The Bone Collector

Music by Craig Armstrong

 

 

 

 

 

Climatic and diffuse the music of The Bone Collector (1999) was important in exposing the name of Craig Armstrong. Graduated in composition and piano, Armstrong began activities during the 80s, composing music for theater and dance.

In The Bone Collector three basic sound ingredients consists the skeleton of the soundtrack: dark coral, electronic beats and orchestral interludes. The three sound possibilities are alternated for the suspense. The autoral virtues are evident on the melodic piano lines (the musical protagonists) lost between techno beats as heard in New York City and Taxi Ride. Besides them, the symphony performance in the tragic Amelia's Song and the ambient piano solo in Amelia's Love Theme are among the high points of the work. The pop-depressive mood of the Mackenzie also deserves attention for the great effect in a sound formula widely used. It is a case of a very interesting soundtrack, prejudiced by the shortened use in the film. Hearing it away from the film reveals nuances and surprising musical ideas that would hardly have the fair chance to be noticed on the screen.