Customer Reviews

Saving Private Ryan: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After having listened to quite a bit of film music over the last decade, the singularly most moving film music I've heard for a motion picture- and not just from Williams' discography but from any film music composer- is for Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg's gritty monumental film demonstrates personal honour, unmitigated courage, and selfless endeavour; and William's "Hymn To the Fallen" in this soundtrack mourn supreme sacrifice, but yet salute resolute heroism. The score here has been highly praised on the Amazon customer reviews; and I'm glad to add my vote with the other supporters here too of this magnificent music-making. I'd add however that I found not just the Hymn inspiring; but the second last track, "The Last Battle" (heard just after Captain John Miller is wounded and takes on the last Panzer tank, and lasts all the way until the modern day visitation back to the cemetery), worked equally as well. In fact, aside from the Hymn, and the "Han Solo and Princess Leia" theme from the closing moments of The Empire Strikes Back, there hasn't been another cue from any motion picture that has so powerfully brought back the emotions I felt when watching the motion picture on the big screen.

I was just reading a film critic's review of this score, and William's work here was described as one where apart from the Hymn, otherwise had no recognisable theme, or suspense; ultimately leading to an slow, boring listening experience. Truth to tell, when one compares the score for Saving Private Ryan (SPR) to other Williams' works, particularly that of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies, there is indeed a marked lesser use of strong, bold themes to personify an event or a person; the Imperial March, or Yoda's theme from the Star Wars trilogy being examples of such "theme-based" music. Directors like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas may have made Williams' music a very central compliment to their motion pictures before, but the absence of this music style did not make the SPR score ultimately any less moving for me. Yes, the music is often subdued, quiet and slow. But does this make it any less effective? This score worked for me not because I could listen to it in isolation and be moved. It was, in fact, a deeply touching- almost religious- experience when listening to it because it effectively brought back vivid memories of the great emotional burden I felt when seeing the countless brave young men make the ultimate sacrifice for their country during the war. And that for myself, is the very purpose of film music; to make me recall, and to feel again the passion of a motion picture.

For myself, the most powerful film score I've ever heard.

John Williams' score for Saving Private Ryan, Steven Spielberg's searing World War II drama about eight U.S. soldiers ordered to rescue a paratrooper whose three brothers lost their lives in combat, follows the simple-is-better-than-operatic format that made his music for 1993's Schindler's List powerful and effective.

Considering that most of Williams' film scores tend to be very bombastic and energetic (his Star Wars and Indiana Jones music tends to follow the Wagner/Korngold tradition of big orchestras and action-oriented cues), it's refreshing to hear this very prolific (and much-imitated) composer use orchestral restraint where he might have been tempted to utilize strident and Sousa-like marches, as is common in most war movies, especially movies about World War II.

But starting with the reverent-yet-mournful "Hymn to the Fallen" (a piece that is not heard till the End Credits, but is nevertheless an apt start to this album), Williams utilizes musical motifs to highlight the different aspects of the Normandy invasion as experienced by Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks) and the seven GIs who have been assigned to retrieve Pvt. James Ryan (Matt Damon) from the small airhead held by the 101 Airborne Division on the Cotentin Peninsula in the days following the D-Day landings. This beautiful yet haunting piece sets the proper tone for this album, and is reprised at the end. (Careful listeners will note that this arrangement is not used in the film, however. Williams and Spielberg use a longer version of this music that also incorporates the "Omaha Beach Theme.")

Besides the "Hymn to the Fallen" (a piece which has become a staple of Memorial Day concerts since 1999) there is the equally solemn "Revisiting Normandy," which serves as the film's "Main Title" and is heard as underscore to the scene in the Omaha Beach cemetery where the old WWII vet -- who will later be revealed as Damon's character's older self -- is making his way to the beautifully maintained "last resting place" of several thousand Americans who gave their lives in France in 1944. The trumpet solos by Tim Morrison and Thomas Rolfs, in addition to horn soloist Gus Sebring's performance, convey the mixture of gratitude and sadness most of us -- including director Spielberg and lead actor Hanks -- felt about the actions taken by the men who fought and suffered so much pain and death to liberate Europe from German occupation.

The one motif that dominates the film's score is heard for the first time in the now famous "letters" sequence, where Williams introduces the theme labeled "Omaha Beach," starting from when Capt. Miller tells Sgt. Horvath (Tom Sizemore) that he sees "quite a view" as he looks down on the invasion fleet and the debris of the initial landings earlier that morning of June 6. It starts as a powerful yet mournful theme, and then segues to a more restrained theme-and-variations tone as the scene shifts first to the War Department in Washington, D.C. as we see the many secretaries and typists working on countless notification letters about fallen GIs. It swells to a tragic crescendo when the Army sedan pulls up to the Ryan farmhouse in rural Iowa and Mrs. Ryan gets all three telegrams informing that three of her sons have given their lives in "the altar of freedom."

Even in action cues such as track 9 ("The Last Battle") Williams avoids the expected rah-rah type of overture that he is associated with for other Spielberg films. Instead, there is a sense of suspense and impending loss to the music, reminding us that Saving Private Ryan is not meant to merely entertain us for thrills and chills, but to honor the men and women of the Greatest Generations, both the survivors who came home, and those who did not.

Williams conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus with his usual golden touch. This is one of his most mature works and is a fitting musical tribute to the citizen soldiers who saved the world in its darkest days.

Saving Private Ryan. Written in July 1998, Saving Private Ryan is known as one of more peaceful scores of John Williams. Much different then much of the music that John Williams has written, this score depicts the beaches of Omaha well. The main score of the soundtrack, "Hymn to the Fallen", is a piece that starts with quiet drums of war in the background, before the Tanglewood choir joins the music, making it a track that makes you want to think back at the beaches at Normandy, and all the fallen men. (I won't blame you if you cry while listening to this one!) Very little of the music on Saving Private Ryan is tense. Most of the other tracks have the main theme mixed into them. You wouldn't think that a war movie such as Saving Private Ryan would have a peaceful soundtrack, while most World War II movies have very tense soundtracks. This score is probably what brings the movie out so well, since it is not your average World War II score. If you enjoy quiet and slow music, (or if you like soundtracks such as Rudy or Glory) this is just the soundtrack for you. This score also reminds me of "Empire of the Sun" in many ways, since it is also based on World War II, and has the same John William's style. Overall, this is a great soundtrack.

Being an passionate fan of movie scores, I immediately went out and bought this soundtrack. Consider me the common man with a simple point of view.

Simply put, the music on this CD is heroic, forceful, paced and suitable for the picture that this movie wants to paint.

Examples: Hymn to the Fallen is not heard during the body of the film and in my opinion should not be. It was probably written as a lasting monument to the fallen (as Spielberg himself says) and would have been entirely inappropriate had it been included in the text of the film. It's somber and neutral in its performance and absolutely perfect for the movie.

The other track worth mentioning here is Approaching the Enemy. This piece clearly communicates what I can only assume that most foot soldiers go through. Tedious, labored, weary, fatigued - all good words to describe the journey that most of these men had to make. Listening to this track IS monotonous, repetitious, and redundant - and this is exactly the message that John Williams was trying to communicate. He did his job, and in my opinion did it well.

A good CD will contain 2 tracks that you definitely like, IF you are lucky. This CD, in the opinion of most people (even its critics), contains at least 4 of them. That being the case, it definitely qualifies as a great CD.

Very rarely does a film hit your mind so hard that it makes you think about what you've just seen. Saving Private Ryan does excactly that and its powerful score helps it. If you were looking for loud sharp music, stay listening to the ACTION film soundtracks, get it got it good! This soundtrack depicts the horrors of war and the emotion of joy, happiness, fear, saddness, etc. John Williams is a pure genius and so is Speilberg. You can imagine the tears of old Private Ryan, the victory on Omaha Beach, The death of a friend, and the tear jerking song Hymm to the Fallen which perhaps in my mind is the best song ever written for a war-battle movie. THis is clearly a must buy and if you didn't like this album then I suggest seeing the quality of Williams music. This album was not as REPETITIVE AS THIN RED LINE (no offense to the Thin Red Line, I enjoy that one also). Two Very Honest Thumbs Up for John Williams.

So often, movies that have as much action as Saving Private Ryan rely on scores that hit you over the head with their crashing symbols and screaming horns. Not so with this soundtrack. Williams has found the perfect balance between being sad and uplifting - it reflects the power of the human spirit as well as any image from the movie. He is a composer at the height of his skill, as reflected in Schindler's List and this movie. Listening to this soundtrack, the music followed me around for days, and now I often watch the movie not so much to see it, but to hear it. Williams quite simply is the best at what he does, and Saving Private Ryan is another jewel in his crown.

John Williams' score for Saving Private Ryan is different from most war films. Yes there is action and the music reflects that, however most of the cd is filled with understated music that makes a powerful impact on the listener. Perhaps the most enjoyable tracks are the first and last called Hymn to the Fallen, which is a touching memorial to those who died both during D-Day & during World War II. It is these two tracks that are the most memorable on this cd. Overall, I have to say that I found this cd to be totally enjoyable and a touching tribute to both the fallen and the survivors.

In memory of all the fallen soldiers in the invasion of the Allied Forces to Normandy on D - Day, 57 years ago, I'd like to dedicate this review.

Many consider this day to be of one of the most important in the twentieth century, and for good reasons. "The day the earth stood still " describes correctly what was at stack. The success of this invasion made the difference and the turning point in World War II. It can be said that this was the beginning of the great victory later on.

John Williams, regardless of the movie, created something unique, something I've never heard before the day I saw the film and bought the CD, and ever after. He has succeeded in expressing with the music a variety of emotions a person experiences while watching the movie itself, or whenever thinking deeply of the events that had happened so many years ago, but not so far away.

Tracks like 'Revisiting Normandy' ,'Omaha Beach' ,Highscool Teacher' and of course the monumental ,one of a kind, 'hymn to the fallen' convey all of that and more, taking the listener right back to that time and place.

I believe it's important this CD exits in this context to remind us, now and then, of the things that took place in the past. Often it brings me to reflect about those men out there, fighting a war of freedom, praying to do their job and stay alive to finally return home to continue every day's life. Many didn't make it. On a day like today we think about their sacrifice and remember them.

I hope that any listener would give it the appropriate time to entirely sense the atmosphere the disc recreates. And it does, in a subtle and delicate-sad way. I think buying this disc can't be wrong. In the end, I can honestly say that I've never heard something that remarkable.

I love John Williams' music especially his earlier work, because I think it is more powerful and dynamic. That has been replaced by more softer tunes over the years... And this soundtrack is a brilliant example, it's subtle, it's soothing and very moving as is the film.

And it helps you remember the many people who died on those cold beaches, so that we are able to sit here today without being screened and registered by the Gestapo.

So listen, remember... and enjoy living...

In one word:astonish! When I saw the movie for the first time, I did not remember any music at the end. Of course 'Hymn To The Fallen' attract my attention. I'm a huge 'fan' of Williams. In this case, I didn't know that Williams has written the music for Saving Private Ryan. At the End Credits, I looked up the screen to see who wrote the score. The Hymn sounded me like Williams style, so I was not surprised:'Music By: John Williams'. Next day I ran into a very first CD shop to buy it. I gave 15$ for it, I would give it 100$ and more(If). So the very first play - The Hymn - I felt on the floor! I didn't cry! The next track - did not remember a thing, guess I was so impresed by the movie. At the begining I sort to like only 1,3,5,6,9 track. Now. Totaly the other way round. With video relese( hope for DVD soon) I realize where and with what purpose is music composed like this. Now I cry at Hymn to the Fallen, Omaha Beach, The Last Battle, sometimes even at Revisiting Normandy and High School Teacher. Tracks I like year after: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10*. In my colection SPR is in lead with 10, on second is Schindler's List with 9,98 points. I don't know what is 'wrong' with John Williams' Soundtracks? You can listen them over and over again, years and years, and you never get tired of it! I bought Schindler's List a 3 years ago(1996) and since then I listen it almost every single day! This I can not say for example Titanic(James Horner); at first It was a WOW of music, but after mounts of listening I had fed up with it, I can not listen a single tone anymore now. But is not just James Horner thats becomes boring gradually, so is Jerry G., Alan S. etc. Here is a thing with SPR: after 20 listening you became bored whit it, but do not stop listening!! In the number of listening about 35-40 times will hit you back, and from that point you will never get tired of it.I know, I didn't. Some reviewers are saying: there is no theme; music is boring, no action!??... This is an insult to WW2 soldiers, thoose who are alive and fallen! John Williams has put into this music so much hard work to remember our fallen men. Perhaps John Williams did the most of the work( Ok, along with Steven Spilberg of course) in this film, I mean for the work to reach into our hearts like no film before! I must say that, the best soundtracks are John Williams/Steven Spilberg colaboration! And SPR is THE BEST. There is no theme.WRONG! I am guesing: Title for the track 3 is Omaha Beach. It could be: Theme from Saving Private Ryan.Why? First:Becouse, this ''theme'' is heard in almost every song; Second: Track 3 begins at the end of invasion, the powerful peak in this track is, when we can read the soldier's name(Rayn)on backpack, so, can we title the track Ryan's theme? Of course not! With that kind of title track lose it power.Third: Track 3 is 8+ minutes long, and it is whole heard in the movie. Fourth: We can see consequences of Omaha Beach invasion not the Ryan's theme. Am I right? Contact me! My favorite is The Last Battle. I'm from Europe( not US citizen). The only time I cry by the US flag is at the end of the movie/end of The last Battle. This five stars mean nothing to reality! Thoose who think the same, please CONTACT ME!