Track Listing

1. Suo Gan
2. Cadillac Of The Skies
3. Jim's New Life
4. Lost In The Crowd
5. Imaginary Air Battle
6. Liberation/Exsultate Justi
7. Return Of The City
8. British Grenadiers
9. Toy Planes Home And Hearth
10. Streets Of Shangai
11. Pheasant Hunt
12. No Road Home/seeing The Bomb
13. Exsultate Justi

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20188 in Music
• Released on: 1993-12-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Original language: English, Japanese
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 153 minutes

Customer Reviews

Brilliant but Incomplete Soundtrack
This is the brilliant but largely unappreciated soundtrack to Steven Spielberg's 1987 historical drama 'Empire of the Sun'. It contains 13 songs from the film, with some pieces, especially Exsultate Justi, making an appearance more than once.

At 51 minutes, this soundtrack can't possibly do justice to a film that runs for over 3 hours, and as a result some musical pieces do not appear here, which is a shame, as some sections not included were memorable (The music that plays as Jim comes back to the British dormitory is missing, for instance).
Numerous songs contained here are traditional classical pieces not composed by John Williams, including 'British Grenadiers' and Chopin's Mazurka Opus 17 No.4.

Songs that standout include the beautiful melancholy theme expressed in 'Toy Planes, Home and Hearth' (the theme that plays when Jim stands next to the Zero fighter plane surrounded by sparks) to the memorable and rousing 'Cadillac of the Skies'. Joyful tunes include 'Imaginary Air Battle' and 'Jim's New Life', although a large part of the soundtrack include more foreboding and darker pieces such as 'The Streets of Shanghai' and 'Return to the City'.

Yet the soundtrack is worth the asking price alone for the two brilliant melodies, Suo Gan and Exsultate Justi. Exsultate Justi is a rousing choral piece in latin, the tune that plays at the films credits. Another slightly different version appears earlier in the soundtrack, representing Jim's liberation from the Prison camp. Suo Gan is possibly the best song, and the film's unofficial theme. This is a haunting old Welsh lullaby, sung beautifully by James Rainbird and the Ambrosian Junior Choir.

This soundtrack has been largely ignored, mostly because it contains a large selection of traditional songs (Suo Gan, Mazurka Opus, British Grenadiers) rather than John Williams own original material. Those songs that were composed by John Williams do have his unique signature and style, meaning this a great soundtrack for Williams fans and fans of the film alike.

The film was great, the music even better
What can I say, this music is great..it bring back all the emotion and drama of the film and leaves you breatless..the track are all great..there not much I can say...if you liked the film, you will love the music...it's like watching the film again without the picture. buy it now!

Simply amazing!!
Omg...this music is just incredibly beautifully! Listening to this music while picturing Jim on his journey is just really heartmelting! I first listened to the music in my car on the way home, and boy did I cry all the way, it was just so amazing! Suo Gan especially made me cry! Gosh i love that track! Well, it's a really great movie, and it sure got some great music!! You loved the movie? Buy the music! And then just relax yourself while enjoying this masterpiece of a soundtrack!!