Million Dollar Baby (soundtrack)

Clint Eastwood composed the film score, in his sophomore film composition stint after Mystic River (2003). The score was conducted by Lennie Niehaus, who had composed for most of Eastwood's films and is performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony. The album was not issued during the film's release, until Varèse Sarabande distributed the soundtrack CDs on March 1, 2005, two days after the 77th Academy Awards, where the film received four awards including Best Picture. According to Cate Doty, the album "could not benefit from an immediate sales increase driven by the film's nomination for best picture." == Critical reception ==

Calling the score "quietly affecting as the film", AllMusic noted it to be "gentle and unobtrusive, but deeply cut with melancholy and despair" and noted on how Eastwood's work resembled John Carpenter, on not letting the visuals be overwhelmed by the music. Rafael Ruiz of Soundtrack.net, responded negatively as it noted the gradual decline of quality in Eastwood's music, noting the lack of development in the themes he composed. Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote "Eastwood himself has provided a score notable for spare simplicity." Paul Clinton of CNN wrote "The score—simple and unadorned—mirrors both the script and the direction." Christopher Orr of The Atlantic called it a "haunting, minimalist piano score". == Track listing ==

Credits adapted from liner notes: • Music composer and producer – Clint Eastwood • Arrangements – Gennady Loktionov • Orchestra – Hollywood Studio Symphony • Orchestrator and conductor – Lennie Niehaus • Chorus – Tanglewood Festival Chorus • Recording and mixing – Bobby Fernandez • Mastering – Erick Labson • Executive producer – Robert Townson • Musicians • Bass – Arni Egilsson, Drew Dembowski • Cello – Armen Ksajikian, Dane Little, Roger Lebow, Trevor Handy • Guitar – Bruce Forman • Piano – Michael Lang • Viola – Dan Neufeld, Janet Lakatos, Pamela Goldsmith, Roland Kato • Violin – Bruce Dukov, Darius Campo, David Ewart, Gil Romero, Jackie Brand, Julie Gigante, Katia Popov, Michael Ferril, Mike Markman, Patricia A. Johnson, Phillip Levy, Robin Olson == Accolades ==