Shrek (Original Motion Picture Score) is the film score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell to the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film Shrek directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson. The film score was released through Varèse Sarabande on December 4, 2001, featuring 27 tracks from their score. Shrek was also their third and final collaboration between Gregson-Williams and Powell, as they decided to work on individual projects; the former would reprise his roles for the forthcoming instalments.
The score received a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and Saturn Award for Best Score, which was lost to Craig Armstrong for Moulin Rouge! and John Williams for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, but won Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production and Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Film Score.
Development Shrek is the third film where both Gregson-Williams and Powell worked together, following DreamWorks' Antz (1998) and Chicken Run (2000). Like their previous collaborations, they wrote several themes and brainstormed ideas collaboratively and send ideas back-and-forth to provide an interactive and collaborative effort. Firstly, they tried to develop a structure and after building them, they would take those ideas and apply it to different sections of the film. Gregson-Williams would score the opening sequence while Powell would work on the action sequences and specific themes that demanded on huge orchestral cues. While Gregson-Williams wrote the "fairy tale" theme, Powell's "Ride of the Dragon" was considered to be his favorite, which had incorporated his themes. Gavin Greenaway would conduct and orchestrate the score after doing the same for Antz and Chicken Run. This was also their last film they had collaborated for, as they decided to work individually on other projects to avoid being pigeonholed. Gregson-Williams would compose the later instalments in the Shrek franchise.
Reception Thomas Glorieux of Maintitles wrote "Shrek is still very good. But there are some moments that simply don't connect. First of all it is the various short length of several tracks that keeps destroying the magic, and secondly it are the various short songs. While funny in context, they don't really mingle well with the composed score, at least not to create this amazing listening experience." Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks wrote "beyond all the hype and waiting for an album release of Shrek (which is half a year late, no less), the music hasn't translated as well from film to album as was hoped. What we're left with is a mish-mash of short rhythms, thematic rip-offs, and a few nearly unlistenable comedy tracks."
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes:
Music composer and producer – Harry Gregson-Williams, John Powell Additional music – James McKee Smith Recording – Nick Wollage, Slamm Andrews Mixing – Alan Meyerson, Slamm Andrews Mastering – Patricia Sullivan-Fourstar Music editor – Brian Richards Executive producer – Robert Townson Musical assistance – Alastair King, Dave Hecox, Joel Richard, Julie Imboden, Ken Smith, Toby Chu Music supervisor – Marylata E. Jacob Music preparation – Tony Stanton Package design – Matthew Joseph Peak Music clearance – Julie Butchko Music business affairs – Lenny Wohl Orchestra Orchestration – Bruce L. Fowler, Elizabeth Finch, John Bell, John Coleman, Ladd McIntosh, Walter Fowler, Yvonne S. Moriarty Orchestra conductor – Gavin Greenaway, Harry Gregson-Williams Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths Orchestra leader – Gavyn Wright Instruments Cello – Martin Tillman Clarinet – Anthony Pike, Dave Bishop, Nicholas Bucknall Double bass – Steve McManus Flute – Andrew Findon, Anna Noakes French horn – Richard Bissill Guitar – Peter DiStefano, Danny Jacob Trombone – Peter Davies, Richard Edwards Trumpet – Andy Crowley, Ian Balmain, Paul Archibald Tuba – Owen Slade Viola – Bruce White, Jake Walker Violin – Everton Nelson, Mark Berrow Voices – Lisbeth Scott, Sally Dworsky Choir Choir – Metro Voices Alto vocals – Heather Cairncross Bass vocals – Lawrence Wallington Soprano vocals – Sarah Eyden Tenor vocals – Tom Pearce
Accolades Awards Category Recipient(s) Result Annie AwardsOutstanding Music in an Animated Feature ProductionHarry Gregson-Williams and John Powell ASCAP Film and Television Music AwardsTop Box Office FilmsJohn Powell British Academy Film AwardsBest Film MusicHarry Gregson-Williams and John Powell BMI Film & TV AwardsFilm Music AwardHarry Gregson-Williams GoldSpirit AwardsBest Animated SoundtrackHarry Gregson-Williams and John Powell Ivor Novello AwardsBest Original Film ScoreHarry Gregson-Williams and John Powell Motion Picture Sound EditorsBest Sound Editing – Music (Animated Feature)Brian Richards Saturn AwardsBest ScoreHarry Gregson-Williams and John Powell
References