Guest Author - Michelle Anne Cope

Danny Elfman gives a pig, a spider, a rat, and a little girl a beautiful soundtrack behind one of the most beloved children’s stories.

Some people like pork; a girl little loves a pig.
“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.

This simple line of dialog is my favorite, ever! Fern’s father is on his way to kill a runt pig and Fern rushes to save its life. Fellow barnyard animals and the world will soon find out that it’s not just “Some Pig”.

The story of Fern, Wilbur, Templeton, and Charlotte is beautiful, timeless, and inspiring. I keep a copy of the book on my desk for writing encouragement. My family moans when it’s movie night and I’ve heard my husband murmur many a time, “Charlotte’s Web . . . not again."

This Christmas, that same man with the murmur gave me a beautiful set – an anniversary edition book, and the soundtrack for Charlotte’s Web.

The soundtrack was originally released in 2006 to accompany the remake of Charlotte’s Web, and depicts a very different side of Danny Elfman. Don’t expect to hear the haunting tunes and manic melodies found in the scores of Tim Burton movies. This piece is beautiful, soft, quiet, and sweet. If you are an admirer or fan of Danny Elfman, this 18-track CD belongs in your collection.

My Favorites:
Introducing Charlotte - Listen close, you can hear this simple barnyard spider glide across her web in the music.

Templeton - A rat, a lazy rat who lives for scraps, trash, and the darkest of nights. This piece gives music to the rodent turned friend for hire.

Some Pig - The music lifts up and down, just like the weaving work of Charlotte as she spins these two simple words into her web.

The Dump - Another musical ode for Templeton as he runs a dangerous errand to trickle through trash for Charlotte.

Farewell Charlotte - I cried. I cried for the loss of a spider and I cried for the loss of my own childhood. Charlotte’s Web was my first book that dealt with the death of a character.

This soundtrack is wonderful to use for writing, background dinner music, or an end of the day relaxer. Close your eyes and listen and relive this story through music.

Charlotte’s Web
Danny Elfman, Sarah McLachlan
©2006 Sony Classical

1. Main Title
2. The Introduction
3. Lullaby/Escape, (Lullaby” performed by Dakota Fanning)
4. Introducing Charlotte
5. In the Mud
6. Templeton
7. The Plan Begins
8. “Some Pig”
9. The Word Spreads
10. The Fall Montage
11. The Dump
12. “Radiant”
13. The Big Day
14. “Humble”
15. “Terrific”
16. Fare Charlotte
17. Wilbur’s Homecoming
18. Ordinary Miracle (performed by Sara McLachlan)

Michelle Anne Cope is lending her talents to the Classical Music site this week. But she can normally be found here at BellaOnline.com in Pop Music
or at her new site Children's Bookwriting.