THE BANQUET (Soundtrack)

 ABOUT THE SOUNDTRACK

Composer: Tan Dun
Label:
Universal/Deutsche Grammophon
Year Release: September 14 2006
Links: www.deutschegrammophon/thebanquet

www.thebanquetthemovie.com

 

 



TRACK LISTING
1
Only For Love (Theme Song) (5:21)
2
Waiting (2:05)
3
In The Bamboo Forest (4:09)
4
Longing In Silence (woman) (2:14)
5
Behind The Mask (1:43)
6
Sword Dance (1:49)
7
Punished Soul (1:38)
8
Lost Days (2:08)
9
Desire (1:11)
10
Exile To Snowy West (2:16)
11
Longing In Silence (man) (4:18)
12
A Duel of Minds (1:33)
13
Bridge of Sacrifice (3:19)
14
Horsemen In Black (2:29)
15
After Tonight (2:33)
16
Lady In Red (2:04)
17
Revenge (1:41)
18
Play within a Play (4:11)
19
The Banquet (Theme Music) (3:37)

REVIEW

Sure, it may be a certain Ziyi Zhang who shone in Feng Xiaogang’s latest movie epic. But as far as this soundtrack is concerned, the starlet to listen out for in this album is her co-star Zhou Xun. Just listen to her croon in “Longing in Silence (woman)”, and you’d be as heartbroken as this reviewer is.

Although this track lasts only for two-odd minutes on the 51-minute album, its sets an essential emotional backdrop for you to indulge yourself in the entire listening experience. Accompanying her are two other vocalists from Mainland China who contribute their operatic voices on tracks entitled “Only for Love (Theme Song)” and “Longing in Silence (man)”.

Yes, we are as bewildered as you when we saw the track titles.

If you understand Mandarin, the lyrics on these tracks could have a depressing effect on you. If not, you’d still be moved by the melody and music grand arrangements.

Elsewhere, Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun scores the motion picture with his usual engaging beats and rhythms. Fans of his previous works Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Hero (2002) will find his style familiar, with heavy use of strings, flutes and ethnic percussions. The result is an interesting fusion of Eastern and Western sound which will appeal to the modern score listener.

For his latest work, Tan works with renowned pianist Lang Lang on his compositions. Listening to tracks like “In the Bamboo Forest” and “Sword Dance” will have you believe that you are in a concert hall listening to this talented Chinese pianist furiously tinkling the ivory keys on the piano. Meanwhile, you may feel the characters’ heartache, betrayal and sorrow in moving tracks like “Exile to Snowy West” and “The Banquet (Theme Music)”.

This is not an album where you expect a showcase of traditional Chinese orchestral instruments. Instead, be prepared to be stirred by some lush compositions penned by Tan, and several brilliant performances by Lang. Kudos to whoever came up with the idea of bringing these two talents together on this project.

And if this soundtrack scores at any major awards, we Asians can have another thing to be proud of.

 

SOUNDTRACK RATING:

Review by John Li

 

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