Che (soundtrack)

Che (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
Alberto Iglesias
Released16 December 2008
Recorded2008
Studio
GenreFilm score
Length58:14
LabelVarèse Sarabande
ProducerAlberto Iglesias
Alberto Iglesias chronology
The Kite Runner
(2007) 		Che
(2008) 		Broken Embraces
(2009)

Che (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score composed by Alberto Iglesias to the 2008 two-part epic biographical film Che directed by Steven Soderbergh, with Benicio del Toro as the Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara. The film score was released through Varèse Sarabande on December 16, 2008.

Background

Alberto Iglesias composed the film score in his first and only collaboration with Soderbergh.[1] Iglesias noted that Soderbergh wanted the film to not have any score, but eventually decided that music should be the only way to underline the psychological aspects.[2] The score for Part 1: The Argentine was designed in a triumphant and energetic manner, while Part 2: Guerrilla had an increasingly tense and dissonant score that sparsely used to heighten the tensions of the war and revolution.[2] The score was recorded at the AIR Studios in London, Cata Studios and Red Led Studios in Madrid, with an 80-piece orchestra, conducted and orchestrated by Iglesias himself.[2] Varèse Sarabande released the score album on 16 December 2008.[3]

Reception

Jonathan Broxton of Movie Music UK noted that "there is clearly a great deal of intelligence and great craftsmanship on display here" but the "lack of tangible element" in the score left him distracted.[4] In contrast, James Southall of Movie Wave called it "one of the year's best albums" and added "The subtlety, the nuance—it's rare in film music these days to find such qualities, rarer still in a comparatively high-profile film."[5]

Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote "Alberto Iglesias' score comes and goes in abrupt fashion, sometimes to oddly melodramatic effect."[6] A. O. Scott of The New York Times called it an "excellent score, less austere in its moods and effects".[7] Tom Lynch of Newcity wrote "Too much cannot be said about Alberto Iglesias' remarkable, beautiful score, which provides emotional undercurrent and patches of mood to sometimes-austere passages."[8] Alonso Duralde of Today wrote "Alberto Iglesias' score never swells up so we know we're supposed to be moved."[9] Amy Taubin of The Criterion Collection wrote "the jagged undercurrent of Alberto Iglesias's score is a great tension builder".[10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Ese Hombre Es El Che Guevara"2:53
2."Ten Years Earlier (December 1, 1956)"1:59
3."Sierra Maestra"4:59
4."Landscape"1:34
5."I Want To Take The Revolution To Latin America"2:08
6."New York, December 1964"1:02
7."Across Mount Turquino"2:51
8."March"2:35
9."Some Craziness Is Good"3:04
10."Luces Y Sombras"2:15
11."Ambush"3:43
12."Political Skills"2:26
13."Military Skills"1:41
14."Camino A La Habana"2:01
15."Nancahuazu Canyon, March 23, 1967"2:57
16."Doctor Guevara"1:43
17."Santa Clara"1:59
18."Patria O Muerte"3:54
19."La Higuera, October 9, 1967"5:38
20."Balderrama"3:57
21."Fusil Contra Fusil"2:55
Total length:58:14

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes:[11]

  • Composer and producer – Alberto Iglesias
  • Programming and arrangement – Javier Casado, Jorge Magaz
  • Sound engineer – Fiona Cruickshank, Jake Jackson
  • Assistant sound engineer – Diego Balduque, Joaquín Pizarro, Rafael Soler
  • Recording – José Luis Crespo, Raúl Quílez
  • Mixng – José Luis Crespo
  • Mastering – Patricia Sullivan Fourstar
  • Executive producer – Robert Townson, Ana Eusa, Javier Martín
  • Musical assistance – David Cerrejón
Orchestra
  • Conductor – Alberto Iglesias
  • Orchestrator – Alberto Iglesias, Perry Montague-Mason
  • Orchestra leader – Perry Montague-Mason
  • Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths
  • Assistant orchestra contractor – Charlotte Matthew
Instruments
  • Accordion – Javier Casado
  • Alto flute – Helen Keen
  • Bass flute – Anna Noakes
  • Cello – Julia Mallova
  • English horn – Jane Marshall
  • Guitar – Alfredo Marugan, Javier Crespo
  • Harp – Skaila Kanga
  • Piccolo flute – Jonathan Snowden
  • Saxophone – Andrés Gomis
  • String ensemble – Fatum String Trio
  • Trumpet –Andrew Crowley
  • Viola – Peter Lale
  • Violin – Anton Gakkel, Mariano Moraru
  • Vocals – Mercedes Sosa, Silvio Rodríguez
  • Woodwinds – Andres Gomis, Javier Paxariño

Accolades

Awards Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
CEC Awards Best Score Alberto Iglesias Nominated [12]
Goya Awards Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias Nominated [13]
[14]
[15]
International Film Music Critics Association Best Original Score for a Drama Film Alberto Iglesias Nominated [16]

References

  1. ^ Scott-Anderton, Florence (25 November 2021). "Soundtrack Mix #21: Flower of Sound - The Film Music of Alberto Iglesias". Mubi (in Italian). Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "CHE – Part 1 and Part 2" (PDF). Festival de Cannes. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Che (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. 16 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  4. ^ Broxton, Jonathan (13 December 2008). "CHE – Alberto Iglesias". Movie Music UK. Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  5. ^ Southall, James. "Iglesias: Che". Movie Wave. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Todd (22 May 2008). "Che". Variety. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  7. ^ Scott, A. O. (12 December 2008). "Saluting the Rebel Underneath the T-Shirt (Published 2008)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. ^ Lynch, Tom (13 January 2009). "Review: Che: Special Roadshow Edition". Newcity. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  9. ^ Duralde, Alonso (8 December 2008). "Soderbergh's 'Che' is quietly revolutionary". Today. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  10. ^ Taubin, Amy (18 January 2010). "Why Che?". The Criterion Collection. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  11. ^ Alberto Iglesias. Che (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Media notes). Varèse Sarabande.
  12. ^ "Medallas del CEC a la producción española de 2008". Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  13. ^ Rolfe, Pamela (1 February 2009). ""Camino" leads Goya Awards with six nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Estos son las nominaciones de los Premios Goya 2009". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Estos son los premios de los Premios Goya 2009". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  16. ^ IFMCA (2009). "2008 IFMCA Awards". IFMCA. IFMCA. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
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