The Name of the Rose

The Name of the Rose is a special score in the James Horner repertoire. An atypical one for Horner and an original entry for those who search for that kind of thing.. You'll hear mood and hypnotizing music you have heard of him before. But in small dosages in other scores, creating the mood before it changes to the drama or the action. Here it defines the tone of the movie, it sets the mood and you remain there until the end. Through the various solo instruments (most notably bells or guitar) you're also transported to the sombre lonely word of the priests. Occasionally the drama takes over (the subtle and lovely "The Confession") and some drama music near the end mixes the more serious dramatic undertone with the hypnotizing mood. And this is luckily one of the saving graces of the score. The second part which offers more intimate music, but at least where ideas and melodies take over from the hypnotizing tone. At least here you encounter more typical Horner softness. The Name of the Rose is a score I'll hardly give the chance, because it's one for the right kind of mood. But it's definitely functional and in the right mood it can somehow please you.

Definitely one of his more original entries, if you truly seek that kind of thing.
One of the soft highlights, "The Confession" delivering the more usual light Horner drama.
Luckily the second part of the album focuses itself more on the drama.
Though incredibly functional, the darker sombre score can also hypnotize you too much. Lulling you into a soft sleep.

Track Listing

1. Main Titles (3.02)
2. Beata Viscera * (2.21)
3. First Recognition (2.31)
4. The Lesson (4.20)
5. Kyrie ** (2.24)
6. The Scriptorium (3.54)
7. Veni sancte Spiritus ** (3.15)
8. The Confession (3.12)
9. Flashbacks (2.05)
10. The Discovery (2.28)
11. Betrayed (2.57)
12. Epilogue (6.14)
13. End Titles (3.13)

* Traditional: performed by counter tenor Charles Brett
** Traditional: performed by The Choir of the Choir School Maria Schütz, Pasing

Total Length: 41.56