In case you've never seen this movie it might be due to the fact that it is an IMAX format movie and viewable only in IMAX or OMNIMAX theatres. It was released early in 1998 and is one of the most exciting movies about climbing Mount Everest. Following an expedition of international climbers including Jamling Norgay Tenzeng, son of the first sherpa to climb Everest, the movie follows them from their start in Tibet to their triumphant return home. Seeing as how the expedition was made up of international members, Steve Wood and Daniel May give the score an international feel as well. By this I mean that they have used a variety of instruments and musical styles to play the score. There is Tibetan monks chanting, the bag pipes that James Horner loves to use, Spanish guitars, American guitars and an orchestra.
This is brought into full glory in the opening track The Journey Begins. Starting off with typical Tibetan music and then flowing into a Tibetan chant and then back into Tibetan music, then to an American version of the theme followed by a Spanish guitar version of the main theme. In some cases such a quick series of transitions would not really flow together, after all, Tibetan music and mid-western American music are about as different as can be. But Wood and May combine the different styles in a manner that makes the score enjoyable to listen to. The fact that some styles of Tibetan music are similar to Indian music doesn't hurt either since I enjoy Indian classical music.
Another plus is the fact that the music from songs written by George Harrison is included in quite a few tracks. The instrumental version of Here Comes The Sun presented on this soundtrack is the best I've heard, I just wish they could have included the vocal version heard over the end credits of the movie as well. If you have the opportunity to see the movie, I say drop what you're doing and go see this movie. For most of us, it will be the closest we get to seeing the top of the world in such a lifelike manner. But if you can't see the movie, you should still take a look at the CD since it stands on its own as well.
Total time: 39:43
1: The Journey Begins (5:53) - (1)(2)(3)(A)(C)
2: The Himalaya (3:46) - (1)(2)(B)
3: Chorten Monuments (1:22) - (2)
4: Khumbu Icefall (4:28) - (2)
5: The Trek (2:56) - (1)(2)(A)(B)(D)
6: The Blizzard (3:29) - (2)
7: The Spirit Returns (3:12) - (2)
8: Remembrance (3:09) - (1)(2)(A)
9: The Final Climb (5:30) - (1)(2)(A)
10: Chomolungma (1:06) - (1)(2)(B)(E)
11: Here Comes the Sun (3:35) - (1)(E)
12: Jamling's Mountain Dream (1:06) - (1)(A)