Customer Reviews

Schindler's List: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the response that one can observe to the score from Schindler's List, it is like no one took John Williams' work seriously prior to its release. He had been renowned for his bombast music and his loud marches, but his subtler works might have been too easily forgotten. However, there seems to be a turnaround in the public conception of Williams after Schindler's List. To many people, he became a composer capable of the deep emotion inherent in more somber films. To long time fans, this may have always been apparent, but for those who could not recognize his skill, Schindler's List divulged it completely and indubitably.

Schindler's List, even when it is depicting the greatest evil and the most visually horrifying images, never collapses and never overpowers. Its greatest gift is its ability to outline and highlight, not to overshadow and reconstruct. The multiple themes are all extraordinary and powerful, recurring where necessary, and coming to a crescendo as appropriate. Frequently intermingled are appropriate and stirring excerpts from Hebrew hymns that humanize and reconnect the images on screen with the validity of the past. Combined within are two sides of a film score that work together to create a magical whole. The dominant passages are the string pieces, led by Ithzak Pearlman, and colasceing the traditional images of the film with music that isn't wholly inappropriate from the era depicted. Alternately, there are delightful mechanical cues that reference Hebrew music and lighten the mood as necessary. Best depicted in the track "Schindler's Workforce"--perhaps the best an most delightful of the tracks, outside of the suites--maintains a constant beat that circles and epitomizes the interaction of the Jews and their forced occupation.

Ultimately, it is a perfect film that is complimented by a completely appropriate score. One can intensely understand and concur with the lifelong relationship between Williams and Spielberg, understanding where they are in tune, why they are so equally successful, and just how much they love filmmaking; all because they are good at what they do and share a mind in how it should be done. Listening to the score from Schindler's List is an experience equally pleasant and disturbing; pleasant where the music relates the sanguine outlooks of the Jewish people, and disturbing as we see the atrocities that try to break their spirit. The score in the end, represents, perhaps, the pinnacle of Williams' film scoring career, a point where he gained ubiquitous respect and appreciation. The score for Schindler's List is an undeniable feat that should not be missed for its perfection, its depiction, and its beauty.

Sad, Sweet, Solemn, Powerful...these are just a few of the words that can be used to describe the listening experience one gets from the "Schindler's List : Soundtrack", but it's so much more than those words or any words can describe. It's music that captures all the emotional feelings of the film and the people and circumstances of the story. The film went beyond the awards and beyond any meaning a 5 star review has. It was one of the most moving expereinces one can have from a cinematic work. Reliving those moments through the music, will again evoke those goose bumps, throat lumps, and may even produce a tear or two as you listen.

From a single, sad, violin, to the mesmerizing and powerful Orchestral music, to the beauty of the choir voices, you will get lost in each and every track. There are 14 tracks, and all are a nice enough length to get lost in, and each flows beautifully from one to the next.(see buying info for list)

The soundtrack stands on it's own as a five star addition to your collection, and is a very good quality listen, but if you are also thinking of buying or upgrading to the DVD, you may want to consider the "Schindler's List Gift Set"(asin: B00012QM9K). It includes the widescreen edition of the film and this soundtrack. A movie book is among some of the other fabulous gifts for the collector or fan. If interested please see my review of 6/10/04 in which I have described the gift set. The only thing it did not have was a separate booklet for the CD.

Both the film and the music will take alot out of you, but what you take away from it all, is well worth it. With the perfection of John Williams, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Itzhak Perlman, you are in for one beautiful expereince....enjoy....Laurie

also recommended, this beautiful book with images from the film to browse through while listening to the CD:Schindler's List: Images of the Steven Spielberg Film(see my review for book details)

Five stars are not enough to do this brilliant work any kind of justice. John Williams' score is as amazing, emotional, intense, heartbreaking, and beautiful as the film is. It just gets better with every listen. The emotions it evokes are almost unbearable. It is absolutely exhilarating. This soundtrack is so brilliant that one finds many new facets and colors with each listen. When you take a film as phenomenal as Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List", add the extraordinary composing of John Williams, and add the otherworldly talents of Itzhak Perlman (probably the most famous violinist living), this album is the result. Perlman's violin solos induce tears every time. His interpretation and artistic expression, combined with his amazing technical abilities, are the perfect touch. The soundtrack also features wonderful choral, orchestral, and piano performances. There is not a weak moment on the entire CD. It is stunningly beautiful and powerful in its simplicity. This album will haunt you for the rest of your life. Williams and all of the extraordinary performers whose help he enlisted on this recording rose to the challenge of conjuring every emotion and image in the film, and exceeded all expectations. You do not just listen to this music; you *experience* it. It is not only heard by your ears; it shoots straight into your soul. As Spielberg himself said, it is "an album to be attended with closed eyes and unsequestered hearts."

It is impossible to describe in mere words how beautiful the violin solos on this soundtrack are. John Williams has composed two haunting themes ("Theme from Schindler's List", tracks 1 and 14, and "Remembrances", tracks 4 and 14), and Itzhak Perlman infuses his playing with so much emotion that just listening to his violin makes you want to cry.

In addition to the violin solos and the instrumental underscoring, the album also includes several choral pieces, with a full harmonic sound that swells to fill the room. Williams' music, reminiscent of traditional Jewish melodies, perfectly conveys the tensions and emotions of this heart-breaking movie. "Schindler's List" is a perfect example to demonstrate the range of John Williams' talent; not only has he given us such memorable themes as Indiana Jones, E.T., and of course Star Wars, but he is also capable of reaching deep into his soul and producing such heart-wrenching music as this.

I myself am a violinist. I remembered in eighth grade, my school orchestra chose Schindler's List as one of our pieces for a big performance. When I read and played the notes on my violin, I was shocked at how magnificent this piece was. It was so touching that I nearly cried in front of the entire orchestra!
When I went home and told my parents about this, my mother gave me our Schindler's List Soundtrack (I never knew we had one) and I listened to it. It was marvelous. It was so incredibly beautiful but so depressing, depressing to the point where the melancholy just melts your heart. When I heard the famous Itzhak Perlman's violin solos, I wish so badly that I am just as skilled and talented as he is (Unfortunately, I'm not. I've only been promoted to 1st violin just recently).
I loved all the songs in there, but when I heard Remembrances with Itzhak Perlman (track 13), I couldn't help it. I had to cry. And I actually thought that it was not just any sad feeling, but it really feels like as though I'm trying to remember something very personal that I had forgotten for a long time.
Do yourself a favor and at least listen to this track.

Music, where would we be without it? Honestly, I do not know. I do know that music, for me, succeeds in communicating what words often times fail to express. Music often picks up where words fail, or music at least deepens the meaning of words already used. But can words deepen the meaning of music? Words, I think, can at least illuminate the meaning of music; whether they can deepen the meaning of music, I don't know. I will simply try to illuminate.

Others have used so many appropriate and excellent words to describe the effect, or meaning, of the Schindler score. The theme song will immediately intoxicate you with its simplicity and slow repetitiveness. Many of the other songs are alike, specifically "Remembrances."

I cried when, in the movie, Schindler realizes he could have saved more lives. I released many tears when he looks at his gold ring and mutters something about it being worth enough to buy one more life. Nearly every one of these songs has the power to draw such tears. You must understand that playing this music will tug, nay wrench, your inner cords of tenderness and sorrow.

Above all, this music softened my heart and awoke my mind to the brutality and inhumanity suffered by the Jews. This music can refresh an affection for all the lives lost, especially when time itself inevitably makes our hearts cold to those atrocities that really happened.

As other reviewers mention, this score sort of "legitmized" John Williams as more than a composer of catchy romance-adventure music. Because Williams is always faithful to the story being told onscreen, it took a film like "Schindler's List" to allow Williams to lead us into the sublime.

The opening theme is fairly pleasant, kind of mysterious, with a nice violin lead by Itzhak Perlman. The next track, "Jewish Town" also lets us off pretty easy. The violin does have its pathos, but overall it's more stately than sad. We're still being eased into the dignified, ancient structures of Jewish music.

With "Immolation," it really begins. The tension and uncertainty in the strings gives way to the choir; the starving and tormented citizens of Krakow will not be silent. This piece also begins the smartest tactic of the whole score - Williams keeps using the melody from the opening, but in different keys based on the events of the film. It's a happy melody the first time; track to track, it becomes less so.

"Schindler's Workforce" is sort of the juggernaut of the score at over ten minutes. It's a reprieve from the drama of the prior two pieces, just as working in the factory is a reprieve from being murdered. For "I Could Have Done More," the orchestration is subdued, and we start to hear the sublime. When the key changes to E-minor at 3:46, the last barrier between the listener and the tragedy of the story is removed.

With "Auschwitz - Birkenau," the violin and strings express the rage and desperation of the death camp. Williams no longer seeks to comfort us, and reality takes hold. The choir returns for the gentle, haunting "Stolen Memories," and so the tension is briefly set aside. (Acoustic guitar is an unexpected pleasure here.) "Making The List" could be considered the dramatic climax of the score, and the piece which sounds most like something from "Star Wars."

"Give Me Your Names" is somewhat maudlin for two minutes...then it fades back into the opening theme, undiminished for all the turmoil that has come since the start of the score/film. Genius. Finally, the closing "Reprise" of the theme is heartbreaking in its beauty. It isn't loud or strident, but it sounds like resurrection and redemption and families being reunited at the end of everything.

Yes, I've gone on and on and rhapsodized about this score. If you hear it, you'll understand why. You'll also get why the word "tears" is used in so many reviews for this album.

John Williams, famous for such soundtracks as Jaws and Star Wars, puts together a soundtrack that is truly unique. Unless you know that Williams wrote this there is nothing there that will clue you to its origins.

With virtuoso performances by Itzhak Perlman, Schindler's List will fast become a favorite soundtrack. It has for me.

Because of this music, one hundred years from now people may speak of John Williams in the same breath as Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber and George Gershwin as a truly great American composer. It is simply a masterpiece and I can't imagine a musical score ever bringing back such vivid images from the movie as this score does. An incredible accomplishment, and Itzhak Perlman is just incredible too.

Of the many great scores John Williams has penned, this one is, for me, the finest single soundtrack he has ever written. Itzak Perlman plays emotional, tragic, heartbreaking violin solos throughout this album. The music on the whole is beautiful, thoughful, often sad, but always excellent. There are also several tracks that are heavily influenced by Jewish music, which sound great and round out the album nicely. This is a great score, and in my opinion, the finest music Williams has ever written.