The soundtrack for the 2020 Emma is witty, clever, and romantic all at the same time. In many ways, listening to this soundtrack is like reading Jane Austen's writing. Each character has a clear and distinctive theme that describes their personality. Class distinction is heard with a variety of classical and folk music. Considering that this was the last movie I saw in theaters the weekend before lockdown, I may have listened to this adaptation a lot in 2020 and 2021! The proposal music is currently my alarm clock so that probably tells you a lot right there in bringing joy to my heart in a harder season. While this version is a bit more controversial especially if you don't like the folk music or portrayal of Emma, the music by Isobel Waller-Bridge and David Schweitzer is definitely worth paying attention to. 

The mini-series of Emma (2009) came with the second wave of Austen TV adaptations in the 2008/2009 years. Since this adaptation has 4 hours, it can cover the whole story and in greater depth than the movies can. Samuel Sim, the composer, does a fantastic job of hinting at the classical era while having perhaps the largest orchestral sound with bells and brass to make it simultaneously joyful and wistful, matching this Emma's personality. Plus, Mr. Knightley's Walk is one of the best tracks featuring cello! Many themes and personalities are heard in this version making it a beautiful soundtrack to enjoy.

Emma (1996) came out in the height of rom-coms and much of the mood of this particular adaptation matches the humor, romance, and wit of a rom-com. Add charming music by Rachel Portman (who was one of the first women to win an Oscar for best original score for Emma) and it's a fun delightful ride. I would also like to shout out Lori Davis, one of the people responsible for getting me involved with teaching Jane Austen soundtracks back in 2021 on a larger scale. This Emma soundtrack is her favorite.

The 1995 Sense and Sensibility movie was my introduction to Jane Austen. I went to see it with friends and family for my 13th birthday and fell in love. It also was the second soundtrack and album I bought myself and I can still tell you where the break for turning over the cassette tape occurred. Patrick Doyle, the composer, was the composer that I grew up with through his adaptations of Shakespeare. The music in this film so beautifully encapsulates the restraint and sense of imitating classical music, the gorgeous singable melodies that Doyle is known for, as well as capturing the emotions and sensibility in key places. A true gem in the Austen adaptations.

For the first episode of the podcast, the focus is on the first soundtrack that captured your interest and imagination. For myself, it was the 1980's BBC versions of Narnia and Thomas Newman's Little Women. It's fun to go down memory lane and remember those first ones.

Welcome to the new blog focusing on the podcast, World of Soundtracks. This page is designed for you to find a specific episode, engage with the host and others through comments, and feel part of the community!

​I started this podcast after giving several lectures on Soundtracks during the pandemic on Zoom and after giving a breakout session on Jane Austen Soundtracks to JASNA's 2021 AGM in Chicago. It has been a delight to really explore each facet of these various soundtracks and share them more broadly around the world. Welcome to the journey of World of Soundtracks!