Movies in May: Austen Soundtracks

Do you love films based on Jane Austen’s work or life, well, then you’ll love our theme this month. Grab your popcorn and a soda! It’s time for Movies in May!

Austen movie soundtracks are standouts on my playlist. Join me as I mention some of my favourite pieces. Better yet, sit back, relax, and press play. (I dare you not to want to watch the movies afterwards.)


I don’t know about you, but when I hear a song from a movie soundtrack, I immediately get a hankering to watch the movie. I have music on most of the day- my regular playlist for every day things like cooking, cleaning, and showering, and then my “quieter” playlist for Sunday’s and writing. My quieter playlist is filled with movie soundtracks, including some from my fave Austen movies. As much as I love these pieces, this becomes a problem when I’m in the middle of writing a scene or getting ready for church and suddenly hear this:

I mean, how could I not want to just drop everything and watch?!

One of my favourite Austen movie soundtracks is 1995’s Sense & Sensibility, scored by Patrick Doyle. The entire score is beautiful, but especially “My Father’s Favourite” which Marianne plays near the beginning of the movie. I hear this song and can immediately picture Elinor crying in the doorway, Mr. Ferrars giving her his handkerchief, and then their walk outside while relations look on with mixed reactions.

I swear I won’t start crying while listening to this song.

In contrast to the beautiful but somewhat sedate soundtrack for Sense & Sensibility, is Rachel Portman’s score for 1996’s Emma. While the music is still beautiful, it definitely has a lighter, bouncier feel to go along with the somewhat lighter storyline.

This song kinda makes me want to skip down the street, just sayin.’

Us Austen fans can argue and take sides over Pride & Prejudice: 1995 versus 2005, but there’s no question how beautiful the 2005 score is by Dario Marianelli. Don’t ask me to choose which movie I prefer, but when it comes to soundtracks, this one takes it. It not only recalls the movie, but also transports me to the top of the cliff Lizzie stands on, the wind in my hair and my dress blowing in the breeze, or that incredibly breathtaking scene where Darcy is walking towards her in the morning dawn.

Chills. That is all.

I would feel remiss in my duties if I didn’t mention Persuasion. Unfortunately, though it has some very nice music, I don’t think you can get the entire Persuasion 2007 soundtrack, and I don’t have any Persuasion songs on my playlist. 🙁  But luckily Youtube at least has the theme. This music perfectly conveys the regret and despair both Anne and Captain Wentworth go through.

No, YOU are picturing Captain Wentworth right now.

I love when a musician scores the movie to perfection. There’s nothing worse to me than when a song is too cheesy or doesn’t fit the mood of the scene, pulling me completely out of the movie. Luckily, these Austen movies scores only add to the brilliance of Austen’s characters, bring life to the settings, and make the moments stand out. Whether I’m watching the movie or just listening to the soundtrack, the music reminds me of those stories and characters that I love.

So did I miss any soundtracks that I should’ve mentioned? Which is your favourite score?

 

 

27 comments

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    • Florence Solowianiuk on May 12, 2016 at 2:01 am
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    One of my favorite Austen movie pieces of music is the Italian Aria from the 1995 version of “Persuasion.” It’s a very beautiful and poignant love song. The aria was composed by Jeffrey Sams, and although I’ve been able to find the text with translation and a simplified piano version of the aria, I’ve never been able to find a piano/vocal score. It may be time to dust off my ear training and transcription skills.

    1. Ooh, I’ll have to look that one up on YouTube. I watch the 2007 version more than the ’95 version so I’m not as familiar with the music.

    • HelenJC on May 12, 2016 at 3:32 am
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    The 2009 soundtrack to Emma by Samuel Sim is lovely.

    Though not strictly Austen, I adore the Miss Austen Regrets by Jenny Muskett. I’m a pianist so very close attention to soundtracks.

    1. I thought about adding a song from that Emma soundtrack as well, but I’m not as familiar with it. I play the piano too, so I’m also in tune to the music in the background.

    • Peggy K on May 12, 2016 at 5:59 am
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    I would like to nominate the score of the 1940 version of P and P. So cleverly done, with happy little themes for each household. It makes me giggle just to recall the music played for Lady Cat and Mr. Collins.

    • Maureen C on May 12, 2016 at 6:24 am
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    I love these tracks, and agree with Helen about the music from Emma 2009.

    1. I’ll have to download that soundtrack. I did listen to a few pieces while preparing this post, but like I said above, I’m not as familiar with it. I think because my mom had the soundtracks to the older Emma and S&S so I remember listening to those a lot as a teenager.

    • Deborah on May 12, 2016 at 6:32 am
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    My favorite score is from the 2005 P&P movie adaptation. It is my go to music especially when I am sad or depressed. For a short time it will lift my depression and make me feel happy for a while. I also adore the music from Persuasion 2007 and the 1995 version.

    1. It is gorgeous, isn’t it. I love how a lot of the soundtracks are very piano-based.

    • Madenna on May 12, 2016 at 7:37 am
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    The score from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice is my go to music to relax. The opening music and then having the characters play pieces of it throught the movie, either well or not so well, cares the tune throughout. I love it!

    1. I do like how the composer used his own music in the same kind of theme for both Mary to play and the dancing at the Meryton Assembly. Even though it’s not period accurate, it makes the whole score very cohesive, in my view.

  1. Great choices! I practically listen to these sound track daily! (They make great reading music!) I do also enjoy the soundtrack for the Mansfield Park 1999 movie, but Rachel Portman’s Emma score is by far my favorite of anything!

    1. Hmm, I’m not familiar with the ’99 Mansfield Park soundtrack- probably because I’m not a fan of the movie. 😉 I’ll have to check it out though.

    • Maggie Griscom on May 12, 2016 at 8:14 am
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    While, I like the 1995 P&P movie better than the 2005, it was too short. The music from the 2005 is my favorite. My piano skills are up there with Lizzie Bennet but I did buy the music. My grandson now plays it, his skills are better than mine, and I love to listen to it at anytime.

    1. I agree- I think they left too much out of the ’05 version, though I understand why. But the music is really gorgeous. I’ll have to look into buying the piano music to play myself!

        • Maggie on May 13, 2016 at 7:04 am
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        I had to go online to find the piano music and it took awhile to find it. But it is worth it. It also was a little beyond me but I tried anyway.

      • Wendy on May 14, 2016 at 10:03 am
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      I bought the piano music for the 2005 P&P as well, as soon as it came out. I absolutely love it!

    • Martha Claycomb on May 12, 2016 at 11:04 am
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    Oh my gosh! My weekend is gone – I must watch all these movies again! The music has transported me! Thanks for this.

    1. Isn’t it true??? As soon as I hear them, I want to go watch! Actually, I was just listening to the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack and now want to watch that one. The struggle is real.

    • Mary Simonsen on May 12, 2016 at 1:00 pm
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    I am not musical. If something stays with me, it’s because it really touched me. I found that to be true of Emma Thompson’s S&S. Loved it.

    1. Yes, I think that score is incredible- it really is the perfect counterpoint for what’s happening in the story.

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on May 12, 2016 at 1:30 pm
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    Beautiful Music! And I DO have the piano music and piano reductions for most of these. I LOVE it! In “Darcy’s Melody,” the book that I am forever writing, (currently in edit mode)Lizzy sings. I had such a great time looking for songs that might have been sung during Jane Austen’s time. I actually recorded a few and put them up on YouTube, just for fun. Thanks for sharing. I loved this post. Jen Red ♫

      • Mary Simonsen on May 12, 2016 at 1:38 pm
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      I envy you your talent and knowledge. Musically, it basically comes down to “I like it” or “I don’t like it.”

    1. So cool! I love books that put a big focus on music and Lizzy as a singer is a great idea. I’ll have to check out your songs on YouTube!

    • Lynn Bischoff on May 12, 2016 at 4:04 pm
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    While I prefer the 1995 P&P, I love the soundtrack to the 2005 version. I listen to it when I want calm around me (frequently of long flights to kerp the other noises at bay). However my wake up alarm on my phone is the 1995 theme. Always wake up with the image of Darcy and Bingley racing across the countryside.

    1. I love that the ’95 theme is your wake up alarm! I can only imagine how that music would make me jump out of bed in the morning! 😉

    • Carole in Canada on May 12, 2016 at 7:30 pm
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    I wish I had bought the 1995 movie soundtrack years ago but never did. I do so love it! I will have to watch the other movies to remember their musical scores!

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