The Godfather (soundtrack)
The Godfather | ||||
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CD: 26 March 1991 159487 | ||||
Genre | Film score | |||
Length | 31:31 | |||
Label | Paramount (original) / MCA (CD) | |||
Producer | Tom Mack | |||
The Godfather chronology | ||||
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The Godfather is the soundtrack from the film of the same name, released in 1972 by Paramount Records, and in 1991 on compact disc by MCA. Unless noted, the cues were composed by Nino Rota and conducted by Carlo Savina (who was credited on the LP, but not the CD). The song "I Have but One Heart" is sung by Al Martino, who performed it in the film as character Johnny Fontane.
The score was nominated for an
Background and recording
Coppola hired Italian composer
There are nine instances within the film where incidental music can be heard,[7] including:
- "Manhattan Serenade"
- C'è la luna mezzo mare and Cherubino's aria, Non so più cosa son from Le Nozze di Figaro
There was a soundtrack released for the film in 1972 in vinyl form by Paramount Records, on CD in 1991 by Geffen Records, and digitally by Geffen on August 18, 2005.[10] The album contains over 31 minutes of music coming from the film, with most being composed by Rota, along with a song from Coppola and one by Johnny Farrow and Marty Symes.[11][12][13] There were 29 recordings of Nino Rota's music on the market by April 1972, specifically the songs recorded were "The Godfather Waltz", "Speak Softly Love," and "Love Theme from The Godfather."[14][15][16] It was expected more recordings would be hitting the market as the year went on.[14][15][16]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Main Title (The Godfather Waltz)" | Nino Rota | 3:04 |
2. | "I Have But One Heart" | Johnny Farrow, Marty Symes | 3:00 |
3. | "The Pickup" | Nino Rota | 2:56 |
4. | "Connie's Wedding" | Carmine Coppola | 1:33 |
5. | "The Halls of Fear" | Nino Rota | 2:12 |
6. | "Sicilian Pastorale" | Nino Rota | 3:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " Love Theme from The Godfather " | Nino Rota | 2:37 |
2. | "The Godfather Waltz" | Nino Rota | 3:35 |
3. | "Apollonia" | Nino Rota | 1:22 |
4. | "The New Godfather" | Nino Rota | 2:00 |
5. | "The Baptism" | Nino Rota | 1:51 |
6. | "The Godfather Finale" | Nino Rota | 3:50 |
Total length: | 31:31 |
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [11] |
Filmtracks | [13] |
The soundtrack was well received by music critics. The United Press International's William D. Laffler wrote that the "Main Title" was a "haunting piece of music which generates nostalgic longing for things past and a foreboding underlying theme."[17] He felt that the soundtrack grows on the listener with each play and predicted it would become one of the biggest sellers in the calendar year.[17] William J. Knittle Jr. of the Daily News–Post felt Rota's titular theme was why The Godfather was "close to being the perfect American film."[18] He continued by stating Rota broke from his "usual lush string tour de force."[18] He felt the music was "meaningful and involving," while the use of cello and cornet solos demonstrated the isolation and insulation of the Corleone family.[18] He closed by saying the music showed Italian influence and had a natural progression.[18] The Journal and Courier's Bernard Drew felt Rota's musical pieces were haunting and "bridged gaps and served as a reminder of how things were."[19] Harry Haun of The Tennessean described Rota's score as "baleful," but felt it kept with the pace of the movie well.[20] Peter Barsocchini who wrote for The Times wrote that The Godfather soundtrack was able to stand on its own.
Rota's score was also nominated for
Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|
45th Academy Awards | Best Original Dramatic Score | Nino Rota | Revoked[N 1] |
26th British Academy Film Awards | Best Film Music
|
Nino Rota | Won |
30th Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Score | Nino Rota | Won |
15th Grammy Awards
|
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or TV Special | Nino Rota | Won |
Credits
- Composer: Carmine Coppola
- Composer: Johnny Farrow
- Featured artist: Al Martino
- Composer: Giovanni Rota
- Composer and primary artist: Nino Rota
- Composer and primary artist: Carlo Savina
- Composer: Marty Symes
Source:[31]
Release history
Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1972 |
|
[10] | |
1991 | [10] | ||
August 18, 2005 | [10] |
References
Footnotes
- Academy Award category for Best Original Dramatic Score. The theme lost the vote and was replaced by John Addison's score for Sleuth.
Citations
- ^ Cruz, Gilbert (14 March 2012). "The Anniversary You Can't Refuse: 40 Things You Didn't Know About The Godfather". Time – via entertainment.time.com.
- ^ a b c Phillips 2004, p. 107.
- ^ a b c d e Welsh, Phillips & Hill 2010, p. 222.
- ^ a b c Lebo 1997, p. 191.
- ^ "Classical Hour: Sibelius' First Symphony". Oslo Philharmonic.
- ^ Phillips 2004, p. 355.
- ^ a b c d "The Godfather (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c Curd, Zach. "Nino Rota – The Godfather [Original Soundtrack]". Allmusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ "Nino Rota – The Godfather [Original Soundtrack]". Allmusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c "The Godfather". Filmtracks. Christian Clemmensen (Filmtracks Publications). October 3, 2009. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^ a b "Roberta Flack Is Big Winner in Awarding Of 'Grammys'". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. March 5, 1973. p. 11–A. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ a b Edward W. Coker Jr. (March 9, 1973). "Roberta Flack Is Big Winner in Awarding Of 'Grammys'". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ Russell, Bruce (February 13, 1973). "'Godfather' Gets 11 Oscar Nominations". Toledo Blade. Reuters. p. P-2. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- ^ "Godfather Gets 11 Oscar Nominations". The Michigan Daily. United Press International. February 14, 1971. p. 3. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "'Godfather' Song Used Before". Daytona Beach Morning Star. Associated Press. March 2, 1973. p. 10. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Godfather, Superfly music out of Oscars". The Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. March 7, 1973. p. 37. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
- ^ Tapley, Kris (January 21, 2008). "Jonny Greenwood's 'Blood' score disqualified by AM-PAS". Variety. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
- ^ "100 Years of Paramount: Academy Awards". Paramount Pictures. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "Nino Rota – The Godfather [Original Soundtrack] – Credits". Allmusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
Bibliography
- Lebo, Harlan (1997). The Godfather Legacy: The Untold Story of the Making of the Classic Godfather Trilogy. London, England: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-684-83647-8. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- Phillips, Gene D. (2004). Godfather: The Intimate Francis Ford Coppola. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-4671-3. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- Welsh, James M.; Phillips, Gene D.; Hill, Rodney F. (2010). The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7651-4. Retrieved July 15, 2014.