'The New World' movie soundtrack

[Stephany]

Hi Comet, Dori and everyone,

I remember reading an article about "The New World" and James Horner's soundtrack. It was actually Terrence Malick's decision (the director) not to include 'Listen to the Wind'. You should see the movie to understand his point of view. The actors/characters are very rarely speaking - the voiceover isn't about conveying narrative information, it is more to create a mood and stirs up emotions.

It is also moving very quietly and understandably so, considering the theme of the movie. As Malick said, it was meant to be poetry made visual. They therefore included very discreet and simple music (eg: with sounds of birds!) and didn't want to include a 'voice' by fear of disrupting what they wanted to strenghten - basically, the power of silence. I understand why some people find this movie very boring (I am one of them!) but overall it has stunning cinematography and gives you a very interesting lesson of cinema.

I wouldn't have minded hearing Hayley's song during the credits, though. Especially because then she would have been eligible for an Oscar nomination

Stephany

[comet]

Hang Em !

Hang em high.....

Ennio Morricone

[Richard]

Read more about Terrence Malick's decision, including interviews with James Horner and Hayley, HERE.

Richard

[comet]

I know I shouldn't do it but it is just so much fun

It is a bright sunny but cold day here in Dublin, I have the windows wide open and I am listening to The New world.
When it gets to the pieces where there is just birdsong I turn the volume up full and the birds outside in the trees on the street are responding to the birds on the recording, It really is quite amazing to listen to them.

Try it sometime.

Many years ago I would play sheep from a BBC sound effects album for our dog and he would run around the room searching behind the furniture looking for the sheep.

"They're coming to take me away ha ha to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time, They're coming to take me away "

[grant]

Hello everyone!

My copy of "The New World" soundtrack arrived from CDUniverse this morning.

Unfortunately, they've sent the wrong version of the "Pure" CD I ordered, not the one with the bonus DVD!

Best wishes
Grant

[martindn]

My copy of this album has now arrived from Amazon.com. There is a sticker on the front that says

"Includes performance of a NEW SONG "Listen to the Wind" by International Pop Vocalist Hayley Westenra.

I've never heard her called that before!

Martin

[Ross]

I was out shopping today when I saw the New world soundtrack CD so I bought it on impulse. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the songs especially the ones with Hayley's vocals in them. There was a lot of bird noises throughout the album plus I noticed a lot of the Listen to the Wind theme in most of the songs.

[daemonbyte]

I love listen to the wind on this album although it's really sad.

[Nordly]

I just watched 'The New World,' but isn't Hayley supposed to sing during the credits? I didn't hear her voice.

~NL

Edit: Nevermind, I just read Stephany's post at the top of the page

[comet]

Dec 29, 2005 9:45:49 GMT Raymond said:

Hi Joe,
I think this song was recorded during Hayley's Odyssey tour. I remembered reading some news that Hayley was not able to go to Taiwan to promote Odyssey because she needed to record a movie theme song at that time.

Raymond

maybe Hayley should have gone to Taiwan instead.
considering the response Hayley got there recently..

but as the good book said :

There is a time for everything under the sun..

[gillette]

Moved from the Josh Groban thread:

Aug 18, 2014 20:42:42 GMT martindn said:

Of course Hayley recorded a whole film soundtrack with James Horner (of Titanic fame) for "The New World". I will never forgive Thomas Mallick for not using it in the actual film. It is available on CD though, and I have a copy.

Martin D

I believe that that cut by Malick might very well be the biggest game-changer in Hayley's career. I read years ago that Horner was done out of an Oscar by that cut. It was said that there wasn't another film song for 2005 that came anywhere close to it for contention. Hayley lost out on that which did so much for Celine Dion in the Titanic. I just now tried to find the source of that remark, but was unable to come up with it again. However, I did just find a nice tribute to Hayley. See the 4th (last) paragraph under Editorial Review.
BobS

www.filmtracks.com/titles/new_world.html


Edit:
Better this should be in this thread - -
hwi.proboards.com/thread/2033?page=4
or possibly this one - -
hwi.proboards.com/thread/792

[Richard]

Hello Bob!

Here's the fourth paragraph of the review at Filmtracks.com:

Overall, there are twenty minutes of Horner's melodic and pleasant textures for the almost mystical forest environment that beg for a rearrangement into one fantastic suite. This collection of cues is led, interestingly, by the song adaptation of Horner's title theme at the end of the album. Easily the best song of 2005 in any film, Horner tones down the overbearing romanticism of Titanic and replaces Celine Dion with 17-year-old opera phenom Hayley Westenra, whose elegant performance over the same orchestral and synthetic textures from Horner's underscore are simply exquisite. Detractors of Horner's works will find fault with The New World, however. The theme itself moves with related rhythms and chord progressions as the secondary theme for The Land Before Time (the one also translated into song), and the perhaps the greatest irony of all of Horner's work here is that there exist structural similarities between "Listen to the Wind" and Alan Menken's "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas (aside, of course, from the names of the songs). Also along the way, listeners will note that Horner doesn't entirely attempt to diverge from his established comfort zone when it comes to the chord progressions and rhythms that define much of his work. One thing must be said on Horner's behalf: despite the stylistic consistencies throughout most of his scores, his four efforts of 2005 have all yielded significantly different results from that same palette. Although 2005 will be a year remembered for John Williams' achievements, Horner's contributions in the year are as varied as ever, and the partially-rejected The New World is a strong and surprisingly refreshing entry in the mix. The album squeezes on 80 minutes of Horner's work for listeners to enjoy in the form that the composer had originally intended the music to be heard in the film before Malick's haphazard edits. Be aware that the album does not contain any of the Wagner or Mozart music heard frequently in the film!

Click on the link at the top to see the full review.

Richard

[gillette]

Thank you ever so much, Richard, for the posting move and the Filmtracks printout.
BobS

[comet]

I have requested Listen to the wind several times on RTE Lyric FM on various Movie Soundtrack programmes but never heard it played. Maybe I'll just have to buy them a copy

[frenchie]

I have been reading all these back posts and the interview Hayley and James gave in France several years ago with interest and disbelief.
First off, thank you Stepany for translating Hayley's interview several years ago in the French magazine. I agree with a lot of you that Listen to the Wind would have been a game changer for Hayley.
Second, due to reading all your posts is making me want to grab the soundtrack (or at least the theme song), and add it to my collection. This is what I'm doing while waiting for Hayley's new album. Also helps that I've only been a fan for three years - my third anniversary is right around this time btw- so I have quite a lot left to enjoy before being caught up. Anyways, is it really worth getting the soundtrack? I'm not a big soundtrack fan so I would be getting it for Hayley only. In reading the interview, it mentions she vocalises on a few tracks. Can you hear her? Is it a few "ohhs" and "ahhs" and that's it?
Sorry for all the questions, I know James Horner is a great composer, but I just don't want this for only Listen to the Wind. I could just get Prayer plus a couple other songs I don't have already. If it is a worth while Hayley release than I will just get the soundtrack. I hope you understand.
Alicia
PS I'm in a chatty mood. Sorry for the long post.