Bach, Respighi, Berlioz, Smetana And Many More: The Music of The Tree of Life

Today is Malick Day, finally.

Via "All Things Shining", the film's music:

“Funeral Canticle”
Written by John Tavener and Mother Thekla
Performed by George Mosley, Paul Goodwin
and the Academy of Ancient Music
Courtesy of Harmonia Mundi USA

“Cosmic Beam Take 5”
Written and Performed by Francesco Lupica
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

“Symphony No. 1”
Written by Gustav Mahler
Performed by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Halász
Courtesy of Naxos
By arrangement with Source/Q

“Morning Prayers”
Written by Giya Kancheli
Courtesy of ECM Records

“Faunophonia Balkanica”
Written, Performed and Produced by Arsenije Jovanovic
Courtesy of Arsenije Jovanovic

“Wind Pipes”
Written and Performed by Michael Baird
Courtesy of Sharp Wood Records

“Approaching”
Written, Performed and Produced by Arsenije Jovanovic
Courtesy of Arsenije Jovanovic

“Ta Há 1”
Written and Performed by Klaus Wiese
Courtesy of Aquamarin Verlag GmbH, Germany

“Snapshot from the Island”
Written and Performed by Tibor Szemzo
Courtesy of Leo Records

“Lacrimosa 2”
Composed by Zbigniew Preisner
Performed by Elzbieta Towarnicka (soprano) and the Sinfonia Varsovia
and the Varsov Chamber Choir, conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk
Courtesy of New Music B.V.

“Ascending and Descending”
Written by David Hykes
Performed by David Hykes and The Harmonic Choir
Courtesy of Harmonic Presence Foundation

“Resurrection in Hades”
Written by John Tavener and Mother Thekla
Performed by Joseph Jennings and the Chanticleer Choir and Chorus
Courtesy of Warner Classics
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

“Berlioz: 7. Domine Jesu Christe [Requiem Op. 5 (Grande Messe des Morts)]”
Performed by Wandsworth School Boys Choir, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“Siciliana Da Antiche Danze Ed Arie Suite III”
Written by Ottorino Respighi
Performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland Conducted by Rico Saccani
Courtesy of Naxos
By Arrangement with Source/Q

“Hymn to Dionysus”
Composed by Gustav Holst
Performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
Courtesy of Unicorn-Kanchana Records

“My Country –Vltava (The Moldau)”
Composed by Bedrich Smetana
Performed by Vaclav Smetacek and
The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Courtesy of SUPRAPHON

“Brahms: 2. Andante moderato [Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98]”
Performed by Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Hamburg
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“Symphony No. 3”
Written by Henryk Górecki
Performed by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antoni Wit
Courtesy of Naxos
By Arrangement with Source/Q

“Pièces de clavecin, Book II 6e Ordre N5:Les Barricades Mistérieuses
Written by Francois Couperin (1668-1733)
Performed by Angela Hewitt
Courtesy of Hyperion Records Ltd.

“J.S Bach: Fugue [Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565]”
Performed by Helmut Walcha
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon, GmbH, Hamburg
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“The Well-Tempered Clavier”
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Jenő Jandó
Courtesy of Naxos
By arrangement with Source/Q

“Pièces de clavecin, Book II 6e Ordre N5:
Les Barricades Mistérieuses
Written by Francois Couperin
Performed by Hanan Townshend
Courtesy of Hanan Townshend

“Hymn 87: Welcome Happy Morning”
Performed by Hanan Townshend
Courtesy of Hanan Townshend

"Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade - The Tuileries - Bydio (Piano Version)"
Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“Schumann: 1. Allegro affettuoso [Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54]”
Performed by Martha Argerich, Gewandhausorchester, Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Ltd.
Under license from Univesral Music Enterprises

“Klangschalen 2”
Written and Performed by Klaus Wiese
Courtesy of Akasha, Germany

“Eternal Pulse”
Written and Performed by Hanan Townshend
Courtesy of Hanan Townshend

“After the Rain: Antiphon”
Written by Barry Guy
Performed by Richard Hickox and the City of London Sinfonia
Courtesy of NMC Recordings

“Harold in Italy”
Written by Hector Berlioz
Performed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yoav Talmi
Courtesy of Naxos
By Arrangement with Source/Q 42

“Piano Sonata No.16 in C Major K. 545”
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Jim Lynch

“Siciliana Da Antiche Danze Ed Arie Suite III”
Written by Ottorino Respighi
Performed by Hanan Townshend
Courtesy of Hanan Towhnshend

“Lacrimosa 2”
Written by Zbigniew Preisner
Performed by Hanan Townshend
Courtesy of Hanan Townshend

“Berlioz: 10. Agnus Dei [Requiem, Op. 5 (Grande Messe des Morts)]”
Performed by Wandsworth School Boys Choir, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Ltd.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“Sound Testament of Mount Athos”
Written, Performed and Produced by Arsenije Jovanovic
Courtesy of Arsenije Jovanovic

“Ma Maison”
Written, Performed and Produced by Arsenije Jovanovic
Courtesy of Arsenije Jovanovic

Comments

[Elphaba]

I'm sorry did you say something? I was temporarily distracted by Brad Pitt! :)

[Joel]

Malick is one of the best american filmmakers, a truly genius, and he uses to be very wise and sensitive when he has to pick the music for his films, not only on working with great composers as Morricone, Zimmer, Horner and now Desplat, but also on choosing beautiful classical music to mix with his haunting images. Remember the opening of the underrated "The New World", using as soundtrack the beginning of Wagner's "Das Rheingold"? Wow, that was amazing, and so well chosen!!!

[Rogier]

Now this is a soundtrack that I'd buy. Thanks for the reminder.

[Siobhan]

Malick does have a way with a soundtrack. I love love love love love his use of Orff's Musica Poetica - Gassenhauer (I think that's the name of the piece) in Badlands.

[sidney orr]

...seems like a breakthough in movie making, not seen since Kubrick's great art melding video and music.... who could forget Marrissa B etc in Barry Lyndon? Or the dance on the Irish green with the Chieftains in the same?
Or even the outre "Clockwork"? or the strinking 2001?
I will not be disappointed though if there's no Wagner in it.....Arthur Rubinstein's opinion is just fine with me...
I hope Malik's music-video melding abilities
will be his hallmark for a long time...

[DaFreak]

“Funeral Canticle”
Written by John Tavener and Mother Thekla
Performed by George Mosley, Paul Goodwin
and the Academy of Ancient Music
Courtesy of Harmonia Mundi USA

THANK YOU SO MUCH

Had never heard of it before but discovered it through the Tree of Life. This piece together with the images... It's sooo powerful... sooo sad :'(

Thanks again. I would never have found this piece otherwise. I still get the shivers listening to this.

The movie is deeply personal. Go see it. The comparisons to 2001 and kubrick are justified! Even though it is very different film, a much more personal and human view compared to 2001. Where 2001 makes you think about existence on an epic scale beyond time, Tree asks you to think about your existence, your life, your mortality while touching upon the bigger mystery out there but not focusing on it or questioning it.

Nothing stands still.

[James McNally]

I'm really hoping they release this soundtrack (not just the score by Desplat) although it might be tough dealing with all the different licensors. They had to clear it all for the film, though, so hoping they had the foresight to think of a soundtrack CD.

[ari]

does anyone know which piece is used during the birth of the universe sequence?

[João Queirós]

It's one of the lacrimosas

[Ellen]

Ari,

The piece you're referring to is "Lacrimosa" by Zbigniew Preisner. Exquisite. He is a phenomenal composer. If you like this, you should check out some of his other music, as well as that of Arvo Part and Henryk Gorecki. Gorecki's Symphony No. 3 is also in this movie.

[Christopher Robin]

I made a compilation of my favorite selections from the film that other fans can download for 90 days. The link is:

http://flightoftherobin.tumblr.com/post/6081374075/treeoflifemusic

It was a truly amazing film and I can't wait to see it again in July!

[Sampoppe]

does anyone know what music is played during the "where's dad? gone on a trip" scene? and the scene of young mr and mrs obrien falling in love?

will they make a soundtrack with these music selections?

[Christopher Robin]

Both of those pieces are on the soundtrack I posted above.

The "Where's Dad" piece is "Couperin: 6e Ordre No. 5 - Les Baricades Mistérieuses" and the piece where Mr & Mrs O'Brien fall in love is "Respighi: Suite III: Siciliana. Andantino"

Hope that helps! :)

[John Washburn]

Thanks for posting the list of music. I just saw the movie last night. I was a big fan of Malick's use of music already based on the use of Aquarium from Carnival of the Animals in Days of Heaven. Does he select the music or does the composer of record, Morricone for Days of Heaven and Desplat here? Since I had sung the entire Berlioz Requiem with Seiji Ozawa and the SF Symphony 40 years ago when I was in college, I was absolutely blown away at the end of the movie. The Amen's at the end of the Requiem which basically end the movie are some of the most sublime musical moments ever written. I don't think Malick would have won the Palme D'or without Berlioz' help.

[David H. Schleicher]

Thanks for posting this! Now if I could only remember which scenes went with which music! Anyone know if they actually plan to release a soundtrack with all of these pieces? I recall the soundtrack for The New World sadly had only the Horner score.

[Q]

may I ask what piece it was when Brad Pitt played and the second played the guitar along with it?
thanks

[Chris]

Thank you so much for compiling this list.

Does anyone know what solo piano piece is heard during the scene that slowly pans across the playground / schoolyard?

Thanks for the help.

[Paul Maher Jr.]

To answer the query about ho Malick chooses his music; since The Thin Red Line (I am not positive about Days of Heaven and Badlands), Malick already has music in mind when he writes, films and edits. These become part of the temp score which he has a music editor handle. He then has a film composer hired for the film, which he tries as much as possible to dictate what kind of music the film demands. When the music that is composed is not suitable enough for the original music he chose, he simply uses it. This is the case for Charles Ives in The Thin Red Line, Wagner and Mozart in the New World, and more than likely all of the classical compositions in Tree of Life. Malick makes his music editor's swear never to reveal that his temp score is also the same used in the final cut.

[sara]

I´m so happy i found this site i was looking so badly for the songs of the movie...Lacrimosa, Zbigniew Preisner is the one that brings me more emotion, an emotion that i can´t explain Terrence Malick touch my soul

[Mark Miller]

The music in the scene with the son on guitar and the father at the piano is the Couperin again. It's used a few different times. You can download it from iTunes.

[John Dentino]

"Does anyone know what solo piano piece is heard during the scene that slowly pans across the playground / schoolyard?"

That piece is by François Couperin and is from Keyboard Music, Vol.1. The piano player is Angela Hewitt. The specific piece is labeled "Pièces de Clavecin, Book 2: 6e Ordre No. 5 - Les Baricades Mistérieuses." Here's the iTunes link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/couperin-keyboard-music-vol-1/id197251121

[charles loyola]

The fugue from Bach's Well-Tempered Klavier(Book I) in The Tree of Life is the e-flat minor.

[Colin Garcia]

So glad I stumbled on this forum! Here' one more...

what piece plays over the sequence with the boys playing what seems like dodgeball (tossing a ball over the house)? Does anyone remember this? Any and all help is most appreciated :)

@Ellen- Thanks for the compilation!

[bryan]

what is the song played in the opening scene with the nature vs grace talk?

[Jon]

Bryan, the song playing at the beginning is Tavener's "Funeral Canticle."

[X Xx]

This film and the music, it burns my soul. In spite of computers, gizmos, internet and whatnot we haven't changed-still it's the beauty that moves us, and the ability to admire it is a gift we have been given by God and something we're born with. /Sigh/ :)

[starty]

Does anyone know the name or where I can find the soft instrumental version of Lacrimosa? (that starts from 1h:49min:24sec)

[Rachel]

Does anyone know what the boy is playing on his guitar when his back is to the camera and it's sunset (I think). He doesn't play a full piece, just a few notes, and I cannot figure out what it is. Thanks in advance!!!