Schindler's List

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

What score is probably one of the finest ever written yet you hardly listen to it? Many, and I mean many people will answer Schindler's List of John Williams. It is strange yet true. The music that translates itself so deeply into the human soul is nothing short but outstanding but still, I can't lure myself to listen to it often or even once and a while. The movie of Steven Spielberg is of course painfully correct in all its statements and you will hardly disagree with anything that the movie deals about. John Williams' score is the same, and with a main theme to die for it is the classic of all classics. And it might have been the case that Jurassic Park stirred the crowd with sensation, when it came down to dramatic horror, it was all but Schindler's List that did it. John Williams' music, which captures the essence of the heart and Itzhak Perlman's undisputed violin solos make of Schindler's List a score that can not and never will be forgotten, just like the scenes it supports.

The score did receive several editions, like a golden release which of course costs much more but in every way, the music is equally stunning in its right. The main theme of Schindler's List is heard in the first and last track, both receive a depth unfelt before in many soundtracks. Itzhak Perlman is no simply a name in the classical era of music and he indeed makes the music count double. From then on, the music becomes less enjoyable. Of course music like this must not be enjoyable so I will rephrase it with less hopeful. The music no doubt underscores scenes that never will leave the memory. From 'I Could have Done More' the music becomes once more unmistakably beautiful, dramatic and captivating. John Williams more then ever relies on his heart to tell the music and no doubt to say that it is typical Williams' like in scope. Tracks like 'Making the List' and 'Give me your Names' bring so much emotion with it and you don't need to see the film to understand what's going on.While I was listening to these moments, I remained quiet and never moved a muscle, this is not cheer up music but tones that hit you in the heart and conscience.

I always said it: people are the only animals walking on this world and sometimes I even wonder if we deserve to live at all. Steven Spielberg brings it painfully on screen while John Williams dramatically makes it harder. Schindler's List is no easy to enjoy album, then you have to give other soundtracks a turn but it is just the kind of music that makes you think. If music can make you do that, then by all means give it acclaim and awards. You don't need to see the movie to think about what John Williams has done here, you don't need to be a film music aficionado to think the world about it. The music itself will make the impact for you and if someone can't accept that, then they are feeling the burden of a weight inhuman. John Williams' music for Schindler's List is some of the best music ever written, for a soundtrack that is hardly listened at. The music doesn't even need to be heard to make an impact on you.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Theme From Schindler's List * (4.15) Excellent Track

2. Jewish Town (Krakow Ghetto - Winter '41) * (4.40)

3. Immolation (With Our Lives, We Give Life) (4.43)

4. Remembrances (4.20)

5. Schindler's Workforce (9.08)

6. OYF'N Pripetshok *** / Nacht Aktion ** (2.55)

7. I Could Have Done More * (5.52) Excellent Track

8. Auschwitz - Birkenau * (3.40)

9. Stolen Memories (4.19) Excellent Track

10. Making The List * (5.10) Excellent Track

11. Give Me Your Names (4.53) Excellent Track

12. Yeroushalaim Chel Zahav (Jerusalem Of Gold) (2.15)

13. Remembrances * (5.15) Excellent Track

14. Theme From Schindler's List (Reprise) * (2.58) Excellent Track

* Violin Solos by Itzhak Perlman

** Clarinet Solos performed by Giora Feidman

*** Composed by Mark Warschafsky

Total Length: 64.36

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===