The Thin Red Line (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
The Thin Red Line is the soundtrack
of the film of the same name
. It was released on January 12, 1999 by RCA Victor. German-born film composer Hans Zimmer
is credited for scoring most of the score along with his studio
partner John Powell
. The soundtrack was nominated at the 71st Academy Awards for Original Dramatic Score, but lost out to Life Is Beautiful
.
Zimmer and collaborator John Powell composed over four hours of music on this film, presumably for the director's original cut of the film. However, when director Terrence Malick re-cut the film down to its current running time of 170 minutes, he chose only a few select pieces of music from Zimmer's and Powell's musical contributions, along with original source music, and much of Zimmer's compositions were cut. The film also features several Melanesian choral songs and chants, performed by the Choir of All Saints from Honiara
only one of which ("God U Tekem Laef Blong Mi") is featured on the soundtrack. Especially "Jisas yu holem hand blong mi" is missing. In addition to the choral music, Zimmer added to his tracks the use of Asian instruments, like the Shakuhachi
and the Koto
.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
of the film of the same name
The Thin Red Line (1998 film)
The Thin Red Line is a 1998 American war film which tells a fictional story of United States forces during the Battle of Mount Austen in World War II. It portrays men in: C Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; in particular those soldiers played by Sean Penn, Jim...
. It was released on January 12, 1999 by RCA Victor. German-born film composer Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
is credited for scoring most of the score along with his studio
Remote Control Productions
Remote Control Productions is a film score company run by veteran composer Hans Zimmer. Originally known as "Media Ventures," which was conceived and founded by Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer, the company changed its name after the partners both filed lawsuits against each other.Remote Control...
partner John Powell
John Powell
John Powell is a British composer, best known for his scores to motion pictures. He has been based in the United States since 1997 and has composed the scores to over fifty feature films. He rose to fame in the late 1990s and 2000s, scoring numerous animated films, and collaborating with...
. The soundtrack was nominated at the 71st Academy Awards for Original Dramatic Score, but lost out to Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian film which tells the story of a Jewish Italian, Guido Orefice , who must employ his fertile imagination to help his family during their internment in a Nazi concentration camp.At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, Benigni won the Academy Award for Best Actor and...
.
Production
Zimmer wrote several hours of music, with several different themes, even before Malick started to shoot the film. The director then played the music on the set, while filming, to get himself, and the rest of the crew and actors in the right frame of mind.Zimmer and collaborator John Powell composed over four hours of music on this film, presumably for the director's original cut of the film. However, when director Terrence Malick re-cut the film down to its current running time of 170 minutes, he chose only a few select pieces of music from Zimmer's and Powell's musical contributions, along with original source music, and much of Zimmer's compositions were cut. The film also features several Melanesian choral songs and chants, performed by the Choir of All Saints from Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
only one of which ("God U Tekem Laef Blong Mi") is featured on the soundtrack. Especially "Jisas yu holem hand blong mi" is missing. In addition to the choral music, Zimmer added to his tracks the use of Asian instruments, like the Shakuhachi
Shakuhachi
The is a Japanese end-blown flute. It is traditionally made of bamboo, but versions now exist in ABS and hardwoods. It was used by the monks of the Fuke school of Zen Buddhism in the practice of...
and the Koto
Koto (musical instrument)
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
.
Track listing
- The Coral Atoll (8:00)
- The Lagoon (8:36)
- Journey to the Line (9:21)
- Light (7:19)
- Beam (3:44) (Composed by John PowellJohn PowellJohn Powell is a British composer, best known for his scores to motion pictures. He has been based in the United States since 1997 and has composed the scores to over fifty feature films. He rose to fame in the late 1990s and 2000s, scoring numerous animated films, and collaborating with...
) - Air (2:21)
- Stone in My Heart (4:28)
- The Village (5:52)
- Silence (5:06)
- God U Tekem Laef Blong Mi (1:58)
- Sit Back and Relax (2:06) (Composed by Francesco Lupica)