Bear McCreary’s sweeping orchestral score for Da Vinci's Demons was meticulously researched to accurately represent the time period, without being bound to it. His score combines full orchestra, Renaissance instrumentation, choir and ethnic soloists with the renowned Calder Quartet and surging contemporary synthesis...

Whenever we receive a score composed by Bear McCreary a smile always comes to my face - for a I know I'm in for a quality soundtrack. As usual, like with all of his work, I spent almost a week listening to McCreary's music on this release. And every time, I found something new that I liked.

When I first heard that a collector's edition release was coming out so soon after the original, my initial thought was that it was a quick money making scheme to make poor soundtrack collectors part with even more money. I was expecting a 2-disc album with relatively little new worthy of merit. Thankfully I was wrong.

The additional material makes up an additional 38 mins (spread over 12 tracks). The tracks are inserted in amongst the original tracks, rather than grouped together at the end of the album. Most of them employ the main theme in some capacity, but only briefly.

Personal favourite tracks include 'Da Vinci's Demons Main Title Theme'; 'Flight of the Columbina'; 'Story of the Shield' (which is a reworking of the main theme); 'Vlad The Third' (which reminded me of the start of John William's 'Indy's Very First Adventure' from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; 'The Astrolabe'; and 'Da Vinci's Demons End Credits'.

Of the new tracks, highlights include 'The House of Medici'; 'Fireside' (the ending to which reminded me of Richard Harvey's score for Alan Bleasdale's GBH TV mini series); 'Cluster Bombard'; and 'Acquittal'

The album contains 38 tracks and lasts for approximately 2 hr, 08 min. It's an enjoyable score and certainly one worth picking up if you're a fan of the TV series or McCreary's work.

8

Darren Rea