Lakeshore Records will release Bless Me, Ultima – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally on Tuesday, September 18, 2012. The album features original score by Mark Kilian (41, Tsotsi). Bless Me, Ultima is based on the beloved novel by Rudolfo Anaya.
The 1972 novel Bless Me, Ultima was author Anaya's debut release and helped to earn him the recognition as the 'godfather of Chicano literature.' The film, which is set in New Mexico in the 1940s, is a powerful coming-of-age novel that follows the 6-year old Antonio Marez and a curandera (folk healer) named Ultima."Bless Me, Ultima is a spiritual story and the filmmakers wanted me to make that the basis of what the music should be doing emotionally," said Kilian. "But they wanted the flavor to incorporate Native American, Mexican, Spanish, African, religious, tribal, classical and spiritual sentiments, all wrapped up in a blanket of child-like innocence and wonder."Kilian used a full orchestra and added ethnic instruments and vocals to supplement the sound, including flamenco vocals, African wood percussion, Aztec shakers, Tibetan cymbals, Spanish guitar, charango and ronroco (from South America), Aeolian harps, and Native American flutes. "I insisted on playing the flutes as the fact that I'm not so good gave it a child-like imperfect quality."Videos