The soundtrack to Before Night Falls,
Julian Schnabel's passionate, critically acclaimed portrait of Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas, features an equally compelling collection of Cuban music. Ranging from the Cuban big band of Beny More's "Conoci La Paz" and "El Canonero" to the provincial sounds of Faustino Oromas' "El Tumbaito," the album digs just as deeply into the country's musical history as the film does into Arenas' life. Trio Matomoros' "El Trio y el Ciclon" and "Tu Veras" reflect their status as one of Cuba's pioneering pop ensembles; likewise,
La Sonora Mantancera's "Descarga Sonora" and Bebo Valdez' "Duerme" showcase their innovations in orchestral Latin music and Afro-Cuban jazz, respectively. Tracks by
Orquesta Aragon,
Ernesto Lecuona, and
Fairuz, as well as excerpts of
Carter Burwell's score, complete this diverse, authentic soundtrack, which deserves as much critical goodwill as the film it complements. ~ Heather Phares