In Retrospect: 20 Years of Original Music from Pride & Prejudice Movie's Soundtrack by Dario Marianelli
On this day, September 19th, (exactly 20 years ago today), Decca Records released in the UK the original music and soundtrack from Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice (2005) film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. The original music from the soundtrack was composed by Academy Award* Winner Dario Marianelli (*Atonement, Anna Karenina) and was performed on the piano by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet with The English Chamber Orchestra.
In the US, the P&P soundtrack was released, November 15, 2005 by Decca Records.
Oscar winner Dario Marianelli (pictured on the right in one of Anna Karenina BTS images) collaborated a few times with director Joe Wright in their third film soundtrack collaboration for JW's trilogy of period films: Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, and Anna Karenina all starring Keira Knightley.
Marianelli received an Oscar nomination for Pride & Prejudice in the following categories: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score; a European Film Award for Best Composer; and two World Soundtrack Academy nominations.
Composer Dario Marianelli Reflects on the 20th Anniversary of 'Pride & Prejudice'
(via Forbes article, new Dario Marianelli interview; June 2025)
"20 years of Pride & Prejudice, we made it!"
As I was showing him my 2005 Pride & Prejudice phone background, composer said, "that's my favorite moment of the film,"Liz on top of the cliff!"
So how come Lizzie can’t play the piano if Keira Knightley had specifically learned to play Dawn?
“Joe wanted just the piano at first and I thought ‘It’s gonna be a bit reductive but let’s try that.’ So I wrote the Georgiana piece, and Dawn which should have been played by Keira Knightley as it is, so well, not played badly. And when he shot the scene, Joe thought it’d be funnier if Lizzie was a bit hopeless and couldn’t play it very well. So in spite of Keira Knightley having practiced a lot, she could play it very well, we made her look like she was playing badly, which she was only half happy about.” Read full Dario Marianelli Forbes Inteview here.
Also, the new reissue of Pride & Prejudice (2005) film soundtrack on Vinyl (released late last month, June 27, 2025) debuts at #1 on two Billboard Charts!
‘Pride & Prejudice’ Film Soundtrack Bewitches the Charts With 20th-Anniversary Vinyl Reissue
More about the P&P Movie soundtrack below...
Pride & Prejudice Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
P&P Companion Book
US CD Cover
UK CD Cover
Listen to sample tracks and see/read more about this beautiful P&P soundtrack here: Pride & Prejudice Movie Soundtrack
01. Dawn
02. Stars And Butterflies
03. The Living Sculptures Of Pemberley
04. Meryton Townhall
05. The Militia Marches In
06. Georgiana
07. Arrival At Netherfield
08. A Postcard To Henry Purcell
09. Liz On Top Of The World
10. Leaving Netherfield
11. Another Dance
12. The Secret Life Of Daydreams
13. Darcy's Letter
14. Can't Slow Down
15. Your Hands Are Cold
16. Mrs. Darcy
17. Credits
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
CD cover scans
(front & back)
CD cover scans
(front & back)
Plus CD booklet scans
Piano Cover and Music Sheet
Performed by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet with The English Chamber Orchestra
Note: While various music retailers and entertainment websites have listed the November 15th, 2005 U.S. release date for the P&P Movie soundtrack, it was actually originally set for a November 8th, 2005 release. It might have been delayed a week or so. I can't find any info. of this other than a CD press release that was posted via KeiraWeb.com's P&P Promo Page and I'm re-posting it here below.
Soundtrack CD Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANE AUSTEN’S CLASSIC TALE OF ROMANCE AND WIT PRIDE & PREJUDICE FEATURING ORIGINAL MUSIC BY DARIO MARIANELLI WITH PERFORMANCES BY ACCLAIMED PIANIST AND DECCA RECORDING ARTIST JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET
**SOUNDTRACK TO BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 8TH ON DECCA**
(October 5th, 2005 - New York, NY) - The glorious world of Jane Austen is at last brought back to the big screen in all its romance, wit, and emotional force in Pride & Prejudice, which Focus Features releases in theaters this holiday season. Directed by Joe Wright, the classic tale of love and misunderstanding unfolds in class-conscious England near the close of the 18th century. The soundtrack features an original score by Italian-born composer Dario Marianelli (The Brothers Grimm) with performances by Decca artist and French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and will be released on November 8th on Decca.
The hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing soundtrack exudes a feeling of empowering romanticism coupled with great emotional suspense builders. Music is an integral part of the film, with the main piano theme used as both background music and as source music when one of the characters plays the instrument on-screen. “Darcy’s Letter” and “Leaving Netherfield” put forth a somber feeling, while “Meryton Townhall” is an uplifting jig providing a sense of whimsy present in the personalities of the film’s younger characters. Weaving piano melodies into the sweeping score enhances the beautiful cinematography and sweep of the love stories. In addition to the piano theme, Marianelli has also reworked the popular Rondeau from Purcell’s Abdelazer to depict the dance scenes, and the overall effect fully complements the touching on-screen action.
Adding his rich piano playing to the score, Jean-Yves Thibaudet began his musical studies in France at the tender age of 5. At age 12, he entered the Paris Conservatory where he studied with Aldo Ciccolini and Lucette Descaves, a friend and collaborator of Ravel. At age 15, Thibaudet won the premier Prix du Conservatoire, and three years later he won the Young Concert Artists Auditions in New York. In 2001, the Republic of France awarded him the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2002, Jean-Yves was awarded the Premio Pegasus from the Spoleto Festival for his artistic achievements and his longstanding involvement with the festival. The French pianist has received much praise from the press; The New York Times stated “…the joy, brilliance and musicality of his performance could not be missed,” while The Los Angeles Times was quoted as saying he is a “virtuoso with pronounced and admirable musical depth.”
Dario Marianelli has been composing music for films for about ten years. Born in Pisa, he studied piano and composition in Florence and London. After a year as postgraduate composer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he received a scholarship from the Gulbenkian Foundation for a course held on the subject of Composition and Choreography. Other scholarships allowed him to go to Germany for a series of workshops on European Film Music. He spent three years at the National Film and Television School, from which he graduated in 1997. His credits include scoring the BAFTA Award-winning In This World and The Warrior. Over the last few years, Dario has written music for several feature films, TV dramas, documentaries, animations, theatre, contemporary dance and concerts. Most recently he scored the music for The Brothers Grimm.Previous Related Post:
- Academy Award winner composer Dario Marianelli in a Joe Wright/Keira Knightley trifecta film soundtrack (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement, & Anna Karenina)
- P&P Oscar Revisited (Part 2): 4 Oscars Nominations for Keira Knightley and her Pride & Prejudice film 7 Years Ago This Month!
- Pride & Prejudice (2005) Blog: P&P Oscar Revisited: Keira Knightley and Pride & Prejudice's 2006 Memorable Oscar Moments
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