A Single Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

Various Artists (Artist), Abel Korzeniowski (Artist), Shigeru Umebayashi (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 5, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Relativity Media
• ASIN: B0030ATZHG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,720 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Minimalist, beautiful, January 17, 2010

By 

Jon Broxton (Thousand Oaks, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Single Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

A Single Man is based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood, and marks the directorial debut of writer/director and former fashion designer Tom Ford. Set in Los Angeles in 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, it tells the story of a British college professor George (Colin Firth) who, following the death of his long-time homosexual partner, struggles to find meaning in his life. The film is already a critical success, with Colin Firth tipped to receive his first Academy Award nomination for his performance, and has also seen recognition for the score by 37-year-old Polish composer Abel Korzeniowski, who received a Golden Globe nomination for his work.

Korzeniowski's score is best described as a combination of the string-based classicism of Michael Nyman and the minimalism of Philip Glass, albeit with much more beautiful themes and a warmer, more inviting tone than either men usually produce. By far the most notable piece is the lush and opulent second cue, "Drowning", which opens with a mesmerizing harp glissando, before launching into a glorious waltz theme, full of rich harmonies, dancing violins, and velvety cello chords that are simply magnificent. Later, cues such as the graceful "The Stillness of Mind", "Snow", "Daydreams", the joyous "Swimming", the unbearably poignant "And Just Like That", the expressive "Sunset", and the stark, rhythmic "Clock Tick" feature some truly wonderful string writing, often prominently featuring gorgeous cellos, and are based around repeated motivic cells of recurring material, over which the main solo instrumental melody is laid. It's an enticing, thoroughly engrossing sound, which is technically minimalist, but reaches far beyond the staid sterility that some minimalist pieces can have.

Other cues, notably "Becoming George", "Mescaline" and "Going Somewhere", replace the strings with a lilting piano line to equally positive effect, although more often than not the piano is not meant to be romantic, but to be somewhat more introspective. In addition to Korzeniowski's score, the album also features three cues from Japanese composer Shigeru Umebayashi, best known to audiences in the west for his score to House of Flying Daggers in 2004. Umebayashi's main contributions are beautiful "George's Waltz" cues, delicate pieces full of weeping violins and a stately, refined air. His other major contribution, the cue "Carlos", is no less beautiful, and features another sumptuous cello performance that simply shines. The album is rounded out by several source music cuts from artists as varied as Etta James, Booker T. & The MG's and even an opera track from Catalani's La Wally performed by Miriam Gauci, all of which are fine, but this is all about the score. With this score, and the animated sci-fi film Battle for Terra earlier in the year, Abel Korzeniowski has announced himself to the film music world in the loudest possible voice, and I can't wait to hear what he does next.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingness, January 3, 2010

By 

Brian R. Tucker "brt374" (Valdosta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Single Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (MP3 Download)

Absolutely the best soundtrack I've heard in several years. The songs are haunting, yet they invite you in to listen to each and every one of them. I listened to clips from the movie's website before I saw the film, and appreciated the soundtrack more while viewing it. The song from the swimming scene is especially powerful. If this doesn't win the Oscar for Best Soundtrack, I don't know what will. Thank you, Tom Ford, for insisting on a great soundtrack for your directorial debut.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Soundtrack of the year, January 16, 2010

By 

Tom Liebengood - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Single Man: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

This is such a beautiful soundtrack which captures the mood and undertone of Tom Ford's stylistic directorial debut wonderfully and insightfully with a moving, melancholy score. The score's effect is similar to another beautiful soundtrack, Pollock. I highly recommend the film and the soundtrack.