The Da Vinci Code

1	The Da Vinci Code/Dies Mercurii I Martius 4:24
2	The Da Vinci Code/The Paschal Spiral 2:37
3	The Da Vinci Code/L'Esprit des Gabriel 3:04
4	The Da Vinci Code/Ad Arcana 3:44
5	The Da Vinci Code/Fructus Gravis 2:56
6	The Da Vinci Code/Malleus Maleficarum 2:28
7	The Da Vinci Code/The Citrine Cross 3:07
8	The Da Vinci Code/Daniel's 9th Cipher 5:50
9	The Da Vinci Code/Rose of Arimatea 6:30
10	The Da Vinci Code/Chevaliers de Sangreal 4:11
11	The Da Vinci Code/Beneath Alrischa 3:10
12	The Da Vinci Code/Kyrie for the Magdalene 2:56

Barnes & Noble

The popularity of Dan Brown's bestselling novel is bound to make the film version of The Da Vinci Code into an instant box-office hit, but let's make sure to give due credit to the composer, Hans Zimmer. One of Hollywood's favorite blockbuster collaborators of recent years -- especially since the success of Gladiator in 2000 -- Zimmer's orchestral (and often choral) score weaves back and forth between the convincingly medieval and the dramatically modern. He has a full supply of ominous sonic tricks up his sleeve, which he uses to sustain the musical suspense over the full course of this soundtrack album, but he manages to skirt the usual cinematic clichés: There's some creepy choral chanting, but it's not the typical plagiarism from Carmina Burana. More characteristic are the eerie reverb treatment on the solo soprano in "Poisoned Chalice" and the minimalism of "The Paschal Spiral," which seems to borrow from the spiritual style of contemporary composer Arvo Pärt. The melodic bells that open "The Citrine Cross" provide another memorable effect, and well-informed listeners should also notice a quotation of the ancient Dies irae chant on that track. In contrast, "Daniel's 9th Chapter" unfolds with an expressively subdued theme, providing a lengthy, lyrical respite at the album's center. The Da Vinci Code isn't one of those action-packed soundtracks that tells a movie's whole story through the music alone; rather, it's more thoughtful and thought-provoking, and a thoroughly successful essay in the atmosphere of mysticism and mystery. Scott Paulin

Gramophone

An auspicious score that deserves the popular success that the same composer's Gladiator received. Adrian Edwards