The soundtrack of The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption (Stimulus 1995), The Shawshank Redemption 1994 Oscar nomination for best original score.

This is written by Thomas Newman, the master of film soundtrack.

Thomas Newman (Thomas Newman)

There is a family of movie musicians in Hollywood-Newman family. For half a century, two generations have devoted themselves to the creation of film music. Thomas Newman (hereinafter referred to as T.N) is also a member of the second generation. His father is a creative figure of Hollywood film music, and nine Oscar winners-alfred newman and his uncles are also film music writers. His cousin randy newman is one of the highest nominated film musicians in recent years. His works include Toy Story and Bug.

T.N.' s music is not as dramatic and inflammatory as the typical Hollywood movie music, but presents an introverted and calm spiritual color, which seems dull but has a quiet artistic conception, and there is no lack of unexpected frivolous, vitality and passion.

T.N. has always had a good grasp of orchestral music, but in fact he is more keen on the experiment and application of electronic music. As a master of music score, writing traditional orchestral film soundtrack inevitably brings pressure to T.N., and it is often limited to the struggle with Hollywood orchestral formula. So for T.N., it can only be done in a field full of experiments and unknowns. The film The Smell of Women begins with a euphemistic and implicit theme, and then all kinds of electronic synthesizers are mixed with all kinds of plucked instruments to create a unique charm and show the simple and youthful temperament of a senior aristocratic institution. T.N. also used this kind of music to describe students' practical jokes on teachers, and used the synthesizer wonderfully, exquisitely and elegantly. When T.N. wrote the theme song for Fried Green Tomato, he used a long flute, long strings and fluent piano to outline the simple and peaceful taste of a small town in the southern United States. Because most of the protagonists in the film are women, women's voices are added to the music, which makes the music more human and highlights the strong and fearless female friendship. Director Everett also collaborated with T.N. on Hero Bodyguard and Because You Loved Me, and they became another tacit combination of directors and musicals besides J.W. and Spielberg in Hollywood.

Thomas Newman's representative works include: Woman's Smell, Fried Green Tomato, Hero Bodyguard, Because You Loved Me, The Horse Whisperer, The Shawshank Redemption, Finding Nemo, American Beauty, Meeting Joe Blake, Green Mile and so on.