What was the last GREAT Romantic score?

[Quintus 5,391]

A dying breed indeed, I'm gonna say LotR: Return of the King.

Disagree?

[Wojo 2,442]

What was the last GREAT Romatic score?

Add an N, you get Romantic. I won't disagree with RotK. It certainly wasn't a romantic movie in the lovey-dovey sense, no matter how much elf-human lovin' that PJ tried to shoehorn into it to appeal to the female crowd. Romance can also be about the sense of epic and timelessness, and the score is full of breathtaking beauty.

Up had about 5 minutes of great romantic music, the same 5 minutes that got it the Oscar. The rest of the score was overhyped elevator music.

I just switched to Memoirs of a Geisha because I don't remember it as a romantic score.

---

But if you buy a vowel, A, you get ARomatic. The last score that stunk. They gave that one the Oscar.

[Quintus 5,391]

By RomaNtic () I do not mean 'Romance' (love, heartbreak, courtship).

[Wojo 2,442]

I reckoned as much, and I addressed that point.

That's why many consider 19th century music to be the "romantic" period, though there's nothing lovey-dovey about the finale to Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony. Though I'll be gulderned if I create a "romantic" genre for all of it, I just call it "classical" and move on. Go figure.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

'Ratatouille'

Romantic about love, food, and rats, and by far Giacchino's best.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

So why is this in Other Topics?

[Wojo 2,442]

Because the mods didn't move it yet.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

That's not romantic at all.

[Ollie 859]

Everyone happy now?

I have to ask, has anyone actually listened to UP beyond the first 2 cues or are people just dumbed down and numb to good film music because all they are used to hearing is the Zimmer crap styled RC music that graces films today?

I mean seriously? Or did I get a rejected score by Michael Giacchino that no one else has heard?

I know everyone has different tastes but I when I read comments about UP it makes me want to say f*ck it all and just disappear from the film score community. I'm beginning to think there's no hope.

[Wojo 2,442]

Yup, dumb and numb, that's me.

[pixie_twinkle 44]

I reckoned as much, and I addressed that point.

That's why many consider 19th century music to be the "romantic" period, though there's nothing lovey-dovey about the finale to Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony. Though I'll be gulderned if I create a "romantic" genre for all of it, I just call it "classical" and move on. Go figure.

"Classical" means something completely different. The classical era of music is defined by clear musical structures, harmonic simplicity (generally speaking), and overall concision. Also, a preference for absolute music.

Romantic refers to classical forms and harmonies being expanded to accomodate new directions in music, namely a less absolute approach in which human emotions and actions are represented quite graphically in the music. Hence the rise of German Expressionism in the late 19th century.

That's just a very incomplete description of the differences between the two.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Geez just because you became a doctor....

[Sandor 459]

Howard Shore's work on The Lord Of The Rings is - for me - the last truly great romantic score.

John Williams' Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a good second.

How come I don't even own any other non-Williams score since Return Of The King...?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

I do, but I don't listen to them much.

I agree that, even though there were good scores done after, ROTK is kinda the last masterpiece.

Maybe all the talent sailed into the uttermost West afterwards....

[crocodile 6,294]

I do listen to all of them and quite often.

Karol

[Wojo 2,442]

I reckoned as much, and I addressed that point.

That's why many consider 19th century music to be the "romantic" period, though there's nothing lovey-dovey about the finale to Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony. Though I'll be gulderned if I create a "romantic" genre for all of it, I just call it "classical" and move on. Go figure.

"Classical" means something completely different. The classical era of music is defined by clear musical structures, harmonic simplicity (generally speaking), and overall concision. Also, a preference for absolute music.

Romantic refers to classical forms and harmonies being expanded to accomodate new directions in music, namely a less absolute approach in which human emotions and actions are represented quite graphically in the music. Hence the rise of German Expressionism in the late 19th century.

That's just a very incomplete description of the differences between the two.

I know, I know, I know. But I don't want to have "classical" and "romantic" genres in my iPod and music collection. That's cumbersome. While Handel and Mozart are clearly classical, and Wagner and PIT are clearly romantic, I don't want to split Beethoven's works between the categories, or break-up commercial albums like "Classical Thunder" which throw Stravinsky, Gershwin, and Prokofiev -- 20th century instrumental composers -- into the mix.

"Classical" is an over-used description which over-simplifies instrumental music from the 1600s through today, since instrumental music is still written that is not as simple as John Tesh or Yanni "new age," but it works for my purposes. I have accepted this and moved on.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Classical Music is orchestral music NOT written for films, by people who are now mostly dead!

I'm sure KM agrees with me, and he's also a Doctor!

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I love 'Up'. All of it.

Don't leave, Mark! All of the plants will die!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

Haven't heard UP yet, i read it has no themes.

[Wojo 2,442]

Up has themes. The very first review of FOTR that I read back in the day, before Santa brought me the OST, said it had no themes, too.

Mark's going to leave because I called Up elevator music? Puh-lease.

I should leave because he ho-hummed HTTYD. "sad face"

[crocodile 6,294]

There are no themes in LOTR!

Karol

[Quintus 5,391]

I love 'Up'. All of it.

Oh yeah? Well UP yours!

Seriously though, I'll have to add the score to my must listen list. Only heard it in the movie. It can't have been that great though, or I'd have noticed it.

[Joe Brausam 203]

A lot of up is reminiscent of Victor Young's Around the World in 80 Days, especially the "married life" theme in it's more spirited renditions, although it obviously lacks the musical references to other world places and all. I think it's pretty great music, I certainly like it a lot more than HTTYD, even after listening to the oscar promo site.

[MSM 85]

Sabrina.

[Wojo 2,442]

The teenage witch? She's a hottie.

[Quintus 5,391]

I preferred her mother.

[Jeff 0]

I hesitate to call anything the "last," because, if we're using the definition of "romantic" that is not confined to a specific time period, there can always be another great one. I think "most recent" would be safer. (I'm not suggesting that Mark should edit the thread again.)

[Wojo 2,442]

That's exactly what he meant.

When you say that you saw somebody "the last" time you went to the mall, it doesn't indicate that you'll never visit the mall again because of a sudden aversion to malls or your own impending death. It simply means "most recent."

Maybe you're careful enough with your vernacular to not use the phrase. I'm not.

[Jeff 0]

I didn't mean to nit-pick his language. On the contrary, I felt he was implying that the days of Romantic scores are behind us. Several people on this board have stated as much without qualification. My post was an invitation to him to clarify if that's what he meant.

[pixie_twinkle 44]

Geez just because you became a doctor....

You'd better believe it!

[King Mark 2,924]

Up had about 5 minutes of great romantic music, the same 5 minutes that got it the Oscar. The rest of the score was overhyped elevator music.

But I agree with Mark O on How to Train your Dragon

Both are orchestral scores but so generic sounding I don't care for neother

Anyways I'd say HPSS

[Wojo 2,442]

To be fair, I listened to Up today, and it's better than I remembered. My memory was tarnished by my dislike for the movie, which starts out promisingly sweet but turns into stupid, even for a cartoon marketed by the mouse.

Most of it is still generic, and I still prefer Michael G's Star Trek over it.

But I love How to Train Your Dragon, and no amount of "oh it sucks" from The Elders will change that.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

The Lord of the Ring scores just don't do anything for me, they are eh, nothing special.

[Wojo 2,442]

That's a shame. You and Ian McKellen would have so much to talk about.

[King Mark 2,924]

I like Return of the King but not the 2 first scores

There was a thread with a Williams theme slowed down to 1/10th it's speed or something. That's what most of LotR sounds like

[Wojo 2,442]

Baby steps, km. You're trying.

[Quintus 5,391]

I didn't mean to nit-pick his language. On the contrary, I felt he was implying that the days of Romantic scores are behind us. Several people on this board have stated as much without qualification. My post was an invitation to him to clarify if that's what he meant.

By "last" I meant most recent.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

It will be Tintin.

[Quintus 5,391]

I hope you're right. I really do.

[Andy 1,492]

I like Return of the King but not the 2 first scores

There was a thread with a Williams theme slowed down to 1/10th it's speed or something. That's what most of LotR sounds like

I have a hard time with these scores. They're a little bit of a wet blanket in their tone. There are some attractive nuggets here and there, but they usually sit on my shelf.

[Jacob 0]

I have to ask, has anyone actually listened to UP beyond the first 2 cues or are people just dumbed down and numb to good film music because all they are used to hearing is the Zimmer crap styled RC music that graces films today?

I like Up a lot.

It's so different from most the music I listen to, it's just refreshing.

Light, fun, cheerful, with moments of bittersweet poignance.

The complete score gets repetitive. The action music is definitely not it's strength.

Not a classic by any means, but the intimate moments really hit the spot.

[Red 73]

Up is maybe my favorite Giacchino film score (thus far). Its central theme is positively Williamsesque in terms of appeal and versatility.

[JoeinAR 1,759]

That's a shame. You and Ian McKellen would have so much to talk about.

sorry I'm not into skinny queens, but haveing met him once he too is not a fan of shores scores.

BTW, My understanding is that he and Brendan Frasier had a great time.

[Sharkissimo 1,971]

A dying breed indeed, I'm gonna say LotR: Return of the King.

Disagree?

The last score by John Barry. Enigma or Eternal Echoes (even though it's a concert work), take your pick.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,251]

It's not a score, so it does not apply here. Good music though.

[Sharkissimo 1,971]

They were pretty damn close though, in their sense of narrative. The Beyondness Of Things and Americans where like that too.

[crocodile 6,294]

The Beyondness Of Things

BTW is it any good?

Karol

[Sharkissimo 1,971]

The Beyondness Of Things

BTW is it any good?

Karol

The album's excellent, really. It's John Barry looking back at his past, through his older eyes.

[Quintus 5,391]

I always fancied it, too. Meant to borrow it from the local library but never did get around to it.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I always fancied it, too. Meant to borrow it from the local library but never did get around to it.

You obviously have a better library than we have.