformation: The Beauty and the Beast theme flows into a new theme, then the Belle them briefly, ending with The Beauty and the Beast theme. 16. Be our guest(demo) 17. Beauty and the Beast (work tape and demo) 18. Beauty and the Beast (Celine Deon and Peabo Bryson) 19. Death of the Beast (Original Early Version) There are a number of reasons I like this soundtrack for children. First of all the music is lovely. Then, it introduces them to orchestral music. The songs are singable and children will sing them. But, most of all I love the story and the lessons it teaches. 1. Beauty is within. 2. Being loved frees people to become their true self. Disney did a great job of the video in the early 90's and Beauty and the Beast, in all it's forms has become a classic.

Read all comments (1)|Write your own comment

Write an essay on this topic.