Jonny Greenwood Talks to BBC 6 Music About "Norwegian Wood," "There Will Be Blood," Radiohead, and More

Browse by:
Year
Browse by:
Publish date (field_publish_date)
Submitted by nonesuch on
Article Type
Publish date
Excerpt

The soundtrack for Norwegian Wood, the new film based on Haruki Murakami’s bestselling novel, featuring a score by Jonny Greenwood, is out next week. Greenwood spoke with BBC 6 Music about finding inspiration for the score in Murakami's novel, his acclaimed score for There Will Be Blood, and future plans for Radiohead. MusicOMH says Greenwood's new score "shows how the string orchestra remains a descriptive force in the right hands." The Evening Standard says it "creates a powerful atmosphere" for the film.

Copy

The soundtrack for Norwegian Wood, director Tran Anh Hung’s film adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s bestselling novel, is out next week on Nonesuch, just days before the UK theatrical release of the film. The soundtrack features an instrumental score by Jonny Greenwood performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Emperor Quartet, as well as three tracks written and performed by CAN.

Greenwood spoke with BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt about finding inspiration for the score in Murakami's novel. He also spoke with Everitt about his acclaimed score for Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film There Will Be Blood, as well as future plans for Greenwood's band, Radiohead, which recently released a new album, The King of Limbs. You can listen to the segment at bbc.co.uk.

---

MusicOMH gives the Norwegian Wood soundtrack three-and-a-half stars. "While the day job remains his role as guitarist with Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood's reputation as an expert orchestral craftsman continues to gather strength," writes reviewer Ben Hogwood.

Following his score for There Will Be Blood, Greenwood's latest "explores further the possibilities of writing for strings," says Hogwood. "Greenwood shows how the string orchestra remains a descriptive force in the right hands."

You can read the review at musicomh.com.

---

The Evening Standard, in a larger look at recent filmic contributions from rock musicians, says "Greenwood creates a powerful atmosphere on his soundtrack to the film of Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood." Writer David Smyth describes Greenwood's There Will Be Blood soundtrack as the "deserving winner of the Evening Standard's Award for Best Film Score in 2008. It was orchestral yet modern, never reduced to the background mush so common with film strings and benefiting from extended periods of absence."

Read the article at thisislondon.co.uk.

---

The Irish Independent describes Greenwood's latest work as an "evocative, and frequently plaintive score," saying that "as an advertisement for Greenwood's gifts, it's difficult to fault." Reviewer John Meagher also praises the There Will Be Blood score, placing it "among the most powerful of the past decade."

---

To pick up a copy of the Norwegian Wood soundtrack, with high-quality, 320 kbps MP3s included and available for download on Tuesday, head to the Nonesuch Store now, where you'll also find the There Will Be Blood score, with three exclusive bonus tracks.

featuredimage
Jonny Greenwood
  • Friday, March 4, 2011
    Jonny Greenwood Talks to BBC 6 Music About "Norwegian Wood," "There Will Be Blood," Radiohead, and More
    Jason Evans

    The soundtrack for Norwegian Wood, director Tran Anh Hung’s film adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s bestselling novel, is out next week on Nonesuch, just days before the UK theatrical release of the film. The soundtrack features an instrumental score by Jonny Greenwood performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Emperor Quartet, as well as three tracks written and performed by CAN.

    Greenwood spoke with BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt about finding inspiration for the score in Murakami's novel. He also spoke with Everitt about his acclaimed score for Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film There Will Be Blood, as well as future plans for Greenwood's band, Radiohead, which recently released a new album, The King of Limbs. You can listen to the segment at bbc.co.uk.

    ---

    MusicOMH gives the Norwegian Wood soundtrack three-and-a-half stars. "While the day job remains his role as guitarist with Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood's reputation as an expert orchestral craftsman continues to gather strength," writes reviewer Ben Hogwood.

    Following his score for There Will Be Blood, Greenwood's latest "explores further the possibilities of writing for strings," says Hogwood. "Greenwood shows how the string orchestra remains a descriptive force in the right hands."

    You can read the review at musicomh.com.

    ---

    The Evening Standard, in a larger look at recent filmic contributions from rock musicians, says "Greenwood creates a powerful atmosphere on his soundtrack to the film of Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood." Writer David Smyth describes Greenwood's There Will Be Blood soundtrack as the "deserving winner of the Evening Standard's Award for Best Film Score in 2008. It was orchestral yet modern, never reduced to the background mush so common with film strings and benefiting from extended periods of absence."

    Read the article at thisislondon.co.uk.

    ---

    The Irish Independent describes Greenwood's latest work as an "evocative, and frequently plaintive score," saying that "as an advertisement for Greenwood's gifts, it's difficult to fault." Reviewer John Meagher also praises the There Will Be Blood score, placing it "among the most powerful of the past decade."

    ---

    To pick up a copy of the Norwegian Wood soundtrack, with high-quality, 320 kbps MP3s included and available for download on Tuesday, head to the Nonesuch Store now, where you'll also find the There Will Be Blood score, with three exclusive bonus tracks.

    Journal Articles:Artist NewsReviewsRadio

Enjoy This Post?

Get weekly updates right in your inbox.
terms

X By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Thank you!
x

Welcome to Nonesuch's mailing list!

Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store!
terms

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Related Posts

  • Friday, March 14, 2025
    Friday, March 14, 2025

    The 27-disc box set Steve Reich Collected Works is out now on Nonesuch. It features music recorded during the composer's 40 years on the label—six decades of his compositions, including first recordings of his two latest works, Jacob’s Ladder and Traveler’s Prayer (both also available to stream/download today)—plus two extensive booklets with new essays by Robert Hurwitz, Michael Tilson Thomas, Russell Hartenberger, Judith Sherman, and Nico Muhly, and a comprehensive listener’s guide by Timo Andres. Nonesuch made its first record with Steve Reich in 1985; he was signed exclusively to the label that year. Collected Works includes 24 discs of Nonesuch recordings and three from other labels. You can watch an unboxing video narrated by the composer here.

    Journal Topics: Album ReleaseArtist NewsVideo
  • Wednesday, March 12, 2025
    Wednesday, March 12, 2025

    Cinematic electro-pop duo Ringdown, featuring Danni Lee Parpan and Pulitzer and Grammy winner Caroline Shaw, will release its debut album, Lady on the Bike, May 9. The album celebrates the feeling of possibility in myriad forms: the possibility of love; the possibility of creating connection and community in a world trying to pull those things apart; the possibility of making music in new ways. Ringdown will create additional custom sleeves for the first 50 Nonesuch Store vinyl orders. The duo will perform with Sō Percussion and in its own headlining shows this spring and summer.

    Journal Topics: Album ReleaseArtist NewsVideo