The Grand Budapest Hotel (soundtrack) explained

The Grand Budapest Hotel: Original Soundtrack
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Alexandre Desplat
Cover:The Grand Budapest Hotel - Original Soundtrack.jpg
Released:March 4, 2014
Studio:Studio Guillaume Tell (Paris)
Genre:Soundtrack
Length:59:50
Label:ABKCO
Producer:
Chronology:Wes Anderson film soundtrack
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The Grand Budapest Hotel: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack album composed by Alexandre Desplat for the 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel directed by Wes Anderson. The 32-track album was released on March 4, 2014, through ABKCO Records, produced by Anderson along with music supervisor Randall Poster. Unlike their previous ventures, the soundtrack to this film did not feature contemporary pop hits due to the classical roots of the film's music.

The film marked Desplat's third collaboration with Anderson after Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012). It consisted of a classical score emulating Central European regions and utilized exotic instruments from the country, particularly the balalaika, which formed the musical core.[1]

A critical success, the soundtrack fetched Desplat his first Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 87th Academy Awards after eight nominations.[2] He also won the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media,[3] and the BAFTA Award for Best Original Music,[4] among numerous other accolades. It has been considered as one of Desplat's best original scores.[5]

Background and production

For The Grand Budapest Hotel, composer Alexandre Desplat was tasked with creating a score that articulated the Republic of Zubrowka, a fictional country in Central Europe, that represented an amalgamation of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Germany.[6] [7]

To underscore the folk sound of the film, Desplat and music supervisor Randall Poster made heavy use of the balalaika, a stringed instrument used extensively in Russian folk music;[8] [9] it served as the core of the film's music palette.[10] Poster admitted the instrument had "more primal humanity and to enduring human values that have nothing to do with fashion" and it juxtaposed with Antonio Vivaldi's music in one of the tracks. Since both Anderson and Poster were not purely anchored in the world of classical folk music, they spent six months consulting various experts to hone their vision.[11] Desplat assembled a 50-person ensemble of French and Russian balalaika players, which required the presence of two translators. The score was further performed by the members from the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra, along with several exotic instruments being utilised by Desplat including zithers, cimbaloms, and alphorns, and sampled recordings of folk music.[12] [13]

Release

ABKCO Records published the film's soundtrack on March 4, 2014, three days before the film's release.[14] The album featured 32 tracks, which are mostly selections from the original score and rearrangements of classical pieces. On February 18, 2014, a track from the film score "Canto at Gabelmeister’s Peak" premiered through The Wall Street Journal website. Two days later, "Moonshine" from the soundtrack debuted through Rolling Stone.[15] The soundtrack was further debuted exclusively through Pitchfork, on February 25, 2014, a week before the official release.[16] The soundtrack is also available in CD and vinyl LP formats.[17]

Reception

Critical reception

The album received critical acclaim, with several publications regarded it as "the best soundtrack of 2014".[18] [19] [20] It is also labelled as one of Desplat's best soundtracks by Far Out[21] and Time Out.[22] Music critic Jonathan Broxton commented that the score certainly follows the trend established with Desplat and Anderson's previous ventures "with its metronomically precise rhythms and almost child-like music box instrumental ideas".[23] Sean Wilson from Music Files called it as "one of the most accessible" from the composer's works, that "possessed of a character that's effervescent, odd and surprisingly touching in equal measure".[24] In a four-star rating, James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "While the music may feel like a relatively light meal compared with Desplat’s more usual banquets, it’s so perfectly judged it’s actually very fulfilling and if you’re one of the people it catches, you’ll find yourself frequently returning for more."[25]

Gissane Sophia of Marvelous Geeks Media wrote "With a brilliant mixture of fun and steadily slow, the soundtrack is one of Desplat’s most outstanding pieces to date and a Wes Anderson original score that won’t be forgotten anytime soon".[26] Heather Phares of AllMusic also gave a four-star rating, commenting that the collaboration between Desplat, Anderson and Poster "sets the mood perfectly, whether that mood is innocence, mischief, mystery, or beauty."[27] Filmtracks.com gave a three-star rating saying, "this smirk-inducing score has much to love and much to loathe, and it is the type of work that really has to be appreciated in context to avoid possible acceleration of any mental disorders you might be predisposed to having."[28]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian commented that the score "keeps the picture moving at an exhilarating canter".[29] Justin Chang of Variety, commented that Desplat "has concocted an unusually inventive score that combines a wide range of Central and Eastern European instruments, reaching a delirious crescendo toward the end of the closing credits." Eric Kohn of IndieWire and Dana Stevens of Slate described the music as "jangly" and "lush".[30] [31] Todd McCarthy writing for The Hollywood Reporter commented that Desplat's "energetic work meshes very effectively with swaths of classical and ethnic music".[32] Richard Corliss of Time wrote "Alexandre Desplat's score, heavy on the balalaikas, is worth enjoying up to and through the closing credits."[33]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Academy AwardsFebruary 22, 2015Best Original Score[34]
[35]
Alliance of Women Film JournalistsJanuary 12, 2015Best Film Music or Score[36]
[37]
British Academy Film AwardsFebruary 8, 2015Best Film Music[38]
Chicago Film Critics Association AwardsDecember 15, 2014Best Original Score[39]
February 8, 2015[40]
Houston Film Critics Society AwardsJanuary 10, 2015Best Original Score[41]
[42]
International Film Music Critics Association AwardsFebruary 19, 2015Film Score of the Year[43]
Best Original Score for a Comedy
San Diego Film Critics Society AwardsDecember 15, 2014Best Score[44]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association AwardsDecember 15, 2014Best Music Score[45]
World Soundtrack AwardsOctober 25, 2014 Best Original Score of the Year[46]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lyman . Eric J. . June 23, 2014 . Venice: French Film Composer Alexandre Desplat to Head Competition Jury . https://web.archive.org/web/20230630120045/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/venice-film-festival-composer-alexandre-714030/ . June 30, 2023 . June 30, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  2. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 23 February 2015 . Composer Alexandre Desplat Finally Wins Oscar In Eighth Go-Round . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228095812/https://deadline.com/2015/02/alexandre-desplat-wins-oscar-best-original-score-2015-academy-award-winner-grand-budapest-hotel-1201378631/ . 28 December 2016 . 27 February 2015 . Deadline.
  3. Web site: February 9, 2015 . Grammy Awards 2015: winners and performances – as it happened . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209113342/http://www.theguardian.com/music/live/2015/feb/08/grammy-2015-award-winners-and-performances-live . February 9, 2015 . February 12, 2015 . Guardian.
  4. News: Brown . Mark . 8 February 2015 . Baftas 2015: Boyhood wins top honours but Grand Budapest Hotel checks out with most . . 8 February 2015.
  5. Web site: Burlingame . Jon . November 5, 2014 . Billion Dollar Composer: Alexandre Desplat Has Ears of World's Top Auteurs . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921090935/https://variety.com/2014/film/features/alexandre-desplat-has-ears-of-worlds-top-auteurs-1201347729/ . September 21, 2015 . June 30, 2023 . Variety . en-US.
  6. Web site: Blair . Elizabeth . February 19, 2015 . Composing The Folk Music Of A Made-Up Country . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229165021/https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2015/02/19/387535508/composing-the-folk-music-of-a-made-up-country . February 29, 2020 . February 29, 2020 . NPR.
  7. Web site: Lowder . J. Bryan . 20 February 2015 . Why Alexandre Desplat Should Finally Win the Oscar for Best Original Score . https://web.archive.org/web/20190226192528/https://slate.com/culture/2015/02/best-original-score-oscar-nominees-why-alexandre-desplat-should-finally-win-for-the-grand-budapest-hotel.html . 26 February 2019 . 21 February 2015 . Slate.
  8. Web site: Rickett . Oscar . 18 March 2014 . We Spoke to the Man Who Soundtracks Wes Anderson's Movies . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040846/https://www.vice.com/en/article/rjnzgr/we-spoke-to-wes-andersons-superman-music-supervisor . 12 November 2020 . 22 March 2014 . Vice.
  9. Web site: Jones . Lucy . 4 March 2014 . Wes Anderson & The Art Behind Movie Soundtracks . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028000539/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/wes-anderson-the-art-behind-movie-soundtracks-771180 . 28 October 2020 . 13 March 2014 . NME.
  10. News: Lacombe . Bridgette . December 4, 2014 . Interview with Alexandre Desplat . Film Music . live . February 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200228233449/http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=13888 . February 28, 2020.
  11. News: Jagernauth . Kevin . June 19, 2014 . Exclusive: Pics Of Recording Sessions For 'Grand Budapest Hotel,' Randall Poster Talks Score, Wes Anderson & More . Indiewire . live . February 28, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229004445/https://www.indiewire.com/2014/06/exclusive-pics-of-recording-sessions-for-grand-budapest-hotel-randall-poster-talks-score-wes-anderson-more-84671/ . February 29, 2020.
  12. News: Danton . Eric R. . February 18, 2014 . Grand Budapest Hotel Soundtrack Relies On Original Music (Song Premiere) . The Wall Street Journal . live . subscription . February 23, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150223223932/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/02/18/grand-budapest-hotel-soundtrack-relies-on-original-music-song-premiere/ . February 23, 2015.
  13. Web site: Chang . Justin . 6 February 2014 . Berlin Film Review: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' . https://web.archive.org/web/20170413105304/https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/berlin-film-review-the-grand-budapest-hotel-1201088058/ . 13 April 2017 . 9 February 2014 . Variety.
  14. News: Davis . Edward . January 23, 2014 . Alexandre Desplat & More: Wes Anderson's 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Soundtrack Arrives On March 4th . Indiewire . dead . March 30, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160427042959/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/alexandre-desplat-more-wes-andersons-the-grand-budapest-hotel-soundtrack-arrives-on-march-4-20140123 . April 27, 2016.
  15. Gentile . John . February 20, 2014 . A Taste of 'Moonshine' From Wes Anderson's New Movie . https://web.archive.org/web/20230624172502/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/get-a-taste-of-moonshine-from-wes-andersons-grand-budapest-hotel-106085/ . June 24, 2023 . June 30, 2023 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  16. News: February 25, 2014 . Stream Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel Soundtrack on Pitchfork Advance . . live . March 30, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190038/https://pitchfork.com/news/54108-stream-wes-andersons-the-grand-budapest-hotel-soundtrack-on-pitchfork-advance/ . February 2, 2018.
  17. Web site: March 4, 2014 . The Grand Budapest Hotel (Original Soundtrack) . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024005556/https://www.abkco.com/store/grand-budapest-hotel-original-soundtrack/ . October 24, 2020 . June 30, 2023 . ABKCO . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2014 . 2014 in movies: the 10 best soundtracks . https://web.archive.org/web/20160601232405/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movie-soundtracks-2014/ . June 1, 2016 . June 30, 2023 . Empire.
  19. Web site: Patches . Matt . December 29, 2014 . The 15 best film scores of 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414201823/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/the-15-best-film-scores-of-2014/ . April 14, 2021 . June 30, 2023 . Uproxx . en-US.
  20. Web site: The Playlist Staff . December 10, 2014 . Best Of 2014: The 15 Best Movie Soundtracks Of 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230628044229/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/best-of-2014-the-15-best-movie-soundtracks-of-2014-269316/ . June 28, 2023 . June 30, 2023 . IndieWire . en-US.
  21. Web site: August 23, 2020 . The 10 best Alexandre Desplat soundtracks . https://web.archive.org/web/20210917092106/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-10-greatest-alexandre-desplat-soundtracks/ . September 17, 2021 . June 30, 2023 . Far Out . en-US.
  22. Web site: Ehrlich . David . December 17, 2014 . The 10 best movie scores by Alexandre Desplat . https://web.archive.org/web/20150121033042/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/blog/the-10-best-movie-scores-by-alexandre-desplat . January 21, 2015 . June 30, 2023 . Time Out New York . en-US.
  23. Web site: Broxton . Jonathan . March 27, 2014 . The Grand Budapest Hotel – Alexandre Desplat . https://web.archive.org/web/20141025063958/https://moviemusicuk.us/2014/03/26/the-grand-budapest-hotel-alexandre-desplat/ . October 25, 2014 . June 30, 2023 . Movie Music UK . en.
  24. Web site: Alexandre Desplat: The Grand Budapest Hotel - a review of the film score soundtrack . https://web.archive.org/web/20150115073949/https://www.mfiles.co.uk/reviews/alexandre-desplat-the-grand-budapest-hotel.htm . January 15, 2015 . June 30, 2023 . Music Files UK.
  25. Web site: 2014-04-02 . The Grand Budapest Hotel soundtrack review . https://web.archive.org/web/20141024091410/http://www.movie-wave.net/the-grand-budapest-hotel/ . October 24, 2014 . June 30, 2023 . Movie Wave . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Sophia . Gissane . 2022-09-12 . Music Monday: 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (Original Score) by Alexandre Desplat . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925233705/https://marvelousgeeksmedia.com/2022/09/12/music-monday-the-grand-budapest-hotel-original-score-by-alexandre-desplat/ . September 25, 2022 . June 30, 2023 . Marvelous Geeks Media . en-US.
  27. Web site: Phares . Heather . Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] ]. https://web.archive.org/web/20160613072918/https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-grand-budapest-hotel-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0002613400 . June 13, 2016 . June 30, 2023 . AllMusic . Rovi Corporation.
  28. Web site: Filmtracks: The Grand Budapest Hotel (Alexandre Desplat) . https://web.archive.org/web/20150315013248/https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/grand_budapest.html . March 15, 2015 . June 30, 2023 . Filmtracks.com.
  29. News: Bradshaw . Peter . March 6, 2014 . The Grand Budapest Hotel review – Wes Anderson's new film is a 'deeply pleasurable immersion' . en-GB . The Guardian . June 30, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140329192223/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/06/the-grand-budapest-hotel-wes-anderson-review . March 29, 2014 . 0261-3077.
  30. Web site: Kohn . Eric . February 6, 2014 . Review: Wes Anderson's 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' Is a Delightful Action-Comedy As Only He Could Make It . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525010042/https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-wes-andersons-the-grand-budapest-hotel-is-a-delightful-action-comedy-as-only-he-could-make-it-30257/ . May 25, 2023 . June 30, 2023 . IndieWire . en-US.
  31. Web site: Stevens . Dana . February 26, 2014 . Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel: Elegantly Appointed, Breathtaking Views, Some Vacancies . https://web.archive.org/web/20140418183646/https://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2014/02/wes_anderson_s_the_grand_budapest_hotel_starring_ralph_fiennes_reviewed.html . April 18, 2014 . June 30, 2023 . Slate Magazine.
  32. Web site: McCarthy . Todd . February 20, 2014 . 'The Grand Budapest Hotel': Film Review . https://web.archive.org/web/20221015224116/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/grand-budapest-hotel-film-review-677467/ . October 15, 2022 . June 30, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  33. March 10, 2014 . REVIEW: Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel: Make That 'The Great' . https://web.archive.org/web/20140430185944/https://time.com/17897/wes-andersons-the-grand-budapest-hotel-make-that-the-great/ . April 30, 2014 . June 30, 2023 . Time . en.
  34. Web site: February 22, 2015 . Oscars 2015: The Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220510092242/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/oscars-2015-winners-list-776233/ . May 10, 2022 . April 26, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  35. Web site: The 87th Academy Awards (2015) Nominees and Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150223171100/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015 . February 23, 2015 . February 23, 2015 . Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
  36. Web site: 'Birdman,' 'Only Lovers Left Alive' popular with Alliance of Women Film Journalists . Hitfix . January 8, 2015 . January 9, 2015 . April 18, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150418092454/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/birdman-only-lovers-left-alive-popular-with-alliance-of-women-film-journalists . live .
  37. Web site: 'Boyhood' wins with Alliance of Women Film Journalists (but they love 'Birdman,' too) . Hitfix . January 12, 2015 . January 12, 2015 . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142842/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/boyhood-wins-with-aliance-of-women-film-journalists-but-they-love-birdman-too . live .
  38. Web site: Ritman . Alex . Szalai . Georg . February 8, 2015 . BAFTA Awards: Boyhood Wins Best Film, Grand Budapest Hotel Gets Five Honors . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421231726/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/bafta-film-awards-winners-announced-771169/ . April 21, 2022 . April 26, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  39. Web site: "Birdman" Leads 2014 CFCA Nominations . December 14, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151127051249/http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/awards/130-birdman-leads-2014-cfca-nominations . November 27, 2015 .
  40. Web site: February 5, 2015 . Grammys: The Winners List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421231600/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/grammy-awards-winners-2015-results-770558/ . April 21, 2022 . April 26, 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  41. Web site: Houston Film Critics Nominations – Inherent Vice Makes a Claim. December 20, 2014.
  42. Web site: Boyhood, Larry McMurtry and the Grand Budapest poster win Houston critics awards . Hitfix . January 12, 2015 . January 12, 2015 . January 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150113043741/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/boyhood-larry-mcmurtry-and-the-grand-budapest-poster-win-houston-critics-awards . live .
  43. Web site: Composers behind 'Godzilla' and 'Maleficent' lead film music critics nominations . Hitfix . February 5, 2015 . February 5, 2015 . February 6, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150206044546/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/composers-behind-godzilla-and-maleficent-lead-film-music-critics-nominations . live .
  44. Web site: 2014 San Diego Film Critics Award Nominations. December 11, 2014 . December 12, 2014. March 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160318072948/http://www.sdfcs.org/2014-san-diego-film-critics-award-nominations/. live.
  45. Web site: Birdman, Grand Budapest lead St. Louis film critics nominations. December 12, 2014. March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203500/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/birdman-grand-budapest-lead-st-louis-film-critics-nominations. live.
  46. Web site: Alexandre Desplat Proves a Perennial Fave at Gent's World Soundtrack Awards. October 27, 2014 . October 28, 2014. August 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180828030920/https://variety.com/2014/film/news/alexandre-desplat-gent-world-soundtrack-awards-1201340243/. live.

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