EXPERIENCE THE MIRACLE by Thomas Kiefner (December 16, 2002)
Originally released in 1994 the soundtrack contained only three tracks of the original score. The remainder of the score consisted of Xmas songs by Kenny G., Natalie Cole, and others. This month Intrada released as part of the special collection series the complete original soundtrack. 30 tracks, containing nearly 68 minutes of wonderful Broughton holiday music. From the main title which incorporates the familiar "Bell Carol" and 5 notes of "Joy to the World" we are off on a score which features something uncommon in today's world. Joy. As Broughton explains in the liner notes "it just makes you feel good." Track 4, "Susan at the Window", has shades of the Nutcracker Suite's delicate Oriental Dance. The love theme is Bruce Broughton at his finest. A simple, delicate melody you want to whistle over and over. It is performed on one track by Dan Higgins on the soprano sax and all you can think of is what was said earlier. Joy. "The Bellevue Carol" was originally included on the first release. It is a soft theme with boys choir during a sad scene in the film when Santa Claus was put in Bellevue. It is a theme along with others on this soundtrack that should be included in our selection of Xmas music. In fact why not just do what I have done. Listen to it over and over and enjoy many hours of peaceful, wonderful, joyous listening. I can highly recommend this release to you. But order it from Intrada now before it disappears like so many other wonderful Bruce Broughton scores.