Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange (1971 Film)

This soundtrack is mostly a collection of experimental instrumentals and familiar classical pieces, and as such, works to enhance the film and also to educate people unfamiliar with synthesizer music or to give a crash course for those who want to hear the highlights of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

The ominous opening notes of Henry Purcell's Music For The Funeral of Queen Mary-Mary II, that is, sets the tone for the then-ahead of its time synthesizer music of Walter (now Wendy after the sex change operation) Carlos. In fact, most of the music is done by Carlos, and as such, provides a wonderful forum for introducing his [at that time] music. Equally dark is "Timesteps", the music played when Alex is being fitted with the gear that will make him see the horrible films shown by the clinic. The two other Carlos numbers are brief numbers, "Overture To The Sun," played when a "cured" Alex is displayed onstage with floodlights nearly blinding him, and shown on stage, and the...Read more

The original soundtrack album for A Clockwork Orange truncates too much of the music. If you are interested in this album for the great electronic synthesizer music heard in the film, you should instead buy "Wendy Carlos' A Clockwork Orange" (5 stars) which has the same music, complete and uncut, and has also been recently digitally remastered for great sound.

Every bit of music on the cd is excellent.The only gripe is that "Timesteps" is a 4 minute excerpt of a 13 minute work.At only 46 minutes as is the cd could have easily fit the entire thing. The excerpt of "Timesteps" is the portion played in the movie,and quite an exquisite,melancholy piece it is. The "Theme"is a study in the kool and understated. The gem of the entire soundtrack is the synthesized Funeral music of Baroque composer Henry Purcell.It sets the mood for the movie perfectly.Its overwhelming and desolate sense of sadness makes it one of the most wrenching pieces of music ever written.Its amazing how much dimension the synthesizer brings to the work.This setting of the piece may be Carlos' crowning achievement. As for the...Read more