Purchasers should note that this is NOT a soundtrack album - the title is (I quote) "Music from and inspired by THE PIANIST". That said, this is an evocative album, with a selection of Chopin's piano works adeptly performed by Janusz Olejniczak. Only one piece of incidental music from the film is included. The real bonus is the final track - a performance by Szpilman himself, recorded in 1948. The imperfections of the original recording only add to the poignancy of this track.It sounds and feels like a very personal interpretation of a Chopin mazurka. Personally, I would have liked the compilers to include the performance of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" which can be heard briefly in the film. If you enjoyed this wonderful film, ... Read More:
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I Came across this by accident but was hooked on the first hearing. In tracks such as St Crispin's Day, the composer manages to convey the sweep and drama of the film to such a degree that even if one never saw the film the scene is perfectly conveyed. Definitely deserves a wider audience.
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A magical soundtrack to a truly magical film.Like all the best scores,the main theme will be buzzing around your head long after you've switched off the cd player.Stunning!
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When listening to this CD you really do feel like you are back in the cinema! This really is a refreshing change from the standard movie soundtrack complilations that seem to be everywhere. It includes many of the classical tracks (eg. For the Love of a Princess from Braveheart) which are featured in films but are really hard to find in the shops. It also has many 'popular' songs from films like 'When You Say Nothing at All'- Ronan Keating. This, and the fact the the films featured range from Fantasia to Pulp Fiction, gives it a great variety. It will appeal to a huge range of tastes and no matter what kind of mood you are in there is a track that will suit it!
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This is an unusual score for an action film - commonly they don`t have so much and so good orchestral music. Hans Zimmer and the others uses a large orchestra and chorus in the score. One reason to why this score is so extremly popular is may be the electric guitars,which gives it a rock sound combined with classical music. The only folt is that the calm music is too short (there are only three minutes on the entire disc). Among the other tracks,I love the first one. It makes a perfect introduction with the choirs and the rocky sounding Navy Seals theme. All the themes are heard there. It is followed by the intensive and sometimes calm Rock House Jail,with In the Tunnels as the main action track on the first half. The real action breaks out in track ... Read More:
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Most people who buy this CD will do so having seen the movie. However the music on this album easily stands up on it's own, without the need of mental pictures of Christopher Lee or Britt Ekeland. The power of these songs comes from the haunting use of acoustic guitar and traditional instrumentation, combined with amazingly evocative lyrics. And it's the fantastic lyrics that really make this album live. Each of the songs twist and turn on themes of temptation (Gently Johnny), lust (Willow's Song), and the intertwining of nature with death and reproduction. (I know that sounds a bit 'full of itself', but it's probably the easiest way to sum up the overall feel of the songs.) You don't need to be a folkie to absolutely love this album. Turn the lights ... Read More:
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I found Shigeru Umebayashi's soundtrack to Zhang Yimou's 2004 film haunting, and resolved to buy the soundtrack. I was not disappointed. I had not consciously come across this Japanese composer's music before. It's mix of traditional Chinese instruments with orchestra and electronic programming is impressive; sometimes a track will contain all three elements, sometimes just one. For example, the recurring "Lovers" theme is played first using traditional instruments and a string orchestra on one track; later it is played on a solo pipa; and then on full string orchestra for over four minutes (the disc's longest track).
What first drew me to this soundtrack when watching the film was an incessant distant boom over a string theme. This soft ... Read More:
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I found Shigeru Umebayashi's soundtrack to Zhang Yimou's 2004 film haunting, and resolved to buy the soundtrack. I was not disappointed. I had not consciously come across this Japanese composer's music before. It's mix of traditional Chinese instruments with orchestra and electronic programming is impressive; sometimes a track will contain all three elements, sometimes just one. For example, the recurring "Lovers" theme is played first using traditional instruments and a string orchestra on one track; later it is played on a solo pipa; and then on full string orchestra for over four minutes (the disc's longest track).
What first drew me to this soundtrack when watching the film was an incessant distant boom over a string theme. This soft ... Read More:
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This is a score for all fans of the comic book movie genre. Escpially those who like the darker-toned/more adult themed ones just like the Blade trilogy and of course Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns (which has another great score).
The music is brooding and really makes you feel like you want to go around your town/city dressed up (not that I would) in a bat costume going around sorting out crimes in a super car (one of the most memorable tracks of the CD is the charge of the Batmobile) and the Joker's music is great too because it's comical and camp but in a dark and twisted way if you know what I mean and, like Batman's themes, describes the character well. The final 6 tracks are outstanding and really make you root for the hero.
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Evocative, not only of the film, but of the themes and landscapes underlying the film. You can imagine your own South American adventure. Allows you to relax with it, or engage with it as fully as you want. Enough layers of interest in the music, to keep you interested for some time to come, while remaining accessible and not too complex.
Best soundtrack I've heard for some time. You really don't need to have seen the film to enjoy this on many levels. Well done Santaolalla!
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