Shigeru Umebayashi
's score for
Zhang Yimou
's
House of Flying Daggers
is a study in simplicity, featuring a few understated but hypnotic themes that are repeated with different arrangements of traditional Chinese and Western instruments. Considering that
Umebayashi
also wrote the music for
Wong Kar Wai
In the Mood for Love
, it's understandable that this score's romantic moments are among the standouts. The
"Lovers"
theme has a pure, yearning melody that works as well in a stripped-down arrangement as it does in the more lavish
"Lovers (Flower Garden)"
and
"Lovers (Mei and Jin)."
Soprano
Kathleen Battle
's version of the song is more overtly Western-sounding but still retains the melody's almost unearthly beauty. The score's bittersweet romance is balanced out by a few percussion-driven tracks that score the film's action sequences, but even pieces like
"Battle in the Forest"
"No Way Out"
are more melodic than might be expected. Gentle drama and restraint are the watchwords for most of the score, particularly on
"Bamboo Forest,"
"Taking Her Hand,"
"Ambush in Ten Directions (Shi Mian Mai Fu),"
"The House of Flying Daggers"
itself. The score's subtlety helps give
its own identity and, in the long run, makes the music more compelling than more bombastic music would be. ~ Heather Phares