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Track Listings
| 1. The Poet Acts |
| 2. Morning Passages |
| 3. Something She Has to Do |
| 4. """For Your Own Benefit""" |
| 5. Vanessa and the Changelings |
| 6. """I'm Going to Make a Cake""" |
| 7. An Unwelcome Friend |
| 8. Dead Things |
| 9. The Kiss |
| 10. """Why Does Someone Have to Die?""" |
| 11. Tearing Herself Away |
| 12. Escape! |
| 13. Choosing Life |
| 14. The Hours |
Product Description
Amazon.ca
How better to score a movie that takes place in three tangentially related time periods than with music that strives for timelessness? The hallmarks of Philip Glass's minimalism serve The Hours well. The film, based on Michael Cunningham's novel, tells the stories of three women--Virginia Woolf in the early 1920s, a housewife just after World War II, and a book editor in the present--whose days relate in different ways to Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway. Yet rather than construct a sonic montage of these three time periods (perhaps some Ravel for Woolf, some Max Steiner for the housewife, some Enya for the editor), Hours producer Scott Rudin turned to Glass, a contemporary-classical composer who has had a substantial side career in film, most notably with Koyaanisqatsi. The familiar Glass sounds--the endlessly layered violins, the static melodies, the glacial rhythms--all lend a consistent aural foundation to a story that moves fluidly back and forth in time. The music is scored for orchestra, string quartet, and piano. Those plentiful strings lend a thick cushion, a triumph of tonal suspension, for the piano part, which Michael Riesman plays coolly, emphasizing what are often single notes separated by thoughtful silences, as well as short sets of scales cascading in slow motion. Not only will these compositional themes be familiar to fans of Glass's work, so too will several of the melodies. Some sections of the score are derived from his albums Glassworks and Solo Piano and from his opera Satyagraha--which, incidentally, involved the stories of three legendary men active in different eras. --Marc Weidenbaum
Product Description
The superb orchestral music for this powerfully affecting film is by Philip Glass, whose spellbinding 1999 score for Martin Scorcese's Kundun (also on Nonesuch) added an aura of portent and sweep that contributed significantly to the film's impact. The film stars Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman & Ed Harris. Slipcase. 2002
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By evo311
Format:Audio CD
I have not seen the movie, but this soundtrack is absolutely beautiful. If you are a Philip Glass fan it's a no-brainer. If you're not faimilar with Glass, it won't take long to become a fan after listening to this CD.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Andrea Choe
Format:Audio CD
His music inspired the movie-literally. Michael Cunningham, the author of The Hours, was inspired by Glass in the writing of this novel and adeptly describes his influence in the leaflet of this soundtrack.
To begin with- he breaks all the rules. I bought the piano sheet music to "Dead Things" and where I naturally felt I should crescendo, he purposely demands pianississimo- very, very quiet. He purposely silences the most moving elements, as if to say "wait. just feel it first- dont take it."
I hate when people think his music is plain - if one understands music, they know that his work is composed of silk-thin layers of delicated melodies- triplets with one hand, doublets with the other. For those of you out there that dont read music, try to divide a second into 3 equal time frames and tap that beat with your left hand. Then take the same second and divide it into 2 equal time frames and tap that beat at the same time with your right hand. Intuitively, its difficult to do. This is his trademark- he forces musicians to play against their intuition.
As another example, try to tap your pinky and middle finger at the same time. Then tap your ring finger and thumb at the same time. Now alternate quickly. Try to do it for 5 minutes and when you have got that down- do it with your other hand. But use different fingers. And do that 3-2 ratio beat thing.
Confusing? I would certainly think so.
It seems as if such a product could only be made by an eccentric and unyielding mathematician- but when you listen, it has a depth of emotional delicacy that could only be compared to trying to hold onto something you truly love over the edge of the world, with a gradually thinning silver string.
I guess what Im saying is- pay the 10, 15 bucks. Its worth it.
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I am still not sure how I feel about the movie (nicole kidman was odd as virginia wolf, what was with the nose makeup?) yet, but from the moment the dvd started I was hooked on the music. I kept expecting that perfection to suddenly end - such intense and profound music couldn't possibly last a whole movie could it? It must just be a catchy aural hook like in so many other movies - a brilliant theme to lure you in, but no! This genius music continued through the entire movie!
I am not a fan of Phillip Glass - simply because I had never really heard of him. Now that I have heard this I will HAVE to check out his other works.
I am not a writer (and I am not sure really how one can accurately translate the transcendant majesty of music into words anyway) so I am not sure that I can review this music in a just way. But it definately speaks directly to your spirit! There is nothing cliche in this work, nothing old and stale. It is fresh, profound, transcendant, breathtaking! Morning Passages makes my DNA swoon!
If you haven't seen the movie, I am not sure I can reccommend it or not, but this music stands alone! Pure genius! Buy it! NOW!
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4.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredible... amazingly beautiful...
One of the most beautiful and unique soundtracks i've ever heard, Phillip Glass' score for the film is definitely, if not better than the film itself.. Read more
Published on July 4 2004 by Susan J. Cloherty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous!
I absolutely adore this soundtrack. Its fluid movement and simple melody is haunting, beautiful, and positively breathtaking. Read more
Published on Mar 26 2004 by Amanda Alfano
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moving
The film was a masterpiece and the soundtrack is incredible. Phillip Glass's repetitious musical style takes hold here in true genius form. Read more
Published on Mar 23 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfectly complimentary to the film.
I find it rare when a score really catches my attention while watching a film. Philip Glass creates an absolutely beautiful and haunting score, which is wonderfully appropriate... Read more
Published on Feb 23 2004 by Jane Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Introspective Music That Can Break Your Heart
I know a lot of people who don't like the soundtrack for THE HOURS because it is minimalist and skeletal, rather like a Debussy composition or a Monet painting of morning mist on... Read more
Published on Feb 21 2004 by Totally Anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely a masterpiece selection of music
I watched this movie and instantly fell in love with the music. I just had to purchase the soundtrack. This music is so soothing, yet sad, and even joyful at times. Read more
Published on Jan 22 2004 by Jenni
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll listen for hours and hours...
An exquisite backdrop to the marvelous novel by Michael Cunningham and movie. Tenured fans of Glass will immediately recognize his minimalist yet powerful orchestrations. Read more
Published on Dec 26 2003 by Jenny
4.0 out of 5 stars
Listen carefully...
The Hours is one of my favorite films and books, as well. The music composed by Philip Glass is indeed beautiful. But you cannot listen to it without being fully concentrated. Read more
Published on Nov 20 2003 by Menelaos
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most crafted soundtracks
I got this soundtrack yesterday and fell in love with it. Philip Glass has a way with composing that I have never heard before every song had its signature and special attitude... Read more
Published on Nov 15 2003 by "colabear14"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dollars for Hours
Ok, Philip Glass has done it once again. The man really knows his stuff. I thought "Einstein on the Beach" was genius . . . HA! Read more
Published on Oct 21 2003 by Sarah Buck
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