Academy Award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Last Emperor) has created one of his most spectacular and inspiring film scores for the soundtrack to Bernardo Bertolucci's epic--Little Buddha. Sakamoto's fusion of ele... more »ctronic and organic instruments beautifully compliment the stunning scenery and powerful images of the film and reflect the awesome scope of the human soul.« less
Academy Award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Last Emperor) has created one of his most spectacular and inspiring film scores for the soundtrack to Bernardo Bertolucci's epic--Little Buddha. Sakamoto's fusion of electronic and organic instruments beautifully compliment the stunning scenery and powerful images of the film and reflect the awesome scope of the human soul.
CD Reviews
Heart-melting music
H. L. Logan | CA, USA | 04/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am listening to LITTLE BUDDHA as I write this. Magnificent. Tender. Up-lifting. Expansive. Meditative. Music that stands on it's own, without the film, but music that gives the film the majesty and spirituality it was expressing, in depicting scenes from the life of Buddha.Each melody brings tears to my eyes and full body chills. It lifts the hair on the back of my neck and arms. Whether cut #3, "The First Meeting" or # 12, "The Middle Way" or # 17, "Acceptance", this music instantly finds its way into my heart. # 5, "Nepalese Caravan" and # 8, "Red Dust", conjure an inner picture of far away India; jeweled elephants, sparkling Rajas wearing ropes of pearls, clouds of incense, wandering monks in ochre robes...a pageant of the enigmatic, sphinxian Orient. The music creates this vision with every note.If you have a fondness for eastern music, Indian specifically, and sumptuous strings, solo violins, flutes, tablas, and chords in that eternal fifth, like Gregorian chants or Indian ragas...this is the CD for you.I didn't know the composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, before I saw this film. I've since learned he received an Academy Award for his score of THE LAST EMPEROR, which he also acted in. I am now a devoted fan of this extraordinary composer, musician, actor and artist.Bravo, Mr. Skamototo -- keep the music flowing. And thank you."
Original and moving
joto25 | 11/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ryuichi Sakamoto is a musician with vision. This work for Bertolucci's Little Buddha is a work on its own. From the Main Theme, it sweeps you away into the very soul of what's to come. Fabulous styling that combines all types of music, peaking with Enlightenment. And before you think you are saturated, Catherine Bott's stunning vocals come in......such sensations!The images stirred up by this composer here leave you with strange longing. If you have caught the film, then this music takes you back to fantastic cinematography. One of Sakamoto's best since Last Emperor and Sheltering sky. Beautiful vocals by The Ambrosian Singers too.joto25"
More moving than the Last Emperor.
joto25 | 11/27/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of Sakamoto's best. If you liked Peter Gabriel's Passion (from the Last Temptation of Christ film), then this is more spiritually involved, glorious orchestration, and sucks you right into the music. One of my favorite soundtracks of all time!"
Glorious orchestra work!
joto25 | 08/21/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This soundtrack is beautiful. When watching the film, the music fits perfectly. The trick of a good soundtrack is to sound great without the film and Sakamoto has achieved this. The last track on the album is one of the most beautiful vocal tracks ever written. If there were sheet music to accompany it, I am sure every operatic singer on the charts would record it. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!"
Keep memories of the movie
bernie | Arlington, Texas | 09/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even though this is a movie the sound track, it can stand alone as a work of art.
Missing from the soundtrack, probably because is radically different than the rest of the music, is the song that is played on the radio during the initial car trip in Seattle "Mystery." The advantage in this album is that you can listen to it over and over again and it makes great background music.
If you like Ryuichi Sakamoto's music as much as apposed to buying this for the sound track then you may be interested in his other compositions in "The Last Emperor", and "Wuthering Heights."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1