Lincoln (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Editors’ Notes John Williams punctuated a month in Abraham Lincoln's life with the grand orchestral aplomb that’s synonymous with his life’s work. But something about Williams’ chemistry with Steven Spielberg can bring a whole package to life, and fittingly, Williams’ score for 2012’s Lincoln is no exception. Right from the opening composition, “The People’s House,” there’s a familiar emotional swell of orchestral melodies soaring with triumphant bombast. “Getting Out the Vote” cleverly incorporate old-timey fiddles and Dixieland shuffles that are indicative of Lincoln's era, but Williams adds a layer of sublime orchestration to flesh out the string-band style with more dimension. Similarly, “The Race to the House” leans heavily on sepia-toned instrumentation (more than in “Getting Out the Vote”), creating a hot and humid mood to match the pastoral patina of the old American South.