Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album to the 2011 film of the same name. The film's original score is composed by Alberto Iglesias and was released on 14 October 2011 by Silva Screen Records label. The music received positive reviews from critics, and Iglesias was nominated for Best Original Score category at the Academy Awards and British Academy Film Awards.

Background In a conversation with the film's director Tomas Alfredson and Iglesias, the former explained the story as "a film about loyalties and human relationships. Their spies are victims of this moment" which was what he told about the film. Iglesias said that "the film and the music show the more human side". A jazzy overture was played in the beginning to let viewers into the mind of the protagonist George Smiley (Gary Oldman).

Iglesias said that "There is a silent side of the characters, and the music in this film is trying to connect with the silence", hence he kept the music relatively downbeat. There is slight electronic played when characters speak in code, with a horn or tip-tapping piano music makes it more unsettling, as, according to Iglesias "the music is about the means behind the emotions and so not much about creating something beautiful".

Reception Jonathan Broxton wrote "The score works in context – as most scores do, unless they're really badly written – but unless your taste in scores is firmly rooted in the realms of 'unobtrusive and understated', you're unlikely to take much away from this work in terms of memorability or scope for repeat listenings." Filmtracks.com wrote "Like many of Iglesias' scores, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy will only appeal to those familiar with and appreciative of the composer's techniques of restraint." A review from The Hollywood Reporter commented Iglesias "manages orchestral accompaniment with a sly subtle touch".

Seattle Post-Intelligencer writer Wesley Britton said "Throughout, Iglesias does indeed provide a listenable experience, although it's difficult not to have mental pictures to go with various passages, whether from the novel, original TV dramatization, or likely from the film for those who have seen it." James Christopher Monger of AllMusic wrote "Jazzy, brooding, elegant, and meticulous, Iglesias utilizes a wealth of instrumentation (horns, piano, clarinet, strings, drum kit) to ramp up the tension, casting an infectious cloud of late-night paranoia that's highly listenable, despite its dark intentions." Leslie Felperin of Variety wrote "Alberto Iglesias' creepy, stealthy score, which plays off well against the sound design, and kooky, wry soundtrack choices like a Julio Iglesias cover of Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" and George Formby's "Mr. Wu's a Window Cleaner Now." Kimberley Jones of The Austin Chronicle wrote that Iglesias "provides the crucial aural analog, alternating bar to bar between moody and fusty-sounding".

Track listing

Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) ResultAcademy Awards26 February 2012 Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias British Academy Film Awards12 February 2012 Best Original Music Alberto Iglesias Denver Film Critics Society11 January 2012 Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias European Film Awards1 December 2012 Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias Hollywood Film Festival 24 October 2011 Best Composer Alberto Iglesias International Cinephile Society22 February 2012 Best Original Score Alberto Iglesias Music & Sound Awards Best Original Composition in a Film Alberto Iglesias Spanish Film Music Critics Awards 29 June 2012 Best Spanish Composer Alberto Iglesias World Soundtrack Academy20 October 2012 Best Score of the Year Alberto Iglesias Best Composer of the Year Alberto Iglesias

Credits Credits adapted from CD liner notes.

Artwork – Stuart Ford Bass – Mary Scully Bassoon – Richard Skinner Cello – Anthony Pleeth Clarinet – Nicholas Bucknall Cor Anglais – Leila Ward Executive producer – Ana Eusa, David Stoner, Javier Martín, Nick Angel, Reynold D'Silva Flute – Jonathan Snowden Harp – Skaila Kanga Lacquer cut – LvC Music composed, conducted and produced by – Alberto Iglesias Oboe – David Theodore Orchestration – Everton Nelson Orchestra contractor – Isobel Griffiths Photography – Cristina Hortigüela Piano, producer – Javier Casado Recorded, mixed and mastered by – Jose Luis Crespo Trumpet – Andy Crowley Viola – Peter Lale

References