World Trade Center

Composed by Craig Armstrong

Orchestrated by Craig Armstrong, Matt Dunkley, and
                              Kazimir Boyle

Conducted by Pete Anthony

Produced by Craig Armstrong and Geoff Foster

Released by Sony Classical Records on August 8, 2006

Total Running Time: 57:26

     It could have been considered something of a gamble to release not one, but two films that dealt with the subject of 9/11 only five years after the event itself. And when one considers that the second of these, World Trade Center, was going to be directed by Oliver Stone, it seemed that the odds were astronomical that this film could actually be successful without stirring a lot of controversy.  Thankfully, Stone saw fit to narrow his focus to a specific set of characters affected by the crisis instead of trying to craft something that would stir up negative emotions and trump up conspiracy theories.

     John Powell did a great job with his side of the coin in United 93, but Craig Armstrong isn't afraid to tread into the emotional aspects of that day, and what he delivers is a moving tribute of a score that adequately expresses the kind of feelings that many of us experienced. The music is mournful, longing, and emotional right from beginning, and the score never lets up from there, but it's not an overbearing attempt at sentimentality. Instead, Armstrong balances out the darker aspects with reminders of the heroics that were also displayed. Make no mistake. This score will in no way lighten your mood on a depressing day, but every emotion has its place, and for what World Trade Center attempts to get across, Armstrong does so brilliantly through his score.

     The music is simply constructed, allowing the complexity of the feeling to carry the score. Even after hearing the main themes repeated often, the effect isn't lost. Armstrong's World Trade Center theme is the staple, and it appears many times, but there are plenty of nuances allowed for the difference performances and the inclusion of other noteworthy themes keep the material from bogging down. Primarily scored with strings and piano, Armstrong refrains from electronics for the most part, utilizing them mainly for the moments of heroism that punctuate the music in exactly the right spots. By keeping the electronics out and then pilling them all up at once as the strings soar upwards, Armstrong enhances their usage to the point where it marks some of the best moments of this score.  

     It seems almost like a requirement to turn to a chorus at some point, and Armstrong doesn't fail in this regard either. Like the electronics, they are kept in check until just the right moments and also provide some of the highlights that can be found on this album. It is a full chorus that hits just the right mix of heroism and tragedy without resorting to the epic sort of choral writing that would have leveled this score into the realm of parody. With such a large presence, it can be very hard to avoid this, but the chorus here is top notch and adds a texture to the score that continues to push it forward in a very touching manner.

     Armstrong has delivered a wonderful tribute to the victims of 9/11 with his score to World Trade Center. It's far more accessible than Powell's United 93 and would make a great purchase for anyone who has appreciated Armstrong's past body of work, or are simply looking for a beautiful, tragic score that doesn't bash the listener over the head with the emotions it is trying to convey, but leaves a lasting impression nonetheless.

Reviewed on November 9, 2006

See Also