Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Rate John Williams' rarely mentioned score to Far and Away on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest. I'll refrain from voting just yet, but some of you may already know how I feel about this score. Oh, and this isn't meant to steal Justin's thunder regarding his recent string of ratings polls; it's something I've wanted to do for a while. Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg1138 2 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 "Oi'll give it Foive...."......probably one of the three least listened-to CD's in my collection - I just find it dull and boring.....not without it's moments though - hence the middle-ground score I gave it..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fommes 126 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Seven. Equals The Cowboys for me. Very decent score, just sometimes over the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam 1 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Far and Away was one of the best experiences I?ve had in a theater experiencing the music. Unlike now-a-days when the album comes out early and I?m physically incapable of not listening to the score before the movie comes out, I was pretty much in the dark about the music to this movie. Its a lot of fun when the music has that much room in a movie to shine and the music felt fresh and very effective. The film is pure melodrama so it demands a lot of the music and JW came through with some very evokative and exciting music. - Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitch 55 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 His Irish-ness on this score was awful. The Chieftains took the money and ran. Thank God Johnny stayed clear of fiddles and bodhrans for ANGELA'S ASHES a much more better score. A pitiful 1. Though I'd have given it a 2 had he not arranged for violin it on the CINEMA SERENADES CD with Perlman on the violin. TORTURE OF TORTURES. I can hear a funeral in my brain. Yes Emily I'm on my way. To the Hitchpole!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam 1 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 You mean authentic Irish music isn?t backed up with a large orchestra and cool French-horn licks like in the end credits? Its obviously not trying to be authenticly Irish. It evokes the spirit of Irish music as it exists through the prism of Western culture. Just like I doubt he will write authentic Asian music for Memoirs of a Geisha and luckily he didn?t try to write authentic African music (or American for that matter) for Amistad. This is Hollywood, afterall. And that?s especially true for a film like Far and Away which is more Hollywood than most. Ron Howard was understandably very praising of the score so I doubt he wanted authentic Irish music either.- Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitch 55 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 I say PISH-POSH to that!Hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicRat75 0 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 9 out of 10.I love it! Especially the big sweeping themes toward the end. I haven't played it in awhile but for me it's right up there with The Patriot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Breathmask 480 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Interesting statement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC1 3,565 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 The music works great in Ireland too. When I was there I couldn't get certain parts of the soundtrack out of my head. To me Far And Away is one of those JW soundtracks with an intense but short life span. ----------------Alex Cremers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie 45 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Wow. Big contrasts with the voting. I personally gave it an 8. The music is thoroughly enjoyable - I have no prejudice for the types of arrangements he uses. They're fun and fascinating and beneath the surface is actually a great deal of chromaticism and thoughtful through-composed thrillage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris ChrusherComix 27 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I'd give it an 8.5, but technically I voted 8.I love this score and feel it's terribly underrated in terms of lack of people bragging about it. I also loved the unreleased DVD track that I did. It was only one, but it was a good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SturgisPodmore 0 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 His Irish-ness on this score was awful. Â The Chieftains took the money and ran. Â Thank God Johnny stayed clear of fiddles and bodhrans for ANGELA'S ASHES a much more better score. Â A pitiful 1. Â Though I'd have given it a 2 had he not arranged for violin it on the CINEMA SERENADES CD with Perlman on the violin. Â TORTURE OF TORTURES. Â I can hear a funeral in my brain. Â Yes Emily I'm on my way. Â To the Hitchpole!!!! I say 10! This is among my top five favorite scores. The "End Credits" track is my favorite track ever.I love it! It's right up there with The Patriot.I like The Patriot, but considering this board's general opinion of the score I have to say ~Sturgis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diskobolus 3 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 This is one of my least favorite scores by Williams. Heartbeeps and Amistad are two others I consider to be just as bad. The Irish influence does nothing for me, nor do the themes. In fact, there is not a single moment of this score that I like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 No, not Heartbeeps!Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinAR 1,759 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I think this is a grand score, I love the Irish influences and always have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted March 31, 2005 Author Share Posted March 31, 2005 It's a 10. Definitely in my top few favorite scores. I was blown away the first time I listened to it after having purchased it. Although there are a few dull moments here and there, I find that the score's plethora of strengths vastly outweigh them. The themes are among Williams' best - the infectious jig music, the mystical Irish theme, the triumphant "Westward Ho!" theme (as Frank Lehman referred to it), and the amazing main theme. It can range from tender and romantic to sweeping and epic, and it's my favorite of Williams love themes. The thrilling "The Land Race" is the set piece of the score, and it all culminates in the wonderful end credits suite. It's one of the last times Williams wrote new arrangements for an end credits piece, and they're infused with such joyous energy and spirit (those horn rips!) It just never fails to put a smile on my face, and I feel it's Williams' best effort of the 90s.Ray Barnsbury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codanai 0 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Compared to some of Williams' other scores, I give it an 8. But hey, that's still pretty DANG good. I completely love the Far and Away music, particularly Joseph and Shannon's theme. The Irish lilt type stuff is fun too. And just to throw this out there, if you think the score bad because Williams orchestrates and "westernizes" Irish music, then what do you think of something like Aaron Copland's mexican, cuban, and other latin influenced pieces? Are those embarassing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fommes 126 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 This is one of my least favorite scores by Williams. Heartbeeps and Amistad are two others I consider to be just as bad. The Irish influence does nothing for me, nor do the themes. In fact, there is not a single moment of this score that I like.No, not Amistad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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