| The Sixth Sense (Original Motion Picture Score) | ||||
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| Film score by | ||||
| Released | August 24, 1999 | |||
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| Genre | Film score | |||
| Length | 30:15 | |||
| Label | Varèse Sarabande | |||
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| James Newton Howard chronology | ||||
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The Sixth Sense (Original Motion Picture Score) is thefilm score composed byJames Newton Howard to the 1999 filmThe Sixth Sense written and directed byM. Night Shyamalan. The album was released under theVarèse Sarabande label on August 24, 1999.
James Newton Howard composed the film score in his first collaboration with Shyamalan.[1] Howard recalled that Shyamalan was working with another composer, but the producers needed to replace him for some reason. The producerKathleen Kennedy recommended Howard's name, as the composer had worked in some of the productions and wanted him to see the film.[2] He considered it a "huge game-change" moment, creatively on working with Shyamalan, whom he met during thepost-production. Howard was "jaw dropped" on watching the climax which was tempted withclassical music and agreed to be a part of the film. It was written and recorded within six weeks.[1]
Jonathan Broxton ofMovie Music UK wrote "The Sixth Sense represents a masterful exercise in musical tension building and musical tension release and, although it lacks a memorable theme, nevertheless serves to provide an aural reminder of a great film."[3]
Christian Clemmensen ofFilmtracks wrote "the music forThe Sixth Sense is easy to respect, but without the thematic splendor or instrumental creativity that Howard would provide for subsequent Shyamalan films, it stands as more of a functional work rather than an inspiring standalone piece."[4]Stephen Holden ofThe New York Times wrote "it is the movie's treacly soundtrack by James Newton Howard, the Hollywood maestro du jour for smearing on goo whenever it's time to clench back tears."[5] Heather Phares ofAllMusic wrote "James Newton Howard's orchestral score for The Sixth Sense manages to capture the film's eerie, supernatural feel as well as its emotional impact, providing an equal amount of bone-chilling and tear-jerking musical moments."[6] James Barry ofSoundtrack.net wrote "In brief, this is an album which perfectly captures the mood of a film whose success was almost entirely due to it's [sic] mood. James Newton Howard proves himself once again a master of his craft."[7]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Run to the Church" | 1:21 |
| 2. | "De Profundis" | 2:23 |
| 3. | "Mind Reading" | 2:45 |
| 4. | "Photographs" | 0:55 |
| 5. | "Suicide Ghost" | 1:34 |
| 6. | "Malcolm's Story / Cole's Secret" | 4:01 |
| 7. | "Hanging Ghosts" | 2:31 |
| 8. | "Tape of Vincent" | 3:30 |
| 9. | "Help the Ghosts / Kyra's Ghost" | 4:29 |
| 10. | "Kyra's Tape" | 2:02 |
| 11. | "Malcolm Is Dead" | 4:44 |
| Total length: | 30:15 | |
Credits adapted from liner notes:[8]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients and nominees | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards[9] | April 25, 2000 | Top Box Office Films | James Newton Howard | Won |