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Marriage Story
Film score by Randy Newman
Released	November 15, 2019
Recorded	2019
Studio	Newman Scoring Stage
Genre	Film score
Length	58:15
Label	Lakeshore
Producer	Randy Newman
Randy Newman chronology
Toy Story 4 (2019) Marriage Story (2019)
Singles from Marriage Story
"What I Love About Nicole" Released: November 1, 2019

Marriage Story (Original Music from the Netflix film) is the score album to the 2019 film of the same name, directed by Noah Baumbach. The score is written and composed by Randy Newman, who previously worked with Baumbach on The Meyerowitz Stories (2017). Over 14 tracks were compiled into the album, which was recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage in 20th Century Fox Studios, with a 40-piece chamber orchestra, ranging from various instruments. Newman called the score as a "rush of cool water in a moviemaking era that rarely asks for things like lyricism, or instrumental solos".

The first track from the film "What I Love About Nicole" is the lead single from the album, released on November 1, 2019. Lakeshore Records marketed and released the soundtrack, digitally on November 15, and through CD on December 13. The score was positively received for Newman's composition, orchestration and diversity in the musical cues. For his score, Newman received nominations at various ceremonies including Academy Awards, Golden Globe and Satellite Awards, along with several other ceremonies hosted by critics' organisation.

Composition

Randy Newman composed the film's score. While reading the script, Newman thought that he "sorted of the characters (Nicole and Charlie) as heroic in a way. And their love story — on one hand it’s very human, the experience of the movie sort of mirrors qualities of real life. But also saw it in the tradition of great film love stories too, or these stories of ‘love that can’t be’ for whatever reason, but still love that is worthy of celebration". The score started with the main themes of Charlie and Nicole, which was "an overture that introduces several thematic ideas for the characters".

"It’s celebratory, it’s compassionate, it’s human. It’s not romanticizing them, but it is loving, I think. The visuals that are accompanying it in the beginning are mostly images of domesticity, or coupledom, or individual characteristics that makes us unique. Ordinary moments. And I felt like the score could sort of celebrate it, make these ordinary moments extraordinary. Because they are, of course."

— Randy Newman

Newman used a 40-piece chamber orchestra that featured a wide range of instruments, including, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, three horns, a trumpet, a trombone, two percussions, 12 violins, four violas, four cellos, a bass, and a harp. The score was recorded at the Newman Scoring Stage during mid-2019, and was inspired by his uncle Alfred Newman's works from the 1950s and 1960s, devoid of modern classification. The cues featured dialogues from the characters, Nicole and Charlie. While scoring, Newman said in his interview to Variety, stating "I don’t care so much if people don’t notice the score and it really works. This one works, and they’re noticing it. It’s all right with me if it just helps the picture like those ‘Toy Story’ pictures and the score is not mentioned. It’s not supposed to stick out. Yet in this one, I’m sticking out all over the place."

Critical reception

James Southall of Movie Wave called it as a "beautiful, touching score for a film which frankly anybody who fancies a career as a film composer for something other than crash-bang movies would be very well advised to sit and study". Jonathan Broxton wrote "It’s rare in 2019 that a composer is asked to channel the spirit of New Wave-era Georges Delerue, and even rarer when a composer does it with this much taste and dexterity. The themes are lovely, the arrangements are sublime, and at just a touch under 30 minutes in length is a perfect accompaniment to a petit déjeuner of café au lait, pain au chocolat, and maybe a Gauloises or two." Rosie Pentreath of Classic FM wrote "The score features sparsely accompanied melodies with lyric tunes, passed between different instruments of the orchestra. The tunes are light and airy one minute, flecked with gloomy uncertainty the next – the perfect auditory metaphor for the trials of an unsuitable marriage, and uncertainty of going through divorce."

Aparna Narain of The Hindu wrote "The poignant soundtrack by Randy Newman (also nominated for a Golden Globe) proves to be the perfect accompaniment to the story". Terri White of Empire said "the lightly sombre notes of Randy Newman’s chamber orchestra score — beautifully and delicately sketches the tone of the entire film". Mark Kermode of The Guardian said "Randy Newman’s contrapuntally romantic score ensures that our heartstrings are pulled in several directions at once".

Track listing

Additional music

The film featured singles from Tony K and Dua Lipa that are not included in the soundtrack. Adam Driver sings "Being Alive" from the musical Company written by Stephen Sondheim, in the film's conclusion, as Baumbach said "It’s good because it’s human. I wanted the song to have the same function songs do in musicals: the character arrives at another place by the end of the song. It’s story and character. This material offered many hidden and not so hidden genres in it." Also from Company, Scarlett Johansson, Merritt Wever, and Julie Hagerty sing "You Can Drive a Person Crazy".

Release history

Awards and nominations

References

1. "'Marriage Story' Soundtrack Details". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
2. ^ "Randy Newman's sweet, song-like music sings in 'Toy Story 4' and 'Marriage Story'". Los Angeles Times. December 3, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
3. "Marriage Story: Let Randy Newman's Score Gently Break Your Heart". Vanity Fair. October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
4. "Even With Two Oscars, Randy Newman Is Still "Definitely a Dissident"". Vanity Fair. January 6, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
5. Newman, Melinda (November 15, 2019). "Randy Newman May Have Mellowed, But He's Still Taking on the Biggest Challenges of His Career". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
6. Feinberg, Scott (October 9, 2019). "'Awards Chatter' Podcast — Randy Newman ('Marriage Story' & 'Toy Story 4')". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
7. Willman, Chris (October 30, 2019). "Randy Newman Reached Into His Past for 'Marriage Story' Score". Variety. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
8. Tangcay, Jazz (November 22, 2019). "Randy Newman on Hitting the Romantic Notes of 'Marriage Story' (Exclusive Featurette)". Variety. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
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10. "MARRIAGE STORY – Randy Newman". MOVIE MUSIC UK. November 26, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
11. ^ "Marriage Story soundtrack: who composed the score and what music is in the Netflix film?". Classic FM. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
12. Narrain, Aparna (December 16, 2019). "'Marriage Story' movie review: Love, life and heartbreak". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
13. "Marriage Story". Empire. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
14. "Marriage Story review – Noah Baumbach's best film yet". The Guardian. November 17, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
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16. Thomas, Leah Marilla (December 6, 2019). "Why Adam Driver Singing "Being Alive" in 'Marriage Story' Is Such a *Journey*". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
17. Thompson, Anne (November 8, 2019). "'Marriage Story': Noah Baumbach Deconstructs His Battle of the Sexes". IndieWire. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
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• 2019 soundtrack albums
• 2010s film soundtrack albums
• Film scores
• Lakeshore Records soundtracks
• Randy Newman soundtracks