Dickensian Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the television score Dickensian by Debbie Wiseman.

Buy the score here (if available)

At a glance:

Geek Score: 67.6
Total Minutes Of Excellence: 2.7
Album Excellence: 3.9%

How are the scores calculated and what does it mean?

I read Dickens once in school, but it sort of stayed there and I never touched upon it again (Well apart from the Ghost of Christmas thing). I fear that this is a pure fan service for Dickens fans and I wouldn’t even have a clue who the characters in this series is. Never mind that, we’re here because of the Music. Wiseman opens with the title cue ‘Dickensian’ a cue fit for gypsies and Sherlock Holmes. It has many similarities with Hans Zimmer’s version of Sherlock Holmes. There seems to be a dulcimer (cimbalom perhaps?) which is very distinct and all powerful. I suppose it fits with the times, although I’ve always felt that it fits more with 60s spy music. It is a quirky intro and I sort of expected it. It is a style I’m uncomfortable with though and it’s felt even more in ‘The Order Of Things’. With ‘Scrooge and Marley’, the music shifts a bit to a darker style. I like that, but it reverts back to the quirky side of 19th century London soon enough.

I was hoping that the score would slowly develop into something more to my liking, but that sadly never happened. It’s an honest thing, I’m just not liking this style of music. Nothing wrong with the score though, it’s professionally crafted, quality of sound and music is excellent, but I just don’t enjoy it because it’s just not what I enjoy listening to. The one exception I found is a cue called ‘I Am Arthur Havisham’ a heartfelt piano cue. I really connected with this one. I became emotional and it was a lovely little minimalistic piece and it made me think. It stands out for other reasons as well. It doesn’t have the same “sound” and “feel” like the rest of the score. It’s like a standout concerto piece and it stands on it’s own. That’s one great little cue. Shame I couldn’t connect with the rest.

HIGHLIGHTS:
10. I Am Arthur Havisham