Soundtrack of the Moment: Little Women

Well, August is here and summer is in full force.  I hope everyone is enjoying their hot dogs and ice cream.  As for me, I’ll have my ice cream inside and listen to some good music.  Is it odd that at the moment, I’m in love with Thomas Newman’s wonderful score for the film, Little Women?  I think not.  Sure, if it snowed here in Southern California I’d probably listen to this soundtrack everyday.  But, for me, anytime is a good time to listen to Newman’s beautiful music for Little Women.

Just listen to the music during the movie’s main titles.  It’s simply beautiful.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It perfectly evokes the time period and captures that frontier spirit.  I love the horn section and the wonderful trumpets with their triumphant and regal presence.  The soft moving melodies of the woodwinds and strings compliment the horns in this piece.

What I like about Newman’s score is how he captures the film’s emotions.  This score really needs to be heard in its entirety.  The score evolves and each composition has a different tone to them, yet they compliment each other and together create a wonderful film score that can stand on its own.  Even in the middle of the summer.

I love some of the simpler works in this score, where Newman uses traditional instruments including, a piano, flute and strings.  A technique rather far from the Newman scores we hear today.

The flute is beautifully featured in several great solos.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The piano solo in the piece “Valley of the Shadow” is so moving in film.  Newman knows how to warm your heart during such emotional scenes.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Newman’s music shines when the film transitions into a new season (my favorite parts of the film).  I love the woodwind and harp intro in the “Spring” piece and how the beautiful main theme flourishes during the “Harvest Time.”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Jo’s ambitions trip to New York is set to big sounding horns and a rumbling timpani, again capturing that early American spirit of pursuing your dreams.  This is one of my favorite tracks.  The later end of this piece reminds me of his Revolutionary Road theme.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Another great feature of this score is Newman’s tribute to early composers of the time, such as Francis Johnson’s tribute to the French General LaFayette’s celebrated visit to America, and a waltz by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti.  Newman’s compositions fit interchangeably within theses pieces.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Newman’s own touch is still there, of course.  I love his use of chimes and pizzicato strings.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This score was a well deserved Academy Award nomination.  Newman was the only double-nominee that year. He was also nominated for The Shawshank Redemption and the two were his first nominations.  Little Women will definitely remain one of his finest works.  Although, I love his inventive style and the more contemporary sound of his recent scores, it would be great to hear another more traditional score.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.