Favorite cue from War Horse?

[wanner251 18]

Despite the beautiful opening and ending, which I know are extremely popular around here, I think mine is The Death of Topthorn. I'm not saying that to be different. It is just the track that I keep coming back to.

Anyone else?

[Incanus 5,890]

It is very tough to choose a single track in this special score but Homecoming has always been closest to my heart. It not only sums up the score in a beautiful way but also captures the English pastoral idiom and spirit of Vaughan Williams and others in a tone poem style that simply flows with such ease and sense of joy and effortlessness that is rare to hear even in a Williams score. I think he poured all his love of the country and its music into this meditation on the main themes of the score.

But if I would have to choose a scene then it would be The Reunion. There is that special kind of gentle magic in that cue that is hard to achieve. From the first time I heard the ethereal rendition of the Recognition/Discovery theme in the trailer I fell in love with it and the Bonding and Friendship themes evoke such a peaceful quality of homecoming or meeting a long lost dear friend it is impossible not to be affected. At least for me.

[Datameister 2,586]

Y'know, Thor should be proud of me...this is one of those soundtracks that I really appreciate more as a whole than as a collection of tracks. And I use the word "soundtrack" intentionally here, because I've only seen the film once, and most of my familiarity with the music is thus through the excellent OST. I tend to listen to this album straight through, or at least in long chunks, rather than as single tracks scattered amongst other shuffled bits of music.

That being said, the parts of "Plowing" used in the trailer are just sublime, and I think the music for the dash across no man's land is a really fascinating blend of Williams' normal approach with an almost Zimmer-like style. Argh, it's seriously so hard to pick favorites from this score, though. It really works best as a journey, not as any isolated cue.

[Incanus 5,890]

Well said Datameister! Well said. This score is really a great musical story of its own that I always listen to from beginning to the end.

[Datameister 2,586]

Thanks! Yeah, "story" really is a great word here. There's such a clear dramatic arc to it, with all the right ups and downs. It's a very satisfying musical "plot."

[JamieC 13]

I rather like the track 'Remembering Emilie and Finale' from War Horse; the piano part is just terrific. Living here in England, with the countryside very close at hand, makes some of the War Horse music work all the more rewardingly. We even had a 'War Horse' sunset here the other evening.

[hornist 1,261]

Definitely CGI.

I would also say The Death of Topthorn. Extremely haunting.

[wanner251 18]

I find that the Death of Topthorn cue captures a wide range of emotions. There is a hopelessness, but also acceptance, urgency and calm, sadness and despair. The clarinet really makes it, and then the flourish up to the minor strings just takes it to the next level.

[Datameister 2,586]

I find the love for that cue interesting. It may actually be my least favorite track on the album, or at least the one I'm most likely to skip over. It serves its purpose in the overall dramatic arc, but I'm not that big a fan of it individually.

[indy4 160]

I agree with the love for Tophorn--the whole cue sounds like a desperate struggle for survival, what with the descending/repeating pattern.

[Maurizio 6,913]

Musically speaking, I think "The Homecoming" is really one of JW's most beautiful and accomplished compositions for the movies of his all career.

However, if I should take out concert versions like this one and choose another more film-related moment, then my choice would probably be between "Remembering Emilie and Finale" (the piano solo is plain gorgeous) and the joyful scherzo in "Horse vs. Car".

[publicist 4,650]

Musically speaking, I think "The Homecoming" is really one of JW's most beautiful and accomplished compositions for the movies of his all career.

However, if I should take out concert versions like this one and choose another more film-related moment, then my choice would probably be between "Remembering Emilie and Finale" (the piano solo is plain gorgeous) and the joyful scherzo in "Horse vs. Car".

While i totally agree with the first point, i still have a softer spot for the old-time Hollywood swagger of PLOWING. The concert piece is the more ambitious piece, though.

[lostinspace 8]

My favourite would have to be Remembering Emile and finale. But there are many similarities between Plowing, Homecoming and the Reunion I think some parts are use the same tune and perhaps different orchestration....etc.

I like Death of Topthorn but when that sad string melody comes in its as though the string section is weeping..... D G B B A C E A F# G .... In fact it is very similar to Anakins Betrayl and Immolation scene from Star Wars which makes sense because its kind of bittersweet the horse is dying but at the same time being put out of misery and the film marches on.... so I always felt that both pieces while very emotional and sad are also become uplifting at the end. It does sound very old school JW..... which obviously isn't in style today judging by several reviewers of the soundtrack that said it was too melodramatic and tugging at the heart strings as JW is known to do. I agree with them for the first part of the film; the music is to perfect and intrusive. But the second half is much better with the music not so glaringly obvious.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,023]

I'm not sure if it's on the cd, but it's the bit where the Joey goes all psychotic, and runs through No Man's Land.

[Incanus 5,890]

I'm not sure if it's on the cd, but it's the bit where the Joey goes all psychotic, and runs through No Man's Land.

Yeah it is on the OST, fittingly titled No Man's Land.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,023]

Thanks again, Incancus!

Gee, this is getting to be hobbit-forming.