The Grandmaster is director Wong Kar Wai's latest movie. Six years in the planning and three years in the making, it is an epic action feature inspired by the life and times of the legendary kungfu master, Ip Man. The story spans the tumultuous Republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty, a time of chaos, division and war that was also the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Filmed in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the subtropical South, The Grandmaster features virtuoso performances by some of the greatest stars of contemporary cinema...

The score for The Grandmaster is an interesting collection of original compositions by Shigeru Umebayashi and Nathaniel Mechaly, traditional Chinese music, opera and even throws in a couple of Ennio Morricone tracks for good measure. It sounds like a strange mix of musical styles, but it actually works quite well.

Okay, I could probably have done without the traditional Chinese track 'Beijing Opera - Si Lang Tan Mu' which goes on for just under five minutes, but other than that this is an album that will bring you hours of listening pleasure.

The album contains 16 tracks and runs for approximately 45 minutes.

Track listing:

01 - 'Main Theme I - Opening' - Shigeru Umebayashi & Nathaniel Mechaly
02 - 'Main Theme II - Dreaming of the 64 Hands' - Shigeru Umebayashi
03 - 'Love Theme I' - Shigeru Umebayashi
04 - 'Love Theme II' - Shigeru Umebayashi
05 - 'Beijing Opera - Si Lang Tan Mu' - Traditional
06 - 'The Gold Pavilion' - Shigeru Umebayashi
07 - 'Manchuria Express' - Shigeru Umebayashi & Nathaniel Mechaly
08 - 'Action 150' - Vichaya Vatanasapt, Traithep Wongpaiboon & Nathaniel Mechaly
09 - 'Sorekara Epilogue I – Kokuhaku' - Shigeru Umebayashi
10 - 'Moyou' (from the film "Sorekara") - Shigeru Umebayashi
11 - 'Opium' - Shigeru Umebayashi & Nathaniel Mechaly
12 - 'Casta Diva' (from the opera “Norma”) - Vinenzo Bellini
13 - 'Main Theme IV - The Sacrifice' - Shigeru Umebayashi & Nathaniel Mechaly
14 - 'La Donna Romantica' - Ennio Morricone
15 - 'Once Upon a Time in America: Deborah's Theme' - Ennio Morricone
16 - 'Manchurian Bolero' - Nathaniel Mechaly & Shigeru Umebayashi

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Darren Rea