Never Let Me Go (soundtrack)

The film's score was composed by British composer Rachel Portman over a four-month period.^[1][2] She said that because of the film's sad themes, she wanted to "put some hope" and humanity into the music; it was important that there be a "real emotional heartbeat in the midst of this story." Believing that a "huge sweeping score" would not have fit the film, she instead worked with a smaller orchestra of no more than 48 players.^[1] The director and producers prodded her to try other approaches, so she considered using a child's voice, and what was described as a "big finale cue." In the end, they went for a simpler and more subtle approach. Stating that most of the score was written for piano, strings and harp, with solos for violin and cello, she called her score something of a "chamber piece". According to Portman, the use of a solo instrument, is like having a voice, that highlights the emotion. However, the violin she used for the score is played with virtually no vibrato, as she did not want it to sound sentimental. She notes that "for my own taste, I stay on the side of restraint, because I think it works better in film".^[1]

Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks.com wrote "This score doesn't attempt to infuse any sense of gravity to the plot, a flaw that dutifully matches that of the film. As such, this is pleasant background ambience and really nothing more."^[3] Peter Debruge of Variety described it as "effectively grief-inducing" and Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune called it as "aggressively fraught".^[4][5] In contrast, Mark Jenkins of NPR called it as "strident" and one of the "few outright blunders".^[6] Alexandra Coghlan of The Arts Desk wrote "Rachel Portman’s score – all wistful, unresolved string meanderings and tinkly atmospherics – says it all."^[7] Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine called the score as "obnoxiously persistent" and "something close to a pop standard".^[8]

Credits adapted from AllMusic^[9]