The World of Michael Nyman cover

The World of Michael Nyman

Michael Nyman · 2001

61 min · 14 tracks · opera

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

62 /100
Foothills
Higher than 24% of albums we've rated

Nyman’s tightly patterned writing and polished performances hold up, but the excerpts and shifts between unrelated works make this a sampler rather than a shaped album.

What we noticed

  • The 14 selections jump between works for piano, string quartet, voice and orchestra rather than sustaining one ensemble or continuous suite.
  • Film cues from The Draughtsman’s Contract, Drowning by Numbers and Carrington sit beside excerpts from stage works and larger concert pieces.
  • The tracklist moves from The Piano Concerto’s final section to short songs and excerpts, then closes with the fifth region of MGV.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
4/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 The Piano Concerto: 4. The Release 5:09
  • 2 Songs for Tony: 3rd Song 4:04
  • 3 Prospero’s Books: Come Unto These Yellow Sands 3:42
  • 4 Prospero’s Books: Where the Bee Sucks 4:46
  • 5 Noises Sounds & Sweet Airs: 4. This Damned Witch, Sycorax 4:37
  • 6 Where the Bee Dances (excerpt) 6:11
  • 7 String Quartet No.2: V 4:06
  • 8 The Draughtsman’s Contract: Chasing Sheep Is Best Left to Shepherds 5:04
  • 9 Drowning by Numbers: Fish Beach 2:51
  • 10 A Zed and Two Noughts: Time Lapse 3:52
  • 11 Carrington: Floating the Honeymoon 2:44
  • 12 Carrington: The Infinite Complexities of Christmas 4:17
  • 13 The Convertability of Lute Strings (excerpt) 4:47
  • 14 MGV (Musique à Grande Vitesse) 1993: 5th Region 5:15

What to play next

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2002
The Very Best of Michael Nyman – Film Music 1980–2001
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The Very Best of Michael Nyman – Film Music 1980–2001

2001
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Reference: MusicBrainz