The Woman from the Waves: The Score

In lieu of a playlist of songs for TWFTW (though there are lots of good ones), I decided to lean into the book’s cinematic elements and make an honest-to-goodness movie score. I avoided blockbuster tracks since I didn’t want listeners to think about Middle Earth instead of Jorsay, and enjoyed finding some new-to-me artists!

WARNING: SPOILERS ABOUND.

  1. Opening/Title: “Scotland,” BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra

  2. Prologue: “Hubris,” Akaash Rao

  3. Madeleine’s Theme: “Unicorn’s Rest,” Bill Brown

  4. Hæra Finds Her Human: “Winterhold,” Dreyma

  5. A Dark Walk to the Sea: “Moonwater,” Straumr

  6. Rescue at the Dock: “The Art of War,” Danny Elfman

  7. Return to Me: “Appel et Réponse,” Erinrad Viker Sinfonietta

  8. Jonathan’s Theme: “Erling Carries Stones,” Johan Söderqvist

  9. Madeleine’s Dark Night of the Soul: “Spiritus Sanctus Vivicans,” Hildegard von Bingen & Naked Byrd Two

  10. Family Fight: “The Wave,” Clinton Shorter

  11. The Witch, Part 1: “The Place of All Fears,” Trevor Morris

  12. What Else Are Friends For?: “Aléatoire,” Darker In Vine

  13. Madeleine Departs for Orkney: “Day One,” Rura

  14. Hæra on the Farm/Hæra’s Theme: “Lord of the Isles,” BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

  15. The Reunion: “Take, O Take Those Lips Away,” Hem

  16. Touring Ætlaquoy: “The Cascades,” Fleet Foxes

  17. A Failed Confession: “Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans” (Reprise), Hildegard von Bingen & Carolin Wildmann

  18. At Skara Brae: “Skara Brae,” Anwyn & George Leverett

  19. Second Kiss: “Power, Seduction, Cries,” Clint Mansell

  20. I Was Trying to Save You: “Her & the Sea,” CLANN

  21. Farewell to a Dream: “Lament,” Invadable Harmony

  22. I Am Your Answer: “Voyage,” Kyle Preston

  23. An Intimate Invitation:

  24. Learn How to Love: “Transcendence,” Johannes Bornlöf

  25. Housewarming Party: “The Rowan Tree,” James Galway

  26. In Front of the Fire: “Take Me to Church,” Simply Three

  27. Hæra’s Nightmare: “Sunken Crypt,” Jason Tai

  28. Footprints in the Mud: “Staring at the Truth,” Avith Ortega

  29. Happy Times at Ætlaquoy: “Threshold,” Austin Wintory

  30. The Storm Arrives/What Happened to the Trow?: “Now I’m Ready, I’m Ready Now,” Daniel Hart

  31. Asgall Attacks: “Code Red,” 2WEI

  32. You’ll Be All Right: “Seafaring,” Loki Minder

  33. The Great Mare: “The Legend of Excalibur,” Daniel Pemberton

  34. Bodies on the Beach: “Beatific,” Worldclock

  35. The Witch, Part 2: “Nightmare’s End,” Trevor Morris

  36. Beathag: “The Great Order of Things,” Atrium Carceri and Cities Last Broadcast

  37. Feeling Human: “I Thought I’d Never Forget,” August D. Valentine

  38. Funeral at Sea: “After the Waves,” Harry Gregson-Williams

  39. I’m All In: “Hotel Sayre,” Craig Armstrong and Lana del Rey

  40. Epilogue: “Home of Heroes,” Adrian von Ziegler

  41. BONUS TRACK (Explicit): “Humpback Whale Sounds,” Whale Song