Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I'm referring to the score as experienced on the OST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I'm the first to admit that it's impossible mush in boldest Barry strokes and compositionally rather simple, but the main theme (i. e. the firs track) is probably Horner's best theme or at least up in the Top Three. I's a perfect tune (the fiddle tune is also great and i even like the Cocoon-like singalong theme). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I do find the main theme agreeable, but there's too much of it, especially in the first half of the OST. The theme would have benefitted from more variation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Sure it would have. It's practically never varied, just like all the other themes (it's the start of Horner's epic phase, which was marred by endless repetition). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I wonder how much time he used to write the score. I get the feeling he didn't have much time to elaborate on his ideas, some of which have good potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 The repetition probably was intentional, Braveheart, Titanic, Windtalkers etc. were all like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I'm not familiar with Windtalkers, but I feel that both Braveheart and Titanic are more varied scores, also when it comes to the variation of themes. Chen G. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 It has to be said - the main theme is indeed quite magnificent. A doozy of a theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I remember teaching myself how to play this by ear on the piano. It was a piece of piss to pick up and compositionally primitive. Which is probably what makes it so effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,661 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Voted no. Maybe it's true, I don't know, but it's one of the only Horner scores I actually like, so I'm giving it a pass. Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 23 minutes ago, Quintus said: I remember teaching myself how to play this by ear on the piano. Video, please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I'm afraid my old Sony Ericsson phone only had photo capability at that time. I'd have taken a snap, but two-handed play would have become one-handed play. So basically just the chords. Actually, that's essentially all this theme is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Edmilson 7,580 Posted January 6, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 6, 2020 It's not a "one theme only" score (I think you're referring to the Ludlows' theme), and I don't think Horner ever wrote a score like this. Legends it's a far more varied, complex and emotionally intelligent score that people give credit for, and one of the best (THE very best) in his career in my opinion. Jean-Baptiste Martin from James Horner Film Music made an excellent analysys of the themes, when they appear on the movie and what is their function. To this day it's one of the best film music analysys I've ever seen, and a lesson on understanding the power a great score can have on a movie: http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/legends-of-the-fall-an-analysis-of-the-themes/ Thor, Yavar Moradi and 1977 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quintus 5,399 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Isn't it called The Ludlow's? I'm referring to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 Yeah, that's the theme I'm sick and tired of by the end of the first few tracks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc 2,674 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 The answer is no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,489 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Then the answer is most definitely no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,602 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Edmilson said: It's not a "one theme only" score (I think you're referring to the Ludlows' theme), and I don't think Horner ever wrote a score like this. Legends it's a far more varied, complex and emotionally intelligent score that people give credit for, and one of the best (THE very best) in his career in my opinion. Jean-Baptiste Martin from James Horner Film Music made an excellent analysys of the themes, when they appear on the movie and what is their function. To this day it's one of the best film music analysys I've ever seen, and a lesson on understanding the power a great score can have on a movie: http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/legends-of-the-fall-an-analysis-of-the-themes/ This! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Edmilson said: It's not a "one theme only" score That's not what I'm saying either. It's just that the main theme is used to death, without variations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Thor 7,602 Posted January 6, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 6, 2020 You describe it as if it's a Rachel Portman score or something. Never really got that impression myself. The theme is spersed sufficiently throughout the OST programme, and it never wears out its welcome. At least not for me. A. A. Ron, Edmilson and 1977 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 It's just too much of the theme in the first half of the OST, without really introducing any variation when it's played the nth time. That a theme is repeated a lot verbatim is something that usually annoys me. Listening to it is a bit like listening to the force theme in the later parts of TLJ OST, just much worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,489 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 It's the basis for the Independence Day theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 More than Waterworld and Amazing Stories? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,652 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,478 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 2 hours ago, Edmilson said: It's not a "one theme only" score (I think you're referring to the Ludlows' theme), and I don't think Horner ever wrote a score like this. Legends it's a far more varied, complex and emotionally intelligent score that people give credit for, and one of the best (THE very best) in his career in my opinion. Jean-Baptiste Martin from James Horner Film Music made an excellent analysys of the themes, when they appear on the movie and what is their function. To this day it's one of the best film music analysys I've ever seen, and a lesson on understanding the power a great score can have on a movie: http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/legends-of-the-fall-an-analysis-of-the-themes/ Great analysis. Thanks! This should be the standard of the thematic analysis I agree. So thorough. Though I think might be too tedious for more complex and intricate scores. The theme they call B – Legends Of The Fall is the best of the lot. This is the one that really soars, like Horner's best themes. I get the same soaring feeling from it that I get from the Braveheart love theme. Chen G. and Edmilson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1977 1,743 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said: It's just too much of the theme in the first half of the OST, without really introducing any variation when it's played the nth time. That a theme is repeated a lot verbatim is something that usually annoys me. Listening to it is a bit like listening to the force theme in the later parts of TLJ OST, just much worse. You must really hate John Barry then. A. A. Ron and Edmilson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I love Out of Africa, but there he doesn't repeat the same theme five times in a row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 It's a 40 minute score, there just isn't that much opportunity for the kind of repetition Horner was infamous for. But why this is such a pressing matter i don't know. Just skip the cues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 It's not really pressing, like climate changes and stuff like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I had a girlfriend back in 1994 and i remember i refused to see Legends with her, so she went with her friend while i went to 'Shawshank Redemption' and when we both came out she told me how stupid i was because i missed greatest score and she usually never registered the music. I got the cd for her (of which i dutifully made myself copy, of course) and got that look from the cashier when he glanced at that impossible Brad Pitt face with the waving blond mane. A. A. Ron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I reckon the cashier understood when you mentioned it was for your girlfriend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 No questions were asked, no answers were given! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 Ah, don't ask, don't tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,753 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I just checked and I have two tracks: The Wedding and Wild Horses. This is clearly a score I've found long and drawn out in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 Is that a yes vote? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not Mr. Big 4,652 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Legends of the Fall is a top 10 score Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 Top 10 mediocre Horner scores? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 It's not but has a top 3 theme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,602 Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 On 1/6/2020 at 11:58 PM, Richard Penna said: I just checked and I have two tracks: The Wedding and Wild Horses. This is clearly a score I've found long and drawn out in the past. How come you only have two tracks? Did you download just two tracks from iTunes or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Penna 3,753 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 I have a huge archive of flacs of ripped CDs and a separate folder for mp3s for listening. I have Legends on CD but would have decided to keep just the two tracks for regular listening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Has the expansion changed anybody's impression of this score? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSH 969 Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 I haven't heard the expansion yet but, while this is a score I hold dear and consider a highlight of the 90s, it's not one I listen to very often. I don't often listen to it in its entirety either; I just have a few highlight cues spattered within various compilations. I agree, it does have a Barry-esque approach; the main theme is extremely prevalent which lessens its impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jean-Baptiste Martin 255 Posted October 26, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2021 Thank you for the comments on my theme analysis. This is the first time I've read them. I wrote this seven years ago now... And in 2020 I had updated the text when the expanded edition came out:http://jameshorner-filmmusic.com/legends-of-the-fall-expanded-edition-our-exclusive-review/ I had fun to put logos for each theme and also I had made a commented tracklist which is visible here and downloadable in PDF format: https://www.patreon.com/posts/36204977 The B theme is indeed heard 10 times during the first hour of the movie. But it is completely absent during the second hour. It comes back only during the very last scene. Jurassic Shark, LSH, Edmilson and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,500 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 What about the "Awww he's so cuuuuute" Theme for Brad Pitt's appearances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallguy 3,475 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 I haven't revisited Legends of the Fall or Braveheart since they came out. Legends was OK, Braveheart is a well made movie that I don't like. But I will always remember the blurb in Film Score Monthly (possibly the first issue I bought?): Nominated for this year's "Feels Like Drowning" award, Legends of the Fall. Maybe unfair but 25 years later I'm still laughing. Like I said, maybe I'll think better of it. But it was almost Horner's John Barry "HOW LUSH CAN WE MAKE IT?" phase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 6 hours ago, Tallguy said: Like I said, maybe I'll think better of it. But it was almost Horner's John Barry "HOW LUSH CAN WE MAKE IT?" phase. It was heavily temped with Lonesome Dove and Dances with Wolves, both of which you hear very clearly. Though Horner tried to outdo them, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tallguy 3,475 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 9 hours ago, publicist said: It was heavily temped with Lonesome Dove and Dances with Wolves, both of which you hear very clearly. Though Horner tried to outdo them, of course. That's funny. I had no idea. I'm only passingly familiar with DWW and not at all with Lonesome Dove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Horner's Cocoon-like theme americana tune was based on this, ca. starting at 01:10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,197 Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 At least Horner significantly improved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stark 334 Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 This score is absolutely gorgeous and I’m surprised there isn’t a full concurrence on that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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