Rachel Portman - The Cider House Rules: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture

With its idyllic New England locales and multiple themes, director Lasse Hallstrom's version of John Irving's book presented composer Rachel Portman with some challenging, if deceptively simple, choices. Portman's main theme (imagine a pastoral Copland waltz), stated by solo piano and then orchestra, sets us firmly in the tranquil Maine countryside, while permutations of it continually shade the film's various dramatic intentions. It's a simple, time-honored device, yet one that carries the implicit danger of Repetitive Schmaltz Syndrome. But Portman's melodic construction here is so strong, and her arranging skills so multihued, that she ultimately pulls off the tricky balancing act and delivers a rewarding listening experience. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Music From Cider House Does RULE!

Rachel Portman does it again. She is one composer that stands apart from the rest. After a number of beautiful offerings, (Joy Luck Club, Emma, etc), she gives us another incredible and skillfully directed score. Whats especially great about this soundtrack, is that you can sit back and relax to Portman's music over and over and not tire of it. I actually heard this score before seeing the film. Of course then I had to purchase the DVD because I wanted to see the story that goes with the beautiful music. A very moving film with music that enhances it. I highly recommend this score to everyone who appreciates subtle themes that are gently weaved thoughout the entire soundtrack. This score RULES! June 14, 2008

This One's a 10! Portman's A Genius!

I love movie music and am always looking for something astronomically beautiful. I'm a huge fan of Horner (not doing much lately), James N. Howard, John Williams (not as original anymore) and especially Thomas Newman.

I just happened to be watching Cider House Rules looking for new material. The movie was staggeringly slow, plodding and boring, but I waded through the thing just for the score!

I had not paid any attention to the only female composer out there because she writes for movies I'd never see. Can't stand skinny Gwinny Paltrow and would NEVER see a movie like Emma, but I bought the score movie unseen.

Now I am beginning a Portman music collection. Sure wish I'd known about the Legend of Bagger Vance before the music became collectible and the cheapest CD out there is nearly $90.00.

Portman's bio shows so many works. She is quite prolific and injects as much emotion into her scores as Newman does. I'll be watching for her from now on.

Buy this score! It is 100% magnificent! April 20, 2008

Rules to be heard

The Cider House Rules: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture
The soundtrack is wonderfully evocative of the theme, time, and place of the movie. It is both simple in theme and yet grand in its musicality. I highly recommend it. December 28, 2007

Great Music

This is a terrific soundtrack. I really like "Dr. Larch Dies" and "Homer Returns to the orphanage" especially. Oops. If you didn't see the movie, I guess it just got ruined for you. The people who produce these albums really should think about how they name the tracks. December 7, 2007

Great for graduate work!

I'm not a music critic, but I love this album, perhaps even more than the movie! I have probably read (and written more!) academic papers while listening to it than anything else.

Not sure why, but unlike many other recordings, I find that I'm able to still perform cognitively intense work while listening to it -- and it beautifully complements the view of the green hills and river from our engineering library! June 3, 2007

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