Music Box Records proudly presents the premiere CD release of Philippe Sarde's lyrical score to the 2006 drama film Le Grand Meaulnes.

The movie, based on the classic novel by Alain-Fournier, marks the reunion between Jean-Daniel Verhaeghe and composer Philippe Sarde, nine years after Stendhal’s The Red and the Black (available on Music Box Records), the director’s previous adaptation of another masterpiece of French literature. Charmed by what Sarde had come up with for The Red and the Black, Verhaeghe completely trusted him on Le Grand Meaulnes, leaving him free to make his own choices regarding the musical orientation of the score. Philippe Sarde built his score around Yvonne de Galais’s theme. The long melody expands endlessly, oscillating between introverted intimacy and flamboyantly lyrical style. A second motif, both elegant and touching, illustrates the strong friendship that binds the main characters together. The score, performed by the 90 musicians of the Pro Arte Orchestra and recorded in London by John Timperley at the Abbey Road Studios, revives the early 20th century musical era. The music of Le Grand Meaulnes lavishly and truthfully celebrates the joys and pains that build up, little by little, the sturdiest of friendships.

Supervised by Philippe Sarde, the whole program has been assembled by Édouard Dubois and fully remastered from the complete scoring session elements. The package includes a 12-page booklet featuring exclusive liner notes by writer Sylvain Pfeffer discussing the film and the score, based on new comments by Philippe Sarde. The CD release is limited to 500 units. -MUSIC BOX RECORDS

1. Prologue (Rentrée des classes) (3:37)
2. Feux d'artifice (0:40)
3. Baignade dans la rivière (0:55)
4. Sauvetage (1:15)
5. Sur les toits (1:14)
6. Les grandes manœuvres (1:56)
7. Fuite du Grand Meaulnes (2:47)
8. Yvonne de Galais (1:21)
9. La fête (1:18)
10. Le serment (2:17)
11. Les Sablonnières (1:18)
12. Départ d'Augustin (1:02)
13. La lettre d’Augustin (1:14)
14. La barque / Le bal (2:41)
15. La tourelle (0:36)
16. François et Yvonne (1:17)
17. Retrouvailles (2:11)
18. Le mariage (1:29)
19. Repas de noces (1:41)
20. L'avion (1:14)
21. Yvonne enceinte (1:27)
22. Mort d'Yvonne (2:29)
23. Augustin et sa fille (1:55)
24. Mobilisation (1:28)
25. In memoriam (5:05)
26. Finale (Générique de fin) (4:21)

Total Time • 49:53