Customer Reviews

The 13th Warrior: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Whew! That's the feeling one will get when finished with this action packed soundtrack, composed by one of the masters, Jerry Goldsmith. It starts strong from the beginning, and never really lets up, going through many different mood shifts in the process. I had not seen (Still haven't) the movie when I bought this CD, nor could I hear the music clips. But I decided to get it based solely on the glowing reviews here at Amazon, and also because I've loved much of Goldsmith's other music. I was not disapointed!

The opening of the CD starts into the main theme, pounding out the strains, and drawing you right in. From there on, you'll be hooked, wondering where you'll be going next. There are two main themes (I always love it when a soundtrack has TWO strong themes throughout, rather than just one. Goldsmith's Rudy is another example of this), the first of which is nordic in sound, a considerable feat considering that nobody knows what Viking music really sounded like. But boy! Does Goldsmith capture the Viking essence with this theme! The second main theme is more arabic in nature, a lot like Mummy's, signifying the main character, who is arabic. Goldsmith then meshes these two themes wonderfully throughout the soundtrack, adding other branch-off cues during some tracks. I also agree that this soundtrack has very driving action music, and for the most part, it keeps from getting annoying, and chaotic, which I really don't like. Another awesome plus, is that Varese Sarabande decided to include the whole score (at least most of it), and not keep it under 40 mins, as they have with almost every one of their other titles. This CD runs almost an hour. Way to go Sarabande! Keep this up with future titles.

Now, don't be scared away by the 4 star rating, rather than a five. The only reason for the lower rating, is that I am comparing it to my other 50-some soundtracks, and there's a lot of competition. Not every score can be a five! :-) This is definitely a soundtrack I reccomend getting. Kudos to Goldmith for another job well done, and keep up the good work!

Very often a motion picure soundtrack can be judged by its use for PBS promos and as background to network sports broadcasts. Based on this alone, Jerry Goldsmith's score for "The 13th Warrior" has already arrived. Comparisons with Goldsmith's other notable, recent score, "The Mummy," and earlier action-dramas such as "The Wind and the Lion," are inevitable, and "The 13th Warrior" deserves high praise along with them. This is a musical triumph, bravo, indeed! And what is most amazing is the fact that the composer was brought in at the eleventh hour to do the score. Several themes are used including an exotic "Arab theme" and a powerful "Viking theme" along with several, very menacing motifs for the "mist monsters," the "eaters of the dead." The extended track for "Viking Victory/Valhalla" is spectacular, and a bit different than the music used in the film. Here it should be noted that the soundtrack is superior to the film, in that some of the best music did not make it to the screen. In fact, there are several tracks that seem to have been left out of the film, but the good news is they are on the soudtrack. One minor complaint. Although the end titles were actually made up from parts of a variety of tracks, it would have been nice to have had them on the recording.

Goldsmith returns to form with perhaps his best score in years and one of his all-time best compositions. I saw the movie twice and immediately rushed to buy the soundtrack. I have been playing it in my car for 4 days now and I am totally inspired by the brassy manly battle horns and choral hymms of Norse warriors and the melodic Turkish overtures that run throughout the entire album. Reminiscent of Basil Poledouris' score for Conan the Barbarian only better, with a dash of Lawrence of Arabia meets Rambo. It is an orchestral onslaught of one percussive beat and hymm and gloriously triumphant fanfare after another. I definitely would rank this as one of Goldsmith's Top 5 scores ever! McTiernan should be honored to have such a magnificent score to compliment his epic Viking tale. And to think that Goldsmith was brought in at the eleventh hour only to produce one of his finest works to date. The legendary composer has proven himself once more!

The 13th Warrior is an excellent and underrated score. Goldsmith creates a mix of Arabian style music to go with his interpretation of what Viking music would be to create a unique and enjoyable listening experience. I bought this cd on the strength of Goldsmith's name and enjpyed it so much I actually bought the movie, which was not too bad either. While Goldsmith had great success in 1999 with his score to the Mummy, the 13th Warrior is just as good if different in tone and style, proving just what a master Goldsmith was.

Absolutely awsome score by one of the most compelling and thrilling movie composers of our time. The use of Arabic sounds in this score is really breathtaking. I reccomend this one to anyone who appriciate Jerry Goldsmith's work. It's a winner !!!

Jerry Goldsmith seems to have the uncanny ability to transform what he sees visually, into what that visual stimulious might sound like in orchestra form. When I wasn't musically inclined as a kid, I saw Poltergiest, which he scored, and as an adult...I know relise half of the magic I loved from the movie, was Jerry's score. He just ... in those visuals and spits out a musical mood. And he seems to score his pieces in the style of a modern master. Very lyrical, but at the same, spontanious as film score calls for.
13th Warrior's score is just great. The music alone is as imaginative and thought provoking as the movie itself. Filmed in Canada, trying to look like a Scandanavian town...they acheive this greatly.The spooky cold mountians and the mist lingering around, with wood forts and great halls in the distance. Those visuals give you a sense of old world simplicity and nature. Jerry double matched this with music of mystery. Dark chords with low male chorus chants. Viking like horn calls and my favorite...a reacuring 'ocarina' sounding instrument that plays a couple long notes when you see the mist on screen. Very effective. And every now and then you hear a glimmer of mid-east modes on the guitar. All-in-All, this score has graced my player many times, and most likely will for years to come. It's a timeless soundtrack that creates a dark mood, and stirs up memories of the deep rooted courage of brotherhood the the vikings and warriors of the like had upon each other. Just as portraied in the movie. I've heard of an expanded soundtrack to this movie, which I suppose has some added cues, but the CD here has pretty much the best of the films cues. Deff. buy this if your a Film Score nerd...or you just like the dark sounds that and orchestra and chorus can create.

I am such a Goldsmith fan and this CD did not disappoint me. I own about 50 Goldsmith CD's and this is one of my favorite. If you like The Shadow (my favorite) and or the Mummy (can you say oscar) you will love this film score.

This soundtrack is a wonderful tapestry of music. I agree that the soundtrack does contain strains from The Wind and Lion, but this soundtrack has a richer, more mature level of instrumentation. I have listened to the music for several days and really love track 15 - Valhalla/Viking Victory. I especially enjoy the blending of the various themes in this piece. When reviewed in perspective with the movie - a wonderful blending of the two mediums. Thanks to Mr. Goldsmith for a truly magnificent score.

This is definitely one of Jerry Goldsmith's finest efforts in the entire decade. It combines all the best elements of "The Mummy", "Mulan" and "Air Force One" into one huge symphonic masterpiece. The theme is so glorious and brilliant that I have to listen to it about ten times before listening to the rest of the CD. This score combines powerful orchestrations, chorus and ethnic instruments into one of the most rousing pieces of music I've ever heard. The battle music is also brilliantly constructed, with a lot of motifs and themes. I CAN`T GET ENOUGH OF THIS CD! PLEASE! SOMEBODY HELP ME! Goldsmith rules!

I have been an admirer of Mr.Goldsmith ever since I heard his score for "In Harm's Way" on an old RCA LP when I was 9 years old. Not surprisingly I was bowled over, and ever since, his music has never failed to enthrall me, uplift me and take me on unique musical journeys. This is what happened upon my very first listening of Jerry's score for "The 13th Warrior". The composer of "Legend" and "Papillon" is never better than in his epic mode. John Mc Tiernan's underrated epic called for a score of massive proportion. It needed to give birth to an hostile and savage world, lying in the mists of legend and filled with the savagery of a barbarian world. His "Main Title" kicks off with light percussion and tambourine before a raw male chorus and full symphony orchestra state the main theme: a wonderful, haunting melody that must rank among the best themes in the composer's extensive canon. Throughout the 55+ minutes running time, the CD never fails to hook the listener with a variety of moods: terror, nobility, tenderness, introspection... "The Fire Dragon" is a stunning action cue, built upon a seemingly simple motif, but worked out to the fullest by the composer. This is involving, challenging music. Granted, this score is not as perfect as other Goldsmith masterpieces such as "Masada" or "The Wind and the Lion". Hence, the four star rating. But mind you, this is nevertheless one of his 5 best scores of the 90s. The decade opened with "Total Recall" and ended on this powerhouse score. Although "The Mummy" was also a very good soundtrack, "The 13th Warrior" has a more engaging quality. I think the main theme makes the whole difference. The sound quality is dynamic and the performance by the London musicians is first rate. I can not imagine any admirer of the composer without this well-produced CD. Congratulations, Jerry!