Beloved: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

It makes perfect sense that Beloved, Jonathan Demme's adaptation of Toni Morrison's acclaimed novel, brims with haunting and mysterious melodies. This is, after all, a story about the repercussions of slavery. Native American flutes and African percussion permeate Rachel Portman's score, as do the haunting vocals of Oumou Sangare. The powerful yet sparse contributions from the Malian vocalist give the disc heavenly atmospherics, while the music--though ponderous at times--brims with intensity. "Cincinnati Streets" and "Vaccine" both feature a frantic patter of percussion, while "That's Ohio" features fragile string arrangements giving way to the gorgeous harmonies of the African Children's Choir. These somber global sounds are both beautiful and compelling. Yet another scoring gem from Portman. --Jason Verlinde Amazon.com

Rachel Portman's amazing sensitivity in music for a very odd film!

Rachel Portman is well known and respected for her wonderfully sensitive and vibrant film soundtracks. Her art has graced the wonderful period classics EMMA, OLIVER TWIST and NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, but BELOVED has to be Ms. Portman's crowning achievement. Portman's BELOVED not only is a clear departure from much of her other works, but it excels into the realms of the mystical and eerie and is extremely reminiscent of the work of another veteran composer Thomas Newton. The film has major problems, but Portman's music does not! As a cd,alone, Portman's hauntingly elegant soundtrack stands as pure music apart from the Oprah Winfrey film. Absolutely one of the five top soundtracks in my book! June 14, 2007

Great Music

One of the reasons the movie Beloved lingers in your head for such a long time is the amazing score by Rachel Portman. Not only does the music compliment the movie perfectly the score stands alone as a work of art. One of the best peices of music is "Denver Goes Out yonder" this is a breakthrough for the character and the vibrancy of the music brings that out perfectly. The use of flutes and other instruments is extrordinary, as well as the vocals of Oumou Sangare as well as the African Children's choir. This soundtack along with the movie is a must own. April 2, 2002

A Journey That Has No End...

This soundtrack is absolutely stunning and captivating. From Beloved's Headstone to the final musical score, I was entranced and lost within my own complexities and traveled down roads not taken in years. I could relive each and every moment of the movie as if I were watching it while listening to the CD. A wonderful CD to accompany an excellent movie. LOVE YOUR HEART...MORE THAN THE LUNGS THAT BREATHE LIFE...MORE THAN THE PRIVATES THAT GIVE LIFE...LOVE YOUR HEART. December 23, 1999

first time listener -- absolutely haunting

This lovely screen score has only whetted my appetite for more Rachel Portman music. As I write this I am listening to the music to Beloved. A quirky film with a transcendent musical motif. I highly recommend the cd. August 11, 1999

On my list of top ten soundtracks!!!

The soundtrack to BELOVED is amazing. It makes it onto my list of top ten soundtracks!!! The combonation of vocal talent (Oumou Sangare, The African Children's Choir) and creepy wind instruments, make for a haunting, beautifull soundtrack. It deserves more than five stars. July 14, 1999

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