Hemingway: A Film By Ken Burns And Lynn Novick
In A Circle, 2021
9/10
Listen to Hemingway: A Film By Ken Burns And Lynn Novick
The soundtrack to a three-part, six hour documentary about one of the most iconic American writers to have ever lived, Hemingway brings 7 musicians and 8 composers to this worldly and complex listen that suits the film’s subject matter perfectly.
“El Torito”, by Gyan Riley, starts the listen with spellbinding, Spanish guitar playing, and “Flor De Mayo” follows with Johnny Gandelsman’s violin and Michael Nicolas’ cello adding much grace to the carefully textured beauty.
Further along, “La Plenitud” recruits flute from Jeremy De Jesus in the bare, dreamy climate, while “Un Gitanito En La Habana” offers a breezy display of orchestral, waltz ideas that unfold with much precision. “Villata”, a particularly interesting track, then displays David Cieri’s piano prowess and urdu skills in the pensive, stirring environment.
Approaching the end, “Flor De La Noche Mirando A Las Estrellas” is a violin heavy moment of flowing guitar and Shanir Blumenkranz’s strategic bass, and “La Despedida” exits the listen with Riley’s lone guitar emitting so much talent and timelessness in its sublime nature.
Produced by Grammy winner and violinist Johnny Gandelsman, the artists here illuminate Hemingway’s life from Oak Park to Havana and Paris to Pamplona with a similar amount of intimacy, tension and emotion that fueled his inimitable writing. If, for some reason, you were on the fence about seeing this documentary, the soundtrack should easily persuade you to invest the time.
Travels well with: Wu Man + Kojiro Umezaki- Flow; Hilary Hahn & Hauschka- Silfra