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War Horse – A Review and an Analysis of the Original Soundtrack Album

War Horse John Williams review analysis Themes

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#41 Stefancos

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:06 PM

Mikko is being love-bombed.

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#42 Jason LeBlanc

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:07 PM

Deservedly so
-Jay
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#43 Stefancos

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:15 PM

We northern Europeans are more reserved in displaying our emotions.

Still.

Good work, Mitrandir.

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#44 Jason LeBlanc

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:39 PM

I wonder which of these 9 themes are the 4 that Spielberg referenced in his liner notes?

I would guess the Bonding Theme, Dartmoor Theme, Naracotts Theme, and... Nature Theme?
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#45 Incanus

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:45 PM

I wonder which of these 9 themes are the 4 that Spielberg referenced in his liner notes?

I would guess the Bonding Theme, Dartmoor Theme, Naracotts Theme, and... Nature Theme?

I think those might be the four or perhaps one could be the distinctive War Theme.

Ars superior est vita hominum.

"We pop out and come into the world and music is there. We didn't invent it - it's all organised in the atmosphere by divinity or whatever. It's a miracle." - John Williams-

I think music is a stream of some kind. It could be blood. It could be water. It could be ether. Whatever it is it seems to be a living, organic force that’s in motion, that serves humanity and is part of humanity and part of what describes us as humans. We sing, play, dance, all the things that we do. And there is a vibrant and great literature we have been given. ... As musicians, we join the stream. We swim in the stream with all the other millions of music makers. It’s a life force, a strong one, surrounding us and we are part of it. -John Williams-


#46 Stefancos

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:46 PM

Which of the themes sounds like Jade from The Rock?

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#47 Jason LeBlanc

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:48 PM

I noticed that too!

That's what Incanus calls the Dartmoor Theme
-Jay
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#48 Stefancos

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:55 PM

Its painfully noticable, yes.

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#49 filmmusic

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:55 PM

One more theme in notation.
This I would say has more connection with the Discovery theme musically (especially the rhythmic elements). But again you can see the characteristic motive in green that I had pointed in the other themes too..
(again the theme is notated in c, for easier comparison with the others)

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#50 Incanus

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 09:58 PM

Which of the themes sounds like Jade from The Rock?

It must be the Dartmoor theme.

Ars superior est vita hominum.

"We pop out and come into the world and music is there. We didn't invent it - it's all organised in the atmosphere by divinity or whatever. It's a miracle." - John Williams-

I think music is a stream of some kind. It could be blood. It could be water. It could be ether. Whatever it is it seems to be a living, organic force that’s in motion, that serves humanity and is part of humanity and part of what describes us as humans. We sing, play, dance, all the things that we do. And there is a vibrant and great literature we have been given. ... As musicians, we join the stream. We swim in the stream with all the other millions of music makers. It’s a life force, a strong one, surrounding us and we are part of it. -John Williams-


#51 NickTintin

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 10:13 PM

Which of the themes sounds like Jade from The Rock?


Count me in too. I thought that the first time I heard it, but was afraid to bring it up. I'm new and didn't know how Zimmer and company were appreciated around here.

#52 Incanus

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 10:21 PM


Which of the themes sounds like Jade from The Rock?


Count me in too. I thought that the first time I heard it, but was afraid to bring it up. I'm new and didn't know how Zimmer and company were appreciated around here.

Well usually mentions of Zimmer are followed by icy silence and then we move on like nothing has happened.


Nah just pulling your leg. His name is an anathema here to some. To most. Well to all except Koray Savas. ;)


And yes the theme for Jade from the Rock has a sort of Celtic feel as well very similar to the Dartmoor theme. Let the horrible Zimmer influence conspiracy theories run wild!

Ars superior est vita hominum.

"We pop out and come into the world and music is there. We didn't invent it - it's all organised in the atmosphere by divinity or whatever. It's a miracle." - John Williams-

I think music is a stream of some kind. It could be blood. It could be water. It could be ether. Whatever it is it seems to be a living, organic force that’s in motion, that serves humanity and is part of humanity and part of what describes us as humans. We sing, play, dance, all the things that we do. And there is a vibrant and great literature we have been given. ... As musicians, we join the stream. We swim in the stream with all the other millions of music makers. It’s a life force, a strong one, surrounding us and we are part of it. -John Williams-


#53 Jason LeBlanc

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 10:24 PM

Hey Incanus, "Plowing" features the Nature Theme towards the end of the track. It's notated in your track-by-track section but not the theme list at the bottom
-Jay
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#54 Incanus

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 10:27 PM

Ah good call. I'll add it to the list ASAP.

Ars superior est vita hominum.

"We pop out and come into the world and music is there. We didn't invent it - it's all organised in the atmosphere by divinity or whatever. It's a miracle." - John Williams-

I think music is a stream of some kind. It could be blood. It could be water. It could be ether. Whatever it is it seems to be a living, organic force that’s in motion, that serves humanity and is part of humanity and part of what describes us as humans. We sing, play, dance, all the things that we do. And there is a vibrant and great literature we have been given. ... As musicians, we join the stream. We swim in the stream with all the other millions of music makers. It’s a life force, a strong one, surrounding us and we are part of it. -John Williams-


#55 nightscape94

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 12:46 AM

To be completely honest, what you're calling the Friendship Theme I don't see as a "theme". It's just a piece of music that is briefly used toward the very end of the movie, and then expanded on very emotionally at the end (especially by the cellos) in a very music-centric way in the film. Now if you want to call that a theme, I guess it doesn't make too much of a difference, but to me it was just a piece of music that he used within the closing moments to highlight the emotion in general.

I suppose it depends on whether you feel strongly that if a sketch of music repeats even twice that it must signify something.

#56 filmmusic

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 01:05 AM

I suppose you have seen the movie, right?
well, I haven't seen it, but according to Incanus it does appear 3 times in the soundtrack..

and strictly musically, I would definitely call it a theme because it's very strictly and carefully structured, very characteristic melodically and complete as a theme.. It's not a free cadential like melody or something abstract, or even a motif.
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#57 nightscape94

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 01:39 AM

Well it occurs twice within the movie proper (now, this is only from one viewing, so it may occur elsewhere that isn't represented on the OST), the last track is a suite.

Like I said, I don't take issue if someone takes away from it some sort of thematic association, if it means something to the viewer. But to me it just simply felt like an overall emotional release, more or less, easing us into peaceful contemplation. Hey, if everyone else sees it and thinks otherwise then so be it, I just didn't think it was clearly defined or constructed as a specific theme.

#58 Incanus

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 07:20 AM

Well it occurs twice within the movie proper (now, this is only from one viewing, so it may occur elsewhere that isn't represented on the OST), the last track is a suite.

Like I said, I don't take issue if someone takes away from it some sort of thematic association, if it means something to the viewer. But to me it just simply felt like an overall emotional release, more or less, easing us into peaceful contemplation. Hey, if everyone else sees it and thinks otherwise then so be it, I just didn't think it was clearly defined or constructed as a specific theme.

You mean it does not seem to have a specific dramatic purpose outside the final emotional accent on the story, not scoring any specific idea in the film?

Well it could be a final version of the Bonding Theme as I mention, another melodic phrase joining the original theme to finish the whole, sort of making a comment of coming around full circle emotionally. My instinct was to separate it as its own entity because of its distinct nature.

Ars superior est vita hominum.

"We pop out and come into the world and music is there. We didn't invent it - it's all organised in the atmosphere by divinity or whatever. It's a miracle." - John Williams-

I think music is a stream of some kind. It could be blood. It could be water. It could be ether. Whatever it is it seems to be a living, organic force that’s in motion, that serves humanity and is part of humanity and part of what describes us as humans. We sing, play, dance, all the things that we do. And there is a vibrant and great literature we have been given. ... As musicians, we join the stream. We swim in the stream with all the other millions of music makers. It’s a life force, a strong one, surrounding us and we are part of it. -John Williams-


#59 Alejandro

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 10:50 AM

I really, really LOVE the friendship theme--the beginning of it especially. I wish it appeared everywhere. I listen to Homecoming repeatedly just to hear it.
I like our mention of Terminal and Heartbeeps. I'm sure others realize that Williams unknowingly lifted music from Heartbeeps and stuck it in a track in Terminal. I the the wedding track.

#60 king mark

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 11:11 AM

Looking for work is similar to Phil's theme

For some reason I'm so curious to see that movie (heartbeeps)

#61 filmmusic

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 12:29 PM

For some reason I'm so curious to see that movie (heartbeeps)


It's one of the worse movies I've ever seen. Although it makes it a cult classic for that reason!
And I like the Williams score very much.

Anyway, back to our subject:
one suggests here that the Dartmoor theme resembles a theme from Poltergeist II.
Well, yes, it does, but I would call it purely accidental..
(I can't listen to the whole Poltergeist now to find all the renditions of the theme , but one good rendition which has the complete theme is in track 3: the mall (the melody in the church organ in the bass)



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#62 nightscape94

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 01:41 PM

You mean it does not seem to have a specific dramatic purpose outside the final emotional accent on the story, not scoring any specific idea in the film?


It seemed that way, especially how it's used in track 15. The scene that it plays over. I'll have to take closer notice next time of how that smaller moment plays out in track 14. To see where exactly it's spotted. This is just my initial observation.

Sort of how "Regaining a Son" works in Seven Years in Tibet.

#63 NickTintin

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 03:31 PM


You mean it does not seem to have a specific dramatic purpose outside the final emotional accent on the story, not scoring any specific idea in the film?


It seemed that way, especially how it's used in track 15. The scene that it plays over. I'll have to take closer notice next time of how that smaller moment plays out in track 14. To see where exactly it's spotted. This is just my initial observation.

Sort of how "Regaining a Son" works in Seven Years in Tibet.


And since you bring that up...how beautiful is that anyway, and more importantly the Williams/Ma version, Elegy for Cello and Orchestra from 2001? That and War Horse's main theme are definetly in my top 20.

#64 Chaac

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 03:35 PM

I was a bit bored by this score on my first listen. I guess with all the hype I was expecting something more dramatic and "in your face". I'm trying to get into it.

Izena duen guztia omen da.


#65 SF1_freeze

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 05:16 PM

I was a bit bored by this score on my first listen. I guess with all the hype I was expecting something more dramatic and "in your face". I'm trying to get into it.


I honestly feel a bit sad for you. What must happen to be bored by such a masterpiece... by really really good music... this is just so sad but hopefully in the future you will get into it

Is orchestral music your favorite musical genre by the way?

#66 Chaac

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 05:52 PM

Yes :lol:

I think I haven't been in the correct mood for this score in a while, I mean I went straight to Close Encounters and Jaws after War Horse as if "aah, that's more like it". There's also that I can't hear much in my right ear due to a cold and if you listen to music you know well your brain kind of fills the gaps.

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#67 Stefancos

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 06:21 PM

War Horse is good, but its no Jaws or Close Encounters.

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#68 crocodile

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 10:08 PM

Sure. But then again 99% of the film music isn't.

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From a storytelling point of view, from a directing point of view, there is one thing I associate with what he does, which is calm. There is such an inherent calm and inherent trust of the one powerful image, that he makes me embarrassed with my own work, in terms of how many different shots, how many different sound effects, how many different things we’ll throw at an audience to make an impression. But with Kubrick, there is such a great trust of the one correct image to calmly explain something to audience. There can be some slowness to the editing. There’s nothing frenetic about it. It’s very simple. There’s a trust in simple storytelling and simple image making that actually takes massive confidence to try and emulate. - Christopher Nolan

#69 Ricard

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Posted 11 November 2011 - 11:44 PM

Sure. But then again, 99% of John Williams' output from the last 25 years isn't.
"I find that Williams' scores have a strong narrative which comes best out in correct order." -- Incanus

#70 p0llux

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 01:34 AM

well, this soundtrack's been on replay for the past two days now and I still can't stop listening to it. I listen to it walking to and from class and it's by far the best study music I've ever had. Out of all the themes, the so-called "friendship theme" is the best one.

#71 Stefancos

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 09:26 AM

Sure. But then again, 99% of John Williams' output from the last 25 years isn't.


Such a wasted career!

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#72 Quint

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 10:26 AM

I've only listened to this sparingly, but I can tell you now it doesn't even one close to Tintin, as far as I'm concerned.

But I will say that if the film's magnificent then the score is very likely to grow on me.

#73 Stefancos

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 12:49 PM

Its a drama score, so it lacks the sense of fun of Tintin. Also it does sound like the film is going to be a wet blanket.

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#74 Ricard

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 04:22 PM


Sure. But then again, 99% of John Williams' output from the last 25 years isn't.


Such a wasted career!

No, but he composed virtually all of his masterpieces prior to those 25 years.
"I find that Williams' scores have a strong narrative which comes best out in correct order." -- Incanus

#75 Stefancos

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 04:30 PM

Yeah. Apart from JP and possibly the first Potter there was a huge drop of quality after TOD...

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#76 Ricard

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 04:50 PM

My exceptions are different.
"I find that Williams' scores have a strong narrative which comes best out in correct order." -- Incanus

#77 Stefancos

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 04:53 PM

No one 's perfect...

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#78 Ricard

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 05:13 PM

And you're no exception ;)
"I find that Williams' scores have a strong narrative which comes best out in correct order." -- Incanus

#79 Stefancos

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 05:15 PM

Hey, thats not what i meant!

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#80 publicist

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Posted 12 November 2011 - 05:57 PM

Yeah. Apart from JP and possibly the first Potter there was a huge drop of quality after TOD...


Ah, come on. BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, WITCHES OF EASTWICK, EMPIRE OF THE SUN, HOME ALONE...i mean, i'm picky but those are some of Williams' best works, in case of BOTF i'd say there was hardly another film after it where Williams so brilliantly captured the spirit of not only the movie but the whole tragedy of war it portrayed. Sod off, SPR!
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