Snow Falling on Cedars: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Soundtrack]

James Newton Howard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 7, 1999)
• Original Release Date: December 7, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B000038IDY
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,824 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lost In The Fog

2. Carl's Fishing Net

3. Moran Finds The Boat

4. Hatsue And Ishmael Kiss

5. Kendo

6. Driftwood Hideaway

7. The Strawberry Field

8. The Worst Kind Of News

9. Seven Acres

10. The German Soldier

11. Snowstorm

12. Coast Guard Report

13. Typeset

14. The Evacuation

15. Courtroom Montage

16. Susan Marie Remembers

17. The Defense

18. Snow Drive

19. Typing

20. Tarawa

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heads Falling Over Heels, January 20, 2000

By 

anthemic (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Falling on Cedars: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

If you love the film, it's a difficult stance not to become critically biased over the soundtrack.

Here, Howard's work is such an integral part of the film's emotive feel that it can pull you back into the visual realm within a mere snap of the fingers. It's that good.

Offered here, is a mix of tracks ranging from synthesized layered textures to that full orchestra sound one has come to cherish. At times, a violin or cello 'solo' against either of the two backgrounds aforemenioned resonate the film's unrequieted love and a longing for innocence gone by.

With reference to Japanese aesthetics - a subtle hybrid (Western orchestra and Japanese flute/blocks/gongs) form underlies the soundtrack. It's not a radical concept but one that works successfully under slick production.

With 27 tracks and a sparse 67 minutes - many tracks are short. 'Carl's Fishing Boat' is the first of the tracks to place a series of 'echoing' strings found in later tracks. One moment the track is tender and then it leaps into a 'full sound' without becoming overbearing and still remaining true to its tenderness.

Other goodies are: 'The Strawberry Field', 'The Worst Kind of News', 'Snowstorm', 'The Evacuation', 'Snowangels', 'Can I Hold you Now?' just to name a few.

Do yourself a favour - run a bath, light some candles, hang up the phone, and enjoy some moments of true tranquility.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More moving than even the movie or the book!, February 28, 2000

By 

"meenderman" (Eden Prairie, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Snow Falling on Cedars: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

After reading the novel and seeing the film, it took me about two seconds to realize that I had to have this score . . . and I was not disappointed. What an amazing piece of work by Howard! I thouroughly enjoyed the novel by Gutterson and was moved to tears watching the movie, but the score outshines both of these. The music invokes a broad spectrum of emotions, from wonder (Hatsue and Ishmael Kiss) to heartache (The Strawberry Field--the best track), and sadness (The Evacuation and Tarawa) to bittersweet happiness (Snow Angels and Can I Hold You Now?). It is one of my favorite new soundtracks, and I'm positive it will remain in my collection for all time. Buy "Snow Falling On Cedars"--it's worth every penny and you certainly won't regret it.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Score!, December 8, 1999

By 

Jesper W. Rasmussen (Copenhagen, DENMARK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Snow Falling on Cedars: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

This soundtrack is a real pleasure to listen to - you get a LOT for your money here. Beautiful, tender, haunting music. Newton Howard is once again proving himself to be one of the best contemporary film composers. I highly recommend this CD - haven't seen the movie yet but if it is as good as the music we're talking Oscars come March 26, 2000.