Blizzard (Mark McKenzie)

Blizzard (2004)
Original Television Soundtrack Composed by Mark McKenzie

In the recent years, there has been a recent spate of wonderful Christmas-themed scores, including Alan Silvestri’s highly-acclaimed-but-never-released score for The Polar Express, Guy Farley’s The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and Mark McKenzie’s simply wonderful Blizzard, his score for a made-for-TV film featuring Whoopi Goldberg (!!) as the voice of an animatronic reindeer Blizzard.

But enough about the movie, as McKenzie rarely, if ever, disappoints with any of his scores. He approaches his projects with enthusiasm and infuses them with truly worthwhile scores, from the likes of direct-to-TV fare like Durango to mainstream fare like Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde. With Blizzard, it’s another winner.

In terms of Christmas approach, McKenzie takes a more subdued approach than Silvestri’s flightier, more manipulative score… I’d say that Blizzard is a humbler version of Polar Express with the introspectiveness of Jonathan Toomey. In fact, the disc opens with a concert suite (“Blizzard Suite”) compromising all of McKenzie’s various themes for the score into a grand, heartwarming melange that just screams “Christmas warmth all around!” The suite is so good, the disc is worth seeking out just for the suite alone. But there are even more highlights in the album waiting to be discovered, as this is not only a score that can be listened only during December.

With his style of writing, McKenzie just finds the right tune to make the album listenable the whole year. There’s also introspectiveness in “Katie Skates for her Family”, a bit of action (“Rescue”), stout humor (“Archmides”) and even a winter-themed waltz in “Katie’s Waltz.“ There’s a really lovely motif (led in by squeaky strings and longing woodwinds in “Flying” and “Don‘t Be Afraid“) that’s given ample variations alongside the main theme, and by the time everything comes to a glorious close with the full orchestra and choir humming along in “Finale”, you’ll be in raptures.

Sadly, Intrada has only made this score a limited edition and not only is it out of print, but completely sold out. But if you manage to find a used copy, the album is worth seeking out. A Christmas score that will melt even the hearts of Scrooges everywhere.

Track listing:
1. Blizzard Suite (6:39)
2. Katie Skates for her Family (2:04)
3. Goodbye (1:40)
4. The Best Friend Ever (1:38)
5. Welcome Blizzard (3:14)
6. Flying (4:46)
7. Don’t Be Afraid (2:52)
8. Archimedes (1:22)
9. Skate Off (1:26)
10. Air Tag (3:14)
11. Katie’s Waltz (2:05)
12. There’s More (0:56)
13. Months Fly By (1:29)
14. Erin’s Program (1:07)
15. Katie’s Program (1:21)
16. I Think You’re Great (1:21)
17. Katie Meets Santa (1:26)
18. Rescue (3:41)
19. Donner Jr. & Jeremy (1:57)
20. Another Chance (3:01)
21. Finale (5:12)

Total runtime: 54:29

Music composed and produced by Mark McKenzie. Conducted by Peter Breiner. Orchestrations by Patrick Russ and Mark McKenzie. Music performed by the Slovak Philharmonia and Lucnica Chorus. Released by Intrada Records.