I was particularly taken by this score after seeing the film and bought the CD after the showing. And judging by it, I can see composer William Ross rising through the ranks as a real talent.

The music is beautiful. The theme being a hauntingly simple music box tune from the book. The whole score retains a simplicity and folk sound, though it has it's share of "swelling" moments, beautifully performed with strings galore. But the music is never overdone. Whether its a big orchestral scene or just a piano solo and melody. It uses rhythm, sometimes brings in acoustic guitars and fiddle and other such folksy instruments. All in all, this is a wonderful soundtrack to listen to straight through as opposed to skipping around track to track.

It's haunting, it's sad (especially after seeing the film, which I highly recommend, or reading the book), stirring, and refreshing. It captures a time gone by and a timelessness, which the book is, after all, about.


Tuck Everlasting soundtrack is superb!   November 8, 2002
K. Anne Niemiec (waukesha, WI United States)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

Tuck Everlasting is a beautiful movie and soundtrack. I bought this CD before I saw the movie, so all I had to go on were some sound clips on the Internet. I do not regret buying it AT ALL! It went so georgeously with the movie, and not to mention it sounds great just by itself! Here is my description of all of the tracks:

1. Main Title- Really neat and original whistling.(yes, it is an actual person who is whistling!)
2. The Wheel/Treegap- This one always makes me think of the movie, as this is where the nararater would be talking in the movie. It goes from being mysterious and pretty, to a kind of Western style, then ends with a little music box tune.
3. Reunion- Is sweet and thoughtful, but is, sadly, quite short.
4. Tuck's Place- Quite riotous and fun, with that "Western" style again.
5. Winnie Runs Away- Pretty and lulling at first, which then turns a bit menacing, and closes with mystery.
6. Kidnapping- Is somewhat fastpaste, sort of scary and intese, and then mellows out at the end.
7. Winnie and May- Oh, so pretty. The solo violin is great.
8. Graveyard- Spooky and creepy sounding. (hey, what do you expect, with its being called "Graveyard!") Ends with more of that cool whistling.
9. Eiffel Tower- My personal favorite. It starts peaceful and pretty, then builds and "explodes" to the lovely main theme, in full strings.
10. Elegy- A rather tinny sounding piano, but it has a pleasent melody. Violin comes in part way through.
11. Winnie and the Tucks- Neat "Ethnic" flute and cool rythem, plus it builds to another great sounding theme.
12. First Swim- Another favorite. It is gentle and peaceful, and plays the main theme really prettily.
13. Cave Dance- Oh dear, the one track I do NOT like! It mostly is made up of some kind of folk-sounding drums, and has virtualy no tune, just the beat, except at the end. When it is playing, I feel like climbing out on the roof, where, I do not mean, to go dance, I mean to GET AWAY!

14. Miles' Story- Starts out mysterious and foreboding, and while it fits with the movie, the begining is not altogther uplifing to listen to. I still like it, however. The cello (I think it is cello, at least) plays very low and slowly the (almost) same tune that is whistled erlier on at a very high pitch! Really neat how it was done. Thoughtful piano and violins finish it off.
15. Winnie and Tuck- Tinkling and pretty. Never really takes off much, but is very nice regardless. It ends with a twinge of scaryness.
16. Finding the Tucks- Starts as very fastpaced guitar, then gets lovely and sad.
17. Jail Break- One of the best tracks on the whole CD! REALLY COOL celtic tune played on the violin. Totaly high paced and awsome! It comepletely fits the movie, but in a different sort of way, too.
18. Back Home- It has that music box in it again. It is nice, but also melancholy sounding.
19. Good-Byes- Another really lovely track. It plays the main theme very nicely, and it builds near the end. Oooh, this part of the movie is so bitter-sweet!
20. The Funeral- Sweet/sad sounding, but also quite short.
21. Winnie's Choice- The same theme as was played at the begining of track 2, since this part of the movie has the nararator, too. I really like it, and it is at a rather key part of the movie.
22. Love Everlasting- This is also on of my favorite tracks, it is just beautiful!
Am I done yet? Well, almost. Who in the world is going to read this whole thing is beyond me, but hey, thanks for letting me prattle on and on...
Lastly, I would like to close with a statement: This soundtrack would be a great addition to your CD collection, especially if you like music that is beautiful and with a Celtic tint. Buy it, you will not be sorry. Ta ta! : )


"The most haunting, melodic, & enchanting score in years!"   February 13, 2003
Jerry Parks (Lexington, KY USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

OK, this is supposed to be a teen flick, right? So how come the beautiful and haunting orchestral score of William Ross stays with me? Why can I not get those addicting melodies out of my head? I haven't been a teenager is many years!

As wonderful as the movie was (see my review), I say without apology--the music is even better. This enchanting-often dreamy score will (sadly) be overlooked by Academy Award voters, yet track for track--it is sure to become a classic in the annals of Disney musical productions.

Like the film itself, the tracks are short, sweet, and memorable. From the eerie whistling theme of 'Main Title', to the string-ballad (oh so beautiful!) of 'Winnie and Mae'--the music is well crafted and will be appreciated even by those who have not seen the film.

'Jail Break' however, can only be appreciated by familiarity with the scene--once of the most memorable in the movie. Only 'Cave Dance'--as does the scene in the film, seems woefully out of place. 'Elegy' captures that magnificent Victorian period in which the film is set, and the final cut 'Love Everlasting' brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

If you think a 'teen flick' with such an improbable name could hardly feature a score this beautiful, perhaps you need to see the film. But see it or not, if you want to just sit back, close your eyes and appreciate one of the loveliest musical scores in many, many years--this one is it. Thank you, Mr. Ross. This is magnificent!


Very nice.   January 22, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

My dad bought me this soundtrack, as he knows I am big fan of the book and the movie. I'd have to say that the music upholds the spirit of the book very well (especially track #2) and lends a great deal of emotion to the movie.


Catures the Deep Meaning   October 19, 2002
Kelly Young (Colorado, USA)
10 out of 13 found this review helpful

The "Tuck Everlasting" CD is the best soundtrack I've purchased thus far. It caputres the heart and soul of the movie and the first time I heard the songs, I had chills and I was swept away by a state of peace and safety. It's one of my favorites because it has the music actually from the movie (which I saw and absolutely loved). If you just close your eyes, you can picture it and feel what the characters were feeling for that brief moment in time. I strongly suggest you look into purchasing it if you've liked the music from "Dinosaur" or "Harry Potter."