War Horse and Water Horse (James Newton Howard)--similarities?

[indy4 160]

Its been awhile since I last listened to Water Horse. The first thing I thought of when I heard the opening of the suite (0:05 - 0:13) was its similarity to the piano theme heard in War Horse ("Remembering Emilie"). What are your thoughts? Do you think this was a temp track?

The counter argument would be that Williams' theme is derived from at least 2 earlier themes in the score, so maybe it's just a coincidence. But I'm not sure that suffices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LEpf5kuUSM

0:05 - :13

indy4 - very disappointed to hear the similarity, and hoping somebody will talk me out of it

[Muad'Dib 2,059]

At least in Howard's case, I've heard the similarity from an earlier score of his. Starting at 1:24...

[Maurizio 6,913]

Its been awhile since I last listened to Water Horse. The first thing I thought of when I heard the opening of the suite (0:05 - 0:13) was its similarity to the piano theme heard in War Horse ("Remembering Emilie"). What are your thoughts? Do you think this was a temp track?

No, sorry, it's just mere coincidence. The two themes bear some sort of brief intervalic relationship (probably because both refer to some sort of Celtic inspiration), but that's all. If we should take into account all those kind of similarities, the history of music would have stopped to Bach and Handel!

[filmmusic 3,270]

Yeah, i agree with Maurizio.

And the 2 themes aren't the most original themes that there are in the world.

meaning, I would start worrying if the similarity was in a series of notes, or harmonies or a musical gesture or whatever, which was very unique.

[Naïve Old Fart 13,024]

Similarities? Yes. They both contain the letters W, A, and R.

[indy4 160]

Hmmm, upon listening to both samples posted again, the similarities don't seem as jarring as they did last night. I'm still not completely convinced, but it's not as bad as I thought.