Director Rob Marshall hired three of Asia's most fabulous stars (Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, and Gong Li) for this Japan-set movie, so one wonders why he didn't put in a call to a local composer as well. Was Tan Dun's line busy? Was Joe Hisaishi otherwise engaged? In any case, John Williams won the assignment, and he didn't end up with egg on his face. Mercifully, Williams left the bombast at home and put cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman to good use in this sensitive score. The lovely "Sayuri's Theme" resurfaces at regular intervals, and it's good to hear Williams keep his showier instincts in check through a good chunk of the movie, as he delivers a more subdued sound. One of the most dramatic moments happens during "The Fire Scene and the Coming of War." By then Williams has basically reverted to the familiar, brooding mode he uses for ominous scenes, when suddenly the track integrates an excerpt from "The Folding Fan as a Target," a traditional piece for voice and the Japanese lute known as biwa. Though Williams is right to err on the side of low key, it would have been nice to get more of these stark sounds in his competent but ultimately unmemorable compositions. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack:
I love this soundrack. The music is very Japanesse traditional. I love to listen to it at work because it is soft and relaxing.
Beautiful!:
I love the movie so much very well put to together and beautiful! Loved the music and just recently decided to buy the soundtrack for it, you forget in the movie there are several people actually making these songs not just computers! Cant stop listening to the soundtrack! Movie, music all of it very beautiful!!
Mood Capturing Music:
I loved the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" and its soundtrack. The haunting reoccurring themes help to give the perfect atmosphere to the movie. I had read a very scathing review of the soundtrack that called it "forgettable, " which is the exact opposite of what the soundtrack is. I found the music did exactly what it was supposed to do in musically illustrating and complementing the film and setting the mood. The lovely melodies really stuck in my mind and I could not wait to get a copy of the soundtrack.... more info
If you liked the movie - you'll love the soundtrack.:
I loved Memoirs of a Geisha the book, and loved Memoirs of a Geisha the movie just as much. I am happy to say that the soundtrack has lived up to my expectations. At this point I cannot even choose a favorite, between the moving elegance of Sayuri's theme and Sayuri's Theme/End Credits and the carefully poignant Chairman's Waltz. I don't normally buy movie soundtracks, let alone the entire album - but this one I *had* to have. Love it!
Tracks:
Sayuri's Theme
The Journey To The Hanamachi
Going To School
Brush On Silk
Chiyo's Prayer
Becoming A Geisha
Finding Satsu
The Chairman's Waltz
The Rooftops Of The Hanamachi
The Garden Meeting
Dr. Crab's Prize
Destiny's Path
A New Name... A New Life
The Fire Scene And The Coming of War- John Williams
