5/20/2023 0 Comments A Beast’s Belle by J. Gambardella![]() ![]() ![]() Already apparent in this first 120 seconds is the sense that Beauty and the Beast’s score possesses its own bizarre agency. Nonetheless, Menken already had his inspiration: Camille Saint-Saëns’ ‘The Carnival of the Animals’, specifically the ‘ Aquarium’ movement, which donates its main theme to the prologue, as well as instrumental ‘The West Wing’, and throughout as a haunting refrain. Notably, the first piece of music to feature in the film was the last to be written, a decision based largely on the idea that the introduction should in some way encapsulate the film as a whole, which would be easier once the rest was complete. Of course, any article delving into the wonderful work of Howard Ashman must unfortunately mention the sad fact of his early death at 40 due to AIDS-related complications, but there are surely few better ways to honour Ashman’s melodious lyrics, and Menken’s evocative score, than by delving into the overwhelming power and, well, beauty of the following songs. So now, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as One Room With A View proudly presents… an ode to the music of Beauty and the Beast. When the duo were charged with the task of matching the charm and vitality of their score for The Little Mermaid to save the floundering (excuse the pun) non-musical prototype of Beauty and the Beast, Ashman, conscious of his ebbing mortality, was initially keener to pursue his concept for Disney’s subsequent feature Aladdin than begin work on Beauty. ![]()
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