Goodbye Christopher Robin (soundtrack)

Goodbye Christopher Robin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Film score by
Released13 October 2017
Recorded2017
StudiosAbbey Road Studios, London
GenreFilm score
Length60:56
LabelSony Classical
ProducerCarter Burwell
Carter Burwell chronology
The Founder
(2016)
Goodbye Christopher Robin
(2017)
Wonderstruck
(2017)

Goodbye Christopher Robin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score composed by Carter Burwell to the 2017 film Goodbye Christopher Robin directed by Simon Curtis starring Domhnall Gleeson and Margot Robbie. The original score was released through Sony Classical Records on 13 October 2017.

Development

Carter Burwell composed the film score.[1] Burwell considered the riskier decision of the film score was to withhold the main theme until the mid-portions of the film, when A. A. Milne begins to write and his friend Ernest Shepard begins to illustrate Winnie-the-Pooh, which they did to make that montage especially noteworthy, thereby being the turning point of the story. Before that point, the music illustrated various things like trauma, transition from city to country life, awkward relations between Christopher Robin and his parents until Winnie the Pooh changes everything. In terms of instrumentation, they did not focus on the period of the film but the instruments should match the 1920s and 1930s, thought particularly of the English pastoral tradition such as George Butterworth's "Two English Idylls".[2]

A specific note Burwell received to solve problems musically, was one having to do with Christopher Robin's mother Daphne, where the American audiences did not emphatize with Daphne that resents the inconvenience of being a mother, and hence Burwell was asked to what he could do to make her more likable, but that provided him fewer opportunities to do so in the score, even though he did the best. Burwell, however considered, the real life relationship between Robin and Daphne was much worse than what shown on heard in this film.[2]

Release

The soundtrack was released through Sony Classical Records digitally on 13 October 2017, followed by a CD released on 27 October.[3]

Reception

Jonathan Broxton of Movie Music UK wrote "Goodbye Christopher Robin may not be the Winnie the Pooh score one was expecting, but it's certainly the one the film needed."[4] Susan Wloszczyna of RogerEbert.com called it a "sweeping" score.[5] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "whether the onscreen action is obvious or subtle, Carter Burwell's elegant score is understatement personified."[6] David Ehrlich of IndieWire called it a "characteristically lush score".[7]

Mark Kermode of The Guardian wrote "Carter Burwell's score tinkles and surges, employing piano and harp to pluck mercilessly at the heartstrings".[8] Peter Debruge of Variety and Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times called it a "honey-sweet" and "honeyed" score.[9][10] "The score by Carter Burwell swells and surges, in preparation for the next 88-odd minutes of treacly over-statement".[11] Jazz Tangcay of Awards Daily wrote "Carter Burwell's fine score is beautiful and enchanting throughout. His harp strings and orchestrations are a perpetual gift to cinema and in this film his score stirs a warm sensation of cozy nostalgia."[12]

Anthony Aguilar of Set the Tape wrote "Carter Burwell's score for Goodbye Christopher Robin is strong and full of whimsy, pathos and stirring beauty. Performed largely by strings, harp, and piano, this score will appeal to those looking for something a little smaller scale than the normal big Hollywood sound. That's not to say that the score is always quiet, as fans of large scale dramatic scores will find moments to enjoy here as well. If you require bombast, sweeping scope, and large orchestras in your scores then steer clear. For everybody else, Carter Burwell has composed a real winner with his music for Goodbye Christopher Robin."[13] Sandy Schaefer of Screen Rant wrote "setting the mood is the score by the Coen Brothers' frequent collaborator Carter Burwell, which embellishes the wondrous vibe of Alan and Christopher's time playing together in their own Hundred-Acre Wood, and nicely contrasts those scenes with the more dramatic somber moments of the film."[14] Trevor Johnston of Radio Times called it a "string-laden score".[15]

Track listing

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Tree of Memory" 4:01
2."Birth" 1:23
3."First Night" 2:09
4."Cotchford Farm" 1:54
5."The Object Of My Affection"The Boswell Sisters with Jimmie Grier3:21
6."Toys and Stars" 1:23
7."Into the Forest" 3:00
8."Bear Hunt" 1:58
9."Goes to Town in a Golden Gown" 1:06
10."To the Zoo" 1:55
11."Balloons" 0:50
12."Snowfall, Snowrise" 2:25
13."A Man and His Dream"Al Bowlly3:24
14."Drawing Pooh" 2:33
15."I'm Billy Moon, and I'll Be Back Soon" 1:57
16."When We Were Young" 0:47
17."The People a Person Loves" 1:38
18."Fame" 3:37
19."Tea with Christopher Robin" 3:24
20."Keep Your Memories" 3:27
21."Down the Stairs, Nobody Cares" 0:53
22."Not Another Word" 1:31
23."Private Milne" 1:19
24."Billy Leaves" 5:35
25."Well, if It Isn't Billy Moon" 3:14
26."Home, I Should Think" 2:12
Total length:60:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes:[16]

  • Music composer and producer – Carter Burwell
  • Recording – Michael Farrow, John Barrett, Stefano Civetta
  • Mixing – Michael Farrow
  • Mastering – Bob Ludwig
  • Music editor – Adam Milo Smalley
  • Music supervisor – Sarah Bridge
  • Musical assistance – Dean Parker
  • Music librarian – Richard Ihnatowicz
  • Copyist – Vic Fraser
  • Liner notes – Simon Curtis
  • Booklet editing and design – WLP Ltd.
Orchestra
  • Orchestra conductor – Carter Burwell
  • Orchestrators – Carter Burwell, Sonny Kompanek
  • Orchestra leader – Everton Nelson, Perry Montague-Mason
  • Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths, Susie Gillis
Instruments
  • Harp – Hugh Webb
  • Piano – David Hartley
Management
  • Music business affairs for Twentieth Century Fox – Tom Cavanaugh
  • Music management for Twentieth Century Fox – Areli Quirarte
  • Music clearance for Twentieth Century Fox – Ellen Ginsburg
  • Executive in charge of music for Twentieth Century Fox – Danielle Diego
  • Music production supervisor for Twentieth Century Fox – Rebecca Morellato
  • Music supervisor for Twentieth Century Fox – Anton Monsted
  • Soundtrack coordination for Twentieth Century Fox – JoAnn Orgel
  • Sony Classical Records product development – Jennifer Liebeskind
  • Sony Classical Records licensing – Mark Cavell

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
World Soundtrack Awards October 17, 2018 Soundtrack Composer of the Year Carter Burwell[a] Won [17]
[18]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Carter Burwell to Score Simon Curtis' 'Goodbye Christopher Robin'". Film Music Reporter. 5 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Goodbye Christopher Robin". carterburwell.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  3. ↑ McCue, Michelle (27 September 2017). "Composer Carter Burwell's GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD Drops on October 27". We Are Movie Geeks. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Broxton, Jonathan (17 October 2017). "GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN – Carter Burwell". MOVIE MUSIC UK. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Wloszczyna, Susan (13 October 2017). "Goodbye Christopher Robin movie review". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Linden, Sheri (20 September 2017). "'Goodbye Christopher Robin': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 8 March 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Ehrlich, David (22 September 2017). "'Goodbye Christopher Robin' Review: This Biopic About Winnie the Pooh's Creator Is Totally Run of the Milne". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 10 December 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Kermode, Mark (1 October 2017). "Goodbye Christopher Robin review – delightful take on the difficult birth of Winnie-the-Pooh". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Debruge, Peter (20 September 2017). "Film Review: 'Goodbye Christopher Robin'". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 March 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Catsoulis, Jeannette (11 October 2017). "Review: 'Goodbye Christopher Robin' Unspools a Difficult Childhood". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Halligan, Fionnuala (20 September 2017). "'Goodbye Christopher Robin': Review". Screen International. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (29 September 2017). "Review: Goodbye Christopher Robin is an Enchanting Drama About a Boy and His Bear". Awards Daily. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Aguilar, Anthony (6 October 2017). "Goodbye Christopher Robin (Carter Burwell) – Film Score Review". Set the Tape. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Schaefer, Sandy (27 October 2017). "Goodbye Christopher Robin: A Bear of Very Little Happiness". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Johnston, Trevor (28 September 2017). "Goodbye Christopher Robin review: film based on Winnie the Pooh creator AA Milne". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Carter Burwell. Goodbye Christopher Robin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Media notes). Sony Classical Records.
  17. ↑ Carras, Christi (13 August 2018). "'Shape of Water,' 'Star Wars,' Kendrick Lamar Nab World Soundtrack Awards Noms". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  18. ↑ Dalton, Ben (17 October 2018). "Kendrick Lamar, late Jóhann Jóhannsson win at 2018 World Soundtrack Awards". Screen International. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2024.