Far and Away
John Williams
" Irish firecracker for John Williams "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
John Williams has been named many things, but Irish Johnny must be a first. The reason for giving him that name is his contribution to the 1992 Ron Howard film Far and Away. The film was memorable due to the fact Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman starred in the same film for the first time as husband and wife (after they married in 1990). For the music Ron Howard received one of John Williams's most magical scores of the 90's, a mixture of traditional Irish music and a true old fashioned orchestral score. The result is of course true John Williams class', and a joy to listen to once a year.
The opening track "County Galway, June 1892" delivers 2 themes: the mystifying Irish theme and the wonderful main theme, both deeply rooted in the Irish sound through the use of Uilleann Pipes and pan flutes. Of course when you want to deliver true Irish music, then nothing spells it out better than a true traditional Irish band. And The Chieftains's contribution is a noteworthy one. Their spirited music enlightens "The Fighting Donelly's", and it makes "Fighting for Dough" even more thunderous due to the added percussive rhythm.
Of course this doesn't mean John Williams stirs away from Irish music. In "Joe Sr.'s Passing / The Duel Scene" he supports the duel with dancing penny whistles and a wonderful rise of the main theme, followed by the love and the grandeur he gives the Irish theme and the main theme in "Joseph's Dream", making it a gift for the ears and the soul.
But when he gets the chance, he isn't afraid to deliver the John Williams music like we always receive it from him. The true atonal horror music surely brings back memories of Jaws in "Burning the Manor House", the typical racing scherzo puts a smile on your face during "Blowing off Steam", the lovely magical tinkling of "Am I Beatiful?" and "Inside the Mansion" depicts a blossoming romance beginning to immerse, all the while the complete opposite of this is testing Joseph's heart in "The Big Match", which is itself John Williams delivering honest to god nail bitting tension. But if we're talking about John Williams in a nutshell, it's simply "The Land Race"! Basically one of his ever best tracks, it's a fabulous adventurous ride through Irish land with nothing but soaring main themes (heard in superb fashion in the Treasure Planet trailer). This is followed by the grandiose fanfare of that trailer in "Joseph and Shannon" and the everlasting "End Credits", a mixture of some of the best moments of the album.
Don't forget "Book of Days" as well, which remains one of Enya's most enchanting songs.
There's something about Far and Away that makes it one of John Williams most magical scores of his career. It's not just the fact I like Irish music so much, it's simply the fact that we receive a mixture of an Irish band at the top of their game, mixed with traditional orchestral music from a master at the top of his game. His main theme is one of his all time best, his adventure music here is some of the most magical minutes of his entire repertoire and the combination of several top notch themes and ditty's makes it one of those everlasting experiences. Basically a vital necessity for John Williams fans and those who call them filmmusic admirers.
Favorite Moment - The Land Race (3.08 - 3.35)
It's Treasure Planet!
Track Listing
1. County Galway, June 1892 (1.55)
2. The Fighting Donelly's * (2.18)
3. Joe Sr.'s Passing / The Duel Scene (4.41) Excellent track
4. Leaving Home (1.55)
5. Burning the Manor House (2.43)
6. Blowing Off Steam (1.31) Excellent track
7. Fighting for Dough * (2.02)
8. Am I Beatiful? (3.38)
9. The Big Match (5.56)
10. Inside the Mansion (4.24)
11. Shannon is Shot (4.06)
12. Joseph's Dream (3.08) Excellent track
13. The Reunion (3.50)
14. Oklahoma Territory (2.12)
15. The Land Race (4.56) Excellent track
16. Settling with Steven / The Race to the River (4.08)
17. Joseph and Shannon (3.14) Excellent track
18. Book of Days: Enya (2.53) Excellent track
19. End Credits * (6.35) Excellent track
* Featuring The Chieftains
Total Length: 66.05
The opening track "County Galway, June 1892" delivers 2 themes: the mystifying Irish theme and the wonderful main theme, both deeply rooted in the Irish sound through the use of Uilleann Pipes and pan flutes. Of course when you want to deliver true Irish music, then nothing spells it out better than a true traditional Irish band. And The Chieftains's contribution is a noteworthy one. Their spirited music enlightens "The Fighting Donelly's", and it makes "Fighting for Dough" even more thunderous due to the added percussive rhythm.
Of course this doesn't mean John Williams stirs away from Irish music. In "Joe Sr.'s Passing / The Duel Scene" he supports the duel with dancing penny whistles and a wonderful rise of the main theme, followed by the love and the grandeur he gives the Irish theme and the main theme in "Joseph's Dream", making it a gift for the ears and the soul.
But when he gets the chance, he isn't afraid to deliver the John Williams music like we always receive it from him. The true atonal horror music surely brings back memories of Jaws in "Burning the Manor House", the typical racing scherzo puts a smile on your face during "Blowing off Steam", the lovely magical tinkling of "Am I Beatiful?" and "Inside the Mansion" depicts a blossoming romance beginning to immerse, all the while the complete opposite of this is testing Joseph's heart in "The Big Match", which is itself John Williams delivering honest to god nail bitting tension. But if we're talking about John Williams in a nutshell, it's simply "The Land Race"! Basically one of his ever best tracks, it's a fabulous adventurous ride through Irish land with nothing but soaring main themes (heard in superb fashion in the Treasure Planet trailer). This is followed by the grandiose fanfare of that trailer in "Joseph and Shannon" and the everlasting "End Credits", a mixture of some of the best moments of the album.
Don't forget "Book of Days" as well, which remains one of Enya's most enchanting songs.
There's something about Far and Away that makes it one of John Williams most magical scores of his career. It's not just the fact I like Irish music so much, it's simply the fact that we receive a mixture of an Irish band at the top of their game, mixed with traditional orchestral music from a master at the top of his game. His main theme is one of his all time best, his adventure music here is some of the most magical minutes of his entire repertoire and the combination of several top notch themes and ditty's makes it one of those everlasting experiences. Basically a vital necessity for John Williams fans and those who call them filmmusic admirers.
Favorite Moment - The Land Race (3.08 - 3.35)
It's Treasure Planet!
Track Listing
1. County Galway, June 1892 (1.55)
2. The Fighting Donelly's * (2.18)
3. Joe Sr.'s Passing / The Duel Scene (4.41) Excellent track
4. Leaving Home (1.55)
5. Burning the Manor House (2.43)
6. Blowing Off Steam (1.31) Excellent track
7. Fighting for Dough * (2.02)
8. Am I Beatiful? (3.38)
9. The Big Match (5.56)
10. Inside the Mansion (4.24)
11. Shannon is Shot (4.06)
12. Joseph's Dream (3.08) Excellent track
13. The Reunion (3.50)
14. Oklahoma Territory (2.12)
15. The Land Race (4.56) Excellent track
16. Settling with Steven / The Race to the River (4.08)
17. Joseph and Shannon (3.14) Excellent track
18. Book of Days: Enya (2.53) Excellent track
19. End Credits * (6.35) Excellent track
* Featuring The Chieftains
Total Length: 66.05