The 13th Warrior: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

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Free Music Notes for The 13th Warrior: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Free Music Review: Spectacular, Swashbuckling, and Superb!
Hit: 5 Stars

This motion picture soundtrack was written very close to The Mummy, and there are some rather close similarities between the music here and for The Mummy. The latter isn't as enjoyable as a listening experience however, partially because for a great amount of the movie, the lead protaganists are lurking in dark tombs- and that doesn't make for good, loud, swashblucking type accompanying music.

The 13th Warrior's soundtrack on the other hand is precisely that however- it's loud, it's noisy, it's swashbuckling, performed by a full symphonic orchestra and chorus, dominated by several central themes that cannot but stir your heart, and most of all, *very* enjoyable! There is immense use of brass and timpani (there is one track that begins with several bars of timpani hammering away before the bold theme takes over), and great use of male vocals to supplement the main theme. The Arabian-esque theme mixes very well "Viking-celtic" type of music, and in at least one track you can hear both themes at the same time in a fashion not too unlike Baroque counterpoint music. The two main themes of the disc are heard in various forms throughout the entire disc, but even though they're somewhat similarly performed in style, they still sound different enough such that you don't get the sensation that Goldsmith is repeating his music.

Lastly, the presentation of the disc is good with some linear notes (I would have liked a montage of photographs though, common in some of the more recent soundtrack releases); Goldsmith's music is very well served with excellent recording- acoustics are sharp yet not dry (there is a very pleasant warmth in the sound)- the disc is reasonably well filled at nearly 60 minutes; and best of all, there's no obligatory "pop" song at the end of the disc. All in all, one of my favourite music soundtracks, and I highly recommend this disc to any one who enjoys listening to symphonic-type action-oriented music!

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