What’s the classical music featured in ‘Call Me By Your Name’?

26 September 2019, 17:26

Luca Guadagnino’s critically acclaimed film, ‘Call Me By Your Name’ is now on Netflix – here’s everything you need to know about the classical music featured in the film’s evocative soundtrack.

Luca Guadagnino’s critically acclaimed film, Call Me By Your Name, is out on Netflix today (26 September).

The Oscar-winning LGBT film starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer is accompanied by a sublime soundtrack, which – alongside tracks by the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Giorgio Moroder – includes several classical pieces.

As well as John Adams’ Hallelujah Junction, there are piano performances of works by Erik Satie and J.S. Bach. Here’s the full rundown…

Read more: John Williams says ‘I don’t listen to my own music once the movies are done’ >

1. John Adams: Hallelujah Junction (1st Movement)

   This is a movement from Adams’ work for two pianos from the late nineties. Energetic and repetitive, it’s Adams schooling us in modern minimalism while giving us a pleasant listen. Minimalism may not be for everyone, but here it adds a lovely bit of sparkle.

   

   John Adams - Hallelujah Junction (1996) [w/score]

2. Erik Satie: Sonatine bureaucratique

   While French composer and pianist, Erik Satie, is best known for his compact Gymnopédies, it’s also well worth exploring his other works for piano. The Sonatine bureaucratique is neo-classical and, more specifically, a parody on late Classical composer Muzio Clementi’s Sonatina Op. 36, No. 1.

3. J. S. Bach: ‘Zion hört die Wächter singen’ from Cantata BWV 140 (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)

   A piano transcription of Bach’s 1731 cantata is performed by Alessio Bax on the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack. It’s elegant and measured, and works just as well for piano as it does in its original version for voice and instrumental accompaniment.

   

   Bach - Zion Hört Die Wächter singen, Cantata BWV 140 "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" | Alessio Bax

4. Maurice Ravel: ‘Une barque sur l’océan’ from Miroirs

   Ravel’s Miroirs is a suite for piano with five movements, the third of which appears on the Call Me soundtrack. It’s impressionistic and atmospheric, and lends nicely to the dreamy northern Italian scenes.

5. Maurice Ravel: ‘Le Jardin féerique’ from Ma mère l’Oye

   Another Ravel work that makes an appearance in Luca Guadagnino’s film is a movement – meaning ‘The Fairy Garden’ – from the piano duet-turned-orchestral work Ma mère l’Oye, written for the children of Polish sculptor, Cyprian Godebski, a friend of Ravel’s.

   

   Ravel - Ma Mere l'Oye - Martha Argerich - Eduardo Delgado.mp4

6. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Germination

   Japanese composer and actor, Sakamoto, has scooped a number of awards – including an Oscar, a Grammy, a BAFTA and two Golden Globes – for his work composing for film. Germination was originally from the 1983 Nagisa Oshima-directed film, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and is heard in a reduced piano version in Call Me By Your Name. Sublime.

   

   Ryuichi Sakamoto - Germination (piano version)

Listen to the whole Call Me By Your Name soundtrack below.