There doesn’t seem to be any way to include a playable mp3 file in one of these blogs, so I’m going to provide a link, here.
What is this? Well…
When I went to Edinburgh last year, I met a lovely gentleman named Mike Gibb, a lyricist/playwright, who said that he’d fallen in love with OUTLANDER, and that he and his friend, composer Kevin Walsh, would like to do a song-cycle–a musical telling of the story in the form of 14 or 15 songs. (There’s a possibility that this song-cycle might eventually be the bones of a stage production, but for now, it’s just songs.)
So this is one of the songs. I’m going to put up a full-scale announcement on my website a little later this week, describing the project, and giving the address from which those interested can order a CD of the Whole Thing, and am planning to post this particular song with the announcement, as sort of a free sample. So I thought I’d try it out on you guys, first.
(Note that the copyright to this song is mine, and I got Kevin and Mike’s permission for y’all to download–and share if you like–this song for free. Hope you enjoy it!)
*GASP* The bones of a stage prod. you say?!!!! The thought of that gives me goosebumps!!!
The singing and the music are so beautiful, but the speaking… when he started to say Jamie's words, I was instantly overwhelmed and the tears very suprisingly began pouring down my cheeks.
Thank you Kevin, Mike and of course you, Diana.
I can hardly wait for August 1 to arrive.
In my opinion, the melody is nice. The synthesizer in the background detracts from the melody, and the voice for Jamie is not right. The voice isn't resonant enough, and it is a bit too melodramatic. When I read the marriage scene and heard his words in my head, he was speaking softly, with hope for understanding, good humor, and tentative affection. He wasn't doing a catch-in-the-throat lecture. That's what the vocal sounds like to me.
It also sounds like the guys who did this don't really listen to a lot of Celtic/Gaelic music. The ornamentation was a bit off.
Again, in my opinion. There's potential, but it could be done better.
Dear Heidi–
Well, tastes differ, to be sure. As to not knowing anything about Celtic music, though…[g]. You might want to check out Mike Gibb (www.hamepages.com), the lyricist, and Kevin Walsh (www.crescentmoon.co.uk), the composer.
I agree with Heidi one hundred percent. I listen to the music and re-read the marriage scene in the book. My first, second, and third impression was this was not the music for the situation that necessitated the marriage. Maybe when Jamie was trying to get Claire to go back through the stones, they had some history by then. Also, just like everyone has their own image of Jamie, I wanted his voice to be stronger and deeper then this interpretation.
A most emphatic YES! Bring on the Whole Thing. Just lovely.
It made me cry. I felt like Claire after 20 years and finally being able to hear Jamie's voice. Beautiful, haunting, romantic.
I was transported in time. The music was beautiful and made me think of when she is leaving. Jamie's voice was not quite what I thought it would be. The singer has a nice voice, but even my 15 year old has a lower and deeper voice, and I imagine Jamie with a man's man voice. I agree the singer is too melodramatic for the situation. It is not the way I would imagine them talking to each other when they got married. At that point they don't know each other yet, they are not in love yet.
We need more drums. There were so much battle and surprises, which made my heart jump during the entire reading, and these emotions might be well translated the with help of some good celtic percussion.
Um…
Well, as I said, tastes differ, and that's fine.
Do, please, read what I said this _is_, though? It's not a Corries song, it's not an Albannach performance, it's not an attempt to squish the entire story of OUTLANDER into one song–and it's not a literal translation of a scene in the novel.
What it _is_, is one small part of a song-cycle, which in turn is a musical _adaptation_ (just as a movie, a mini-series, a graphic novel, or an audiobook would be) of the original. In turn, it's meant _eventually_ to perhaps be the bones of a stage production. You've seen stage productions, I'm sure. There's a script,which tells the story and provides the dialogue and interactions between the characters, with musical numbers that carry and emphasize emotional high points.
OK, there's no script here. This is _just_ the musical soundtrack (and only one song _from_ the soundtrack). Totally fine to like or not like the song, but personal preference (I want drums! I want traditional Celtic ornamentation! I want a deeper voice!) is…well, you can say what you personally like, sure, go ahead–but I kind of don't think it's a substantive criticism of the song itself.
Very pretty. I've read several things regarding the Scottish Highlander accent. I am curious, Diana, if you thought "Jamie's" accent was correct in this song (not that it matters – just curious if it's close to your vision).
I am sorry , didn't mean to criticize the song at all. As I said in the beginning, it is incredibly beautiful and romantic. And celtic music is made of all these different moods, the eerie, the battle song, the happy dancer, the sad. And you can't have all of them at the same time! I guess that song is evocative of a particular emotion, I would say a longing for what you know so well and can't have. But then the singer is reciting the words said during the wedding. In my mind they are two different scenes altogether, one is the expectation, the indeniable desire, the strong heart beat. The other (is what the song brings me back to) is when she is leaving, it is the farewell to the best thing that ever happened in her life, it is that hard choice that we all have to make in our lives. So, yeah, it achieves its goal in the sense that emphasizes emotions, and of course it won't be the only song of the production.
But there is one thing that has to change, I am sorry but his voice has to be something else…
How lovely!
A wonderfully poignant "taster". I am very much looking forward to the release of the cd.
I must admit…this prompted me to search out more of Kevin Walsh's music. I was not disappointed! I found a video of his song Clarinda's Reply on Youtube and it is beautifully done. His heartfelt vocal moved me tremendously. That will be another cd I have to buy now!
Dear All–
Well, I'm actually pretty flexible regarding Jamie's voice. I.e., I don't really mind whether it's a resonant tenor or a strong baritone, as long as it has both strength and emotionality.
Now, I have the benefit of having heard several of the other tracks of this CD–including one called "Say the Words." That one is a duet between Jamie and Black Jack Randall–in Wentworth prison. The contrast between the actor/singer doing Captain Randall (who is a baritone) and Allan Scott-Douglas (the singer who does Jamie) is Just Hair-raising.
Another thing strikes me…you know, I don't know for sure whether the version I posted on Compuserve is the _final_ version (with Allan), or whether it's the final arrangement, but with Kevin's voice speaking the vow. (I personally love Kevin's voice, and it's in the same range, but it -is- different.)
Anyway. One of the things that makes the contrast so electrifying in "Say the Words" is the sense of this very mature man, soaked in evil and ruthlessness (the song begins, "I've seen you cry…I've heard you scream…", vying for psychological dominance over a much younger man who's still a Man with a capital "M", and not willing to give in, even though he's plainly been–and is about to be–tortured and raped.
I thought Jamie's voice there very effective. Besides, I get used to hearing "Jamie" voiced by Davina Porter, Geraldine James, and Jeff Woodman –it's just a slight mental adjustment to what I actually know he sounds like. Not real important, I mean. To me, I hasten to add.
Ooooooh what a beautiful and haunting song! I am looking forward to the entire CD and anything else that may come out of it (stage production, etc).
Hi there, first time posting but I am "lurker". Since you wanted to try it out and see the reaction, I did want to post.
I totally love this idea. The song was beautiful, the lyrics were beautiful HOWEVER the male voice of Jamie was so off that I actually jumped. Way way way off. The voice sounds like an auld Scot man not a man in his early twenties.
I know that it is my opinion but I felt so strongly about it, I had to type it.
And just a quickie comment, I know that Allan Scott-Douglas is not an auld Scot man. I just thought in the song it had that sound.
Rof,l! Er…just wondering…how many auld Scottish men do you know?
(Not questioning your impressions, I mean; but I don't get any impression of age in his voice, myself. I readily admit that I don't know a whole lot of auld Scottish men, though.)
Oh–
It occurs to me that I should note that there _will_ be at least one live performance of some of the song-cycle in Aberdeen–and consequently, the physical appearance of the actors/singers was an aspect of the casting, though of course the voices were most important. Anyway, Mike and Kevin describe Allan to me as "a 6'2" red-haired Scot who looks VERY good in a kilt." Haven't met the gentleman myself, but looking forward to it one of these days!
I'm hoping to attend the live performance if I can…and I'm very much looking forward to the sight of a strapping Scot in his kilt :0)
I've only recently been introduced to the Outlander books myself and have been unable to put them down. I'm thoroughly enjoying them and as a Scot myself, it brings me great pleasure that these books are beloved worldwide.
I've also said in a previous comment above that through Outlander, I've now been introduced to the other musical works of Kevin Walsh. I've now purchased his cd Clarinda's Reply and eagerly await it's delivery and the release of the Outlander cd. You have quite made my weekend Diana!
Diana,
Weeeel now, do ye have a picture of this Allen?!
Curious,I Googled Allan Scott-Douglas. Here is a link to his page.
http://www.uk.castingcallpro.com/view.php?uid=74218
He is verra nice.
