The Cider House Rules cover

The Cider House Rules

Rachel Portman · 1999

40 min · 18 tracks

A poignant blend of orchestral swells and delicate melodies that echo the film's emotional landscapes and nuanced storytelling.

Spotify Apple Music
Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Main Titles — The opening track sets the tone for the entire score, introducing listeners to the thematic motifs that will recur throughout the film, embodying its emotional depth.
  • →
    Homer Leaves Orphanage — This piece captures a pivotal moment of transition and growth, with sweeping strings that evoke both nostalgia and hope as Homer embarks on his journey.
  • →
    Abortion — This track poignantly underscores one of the film's most controversial themes, utilizing haunting melodies to convey the weight of the decision faced by the characters.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
63 /100
Treeline
Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The score effectively blends orchestral elements with thematic motifs, creating an emotionally resonant listening experience.

What we noticed

  • Several tracks incorporate subtle piano motifs that reappear in different contexts, linking themes across the album.
  • The album's pacing varies, with some tracks building to climactic moments while others maintain a more subdued, reflective tone.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Main Titles 2:13
  • 2 Homer's Lessons 3:45
  • 3 Young Girl's Burial 0:44
  • 4 Homer Asks Wally for a Ride 1:29
  • 5 Homer Leaves Orphanage 4:40
  • 6 The Ocean 1:01
  • 7 The Cider House 4:15
  • 8 Wally Goes Off to War 1:50
  • 9 Lobster Dinner 0:54
  • 10 Burying Fuzzy 1:38
  • 11 Homer and Candy on the Dock 2:25
  • 12 Rose Rose Is Pregnant 1:18
  • 13 Abortion 1:54
  • 14 Pickers Leave 1:19
  • 15 Dr. Larch Dies 1:40
  • 16 Homer Returns to the Orphanage 3:44
  • 17 Good-Night, You Kings of New England 1:09
  • 18 End Credits 4:36

What to play next

Ask the River
Listen next

Ask the River

2020
Benny & Joon – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Go back to

Benny & Joon – Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

1993
Full Rachel Portman discography Artists like Rachel Portman

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata