_The Shining_ - the score

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Caught this on TV this wk and really noticed the music, which I hadn't really when I saw it 7 years ago. Is it all Wendy Carlos? There is some fantastic textural stuff there, great eerie shrill resonances and string noise. Are they excerpts from longer pieces? Is it available commercially? Is it any good without the film?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:37 (twenty-three years ago)

There's no current legitimate release for the film's score, but a couple different versions are circulating within the bootleg market. One is just like the original release with only 8 tracks. Another (the one I downloaded from slsk) features all 14 pieces heard in the film. Not all of them are by Carlos, but, since it's not on my hard drive right now, I can't tell you who the other pieces are by. I remember Gyorgi Ligeti being on there, I believe.

― Andrew Frye (paul cox), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:45 (twenty-three years ago)

There's some Penderecki on there, I think.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:46 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, that makes much more sense. I was wondering if it was Ligeti or Penderecki while watching. I was surprised to read that the score was Carlos.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Track listing here.

― Andrew Frye (paul cox), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:50 (twenty-three years ago)

bartok's on the soundtrack, too!

― Tad (llamasfur), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:54 (twenty-three years ago)

The title-theme dirge is truly chilling, especially the disembodied crys in the middle part. Not to be played while at home alone, etc.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 16 August 2003 19:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Out of interest, anyone know why you can't get this on legit CD?

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Saturday, 16 August 2003 20:13 (twenty-three years ago)

No sanctioned cd copies of the soundtrack exist according to this bit on Carlos's site, warning shoppers that you get what you pay for. But the collection I downloaded from slsk (completely gratis) sounds mighty fine!

― Andrew Frye (paul cox), Saturday, 16 August 2003 20:30 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not certain if this is a factor or not in the unavailability of the soundtrack, but I know that Ligeti objected to how his music was used in "2001" (pieces were edited to splice sections together). He's a notorious curmudgeon regarding his music, so it wouldn't be hard to believe if his permission was a factor regarding the nonrelease of the "Shining" soundtrack.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Saturday, 16 August 2003 20:41 (twenty-three years ago)

The vinyl release went out of print, and apparently a new release can't be negotiated without Kubrick. Or something.

― David Steans, Saturday, 16 August 2003 21:15 (twenty-three years ago)

this is an amazing record. I'm not even sure if it came out in america, my pressing is on warner europe.

if I were Ligeti, seeing Kubrick's films would be personally disorienting, his work is radically conformed to follow the action of the film. also Kubrick's films are so powerfully distinctive, it does burn very deep associations with the film's images during listening. the second movement of Ligeti's 'Requiem', it's hard not to think of the Monolith. Luckily the piece has three other movements and an incredible climax... also, the fact that the pieces were edited means that there's more to discover when you hunt down the original pieces, it's easier to hear them as Ligeti intended.

the 'Shining' soundtrack was my introduction to Penderecki. 'Utrenja' is an incredible piece. I wish I could find the version excerpted on the soundtrack, but the Markowski version on Philips/Muza sounds great too.

those are elkind's vocals on the carlos pieces. similar to her terrifying vocals on 'winter' from 'sonic seasonings'.

― milton (Jon L), Saturday, 16 August 2003 22:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Wasn't part of Symphonie Fantastique used as well? Or am I just thinking of the trailers and TV ads?

― Lee G (Lee G), Monday, 18 August 2003 16:22 (twenty-three years ago)

I like the score of this movie a lot more than the actual movie. I will also cast my vote for Kubrick having unbelievably good taste for music in his movies. I doubt he could have done better had he hired Ligeti to do an original score - though I'm sure Ligeti would have been much happier.

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 18 August 2003 16:42 (twenty-three years ago)

seventeen years pass...

tfw you’re cruising on shuffle and Utrenja comes on

― calstars, Saturday, 7 November 2020 02:26 (five years ago)

I had that as a ringtone one October long ago. It stayed my ringtone for all of one single call.

― On average, this critic grades 8.3 points lower than other critics (Eric H.), Saturday, 7 November 2020 02:34 (five years ago)

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