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

James Newton Howard

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: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,539 in Music (See Bestsellers 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. Strawberry Field

8. Worst Kibnd of News

9. Seven Acres

10. German Soldier

11. Snowstorm

12. Coast Guard Report

13. Typeset

14. Evacuation

15. Courtroom Montage

16. Susan Marie Remembers

17. Defense

18. Snow Drive

19. Typing

20. Tarawa

See all 27 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Thanks to the success of pioneering musician-scorers like Hans Zimmer, the symbiosis of traditional orchestral tones with synthesized electronic elements has become one of film-scoring's most popular working methods. The underlying reasons, however, haven't been always been particularly altruistic; a music software program doesn't have to work for scale. Composer James Newton Howard's score for director Scott Hick's telling of novelist David Guterson's interracial soap opera cum murder mystery is one of the best of the new genre, a seamless sonic wedding of the orchestral/choral/electronic, replete with appropriate ethnic instrumentation (is it real or is it Microsoft?). It's music that ranges dreamily from delicate flute passages and ethereal choral work to understated solo cello and percussive flourishes. This is what New Age music should sound like. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 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

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Score!, December 9, 1999

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

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.

7 of 7 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

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.