The Journey of Natty Gann
James Horner
" Charming adventure score finally available "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the limited release
The Journey of Natty Gann is an unmistakable Disney film, full of heart and adventure, while addressing harsher elements as well including a dog vs wolf fight (which was not pleasant for the animal lover inside me). However the movie itself is highly regarded. Not specifically the box office cannon, but a nice warm Saturday afternoon flick which will still bring fond memories to those who grew up with it. Other fond memories are definitely for the music of James Horner, who replaced Elmer Bernstein. It was not the first time Horner replaced a composer late in the game, and as ever, one could rely on Horner to get the job done.
And his album (finally released after nearly 25 years) is constructed in the great love able tradition of 80's adventure music, meaning Horner's soundtrack is the perfect antidote to the absence of quality adventure music of today. No wonder that the score was quickly sold out, even if it shares resemblances to a Horner album which would stand the test of time several years later (namely The Land Before Time). Accept or hate them as you would any Horner album, because fact of the matter is, The Journey of Natty Gann came first, your much beloved The Land Before Time second.
The resemblance is the second part of the main theme, heard in "Main Title". The main theme makes more of an impact when Natty and the wolf share a connection for the first time (though doesn't appear to be on the album). This bond suddenly becomes much stronger when Horner unleashes it with additional assistance of the strings in the thrillingly short "Getting There" and the sad goodbye of a short known companion in "Farewell". The added triumph here is the short but stunningly emotional motif that Horner unleashes at 0.55, a moment of utter brilliance and heartfelt beauty. Or another moment how mere seconds ridicule 70% of today's music.
A secondary theme, the emotional theme first appears in "Leaving", and would later flourish amazingly in "First Love" and "Reunion / End Title", having the unmistakable feeling it's used by Horner more whenever he wants to make an emotional point, here and especially later in numerous scores.
The first sign of adventure arrives in "Freight Train" (though already late in the film), a moment where Horner goes back to the delicious rhythms of his Amazing Stories adventure (the episode Alamo Jobe), capturing the same innocence of a young child trying to escape. And when Horner tries the first Western rhythms of Fievel Goes West in "Into Town", the Horner temp track list is complete. This western playfulness returns more prominently in "Rustling", when Natty and the wolf are face to face with a bull. Though the bull doesn't face any problems, the fact they are chased by the police is, and Horner's second part explodes with exciting suspenseful material.
The bonus cues (which have a slightly lesser sound quality) hold "Locked Up", containing the emotional theme for when the wolf is captured, the Wolfen inspired atonal attack music in "Riding the Rails" and the charming main theme (when one of the few friendly people Natty meets) sets her off to find her father in "To Seattle".
The Journey of Natty Gann is typical Horner loveliness. It captures the adventure of Natty's quest to find her father, the emotion of finding a friend in the wolf and a first romantic crush on the boy who helps her through her journey. And though the album is not very long, it has 2 wonderful themes carrying all the typical James Horner vibes fans will go crazy over. It's lovely, it's exciting, its beautiful and it has above all heart. Heart that makes the film 10 times more engaging. Basically the typical quality music of the 80's which is now finally available in this short but endearing release.
Track Listing
1. Main Title (1.57)
2. Leaving (3.21)
3. Freight Train (2.45) Excellent track
4. First Love (3.31)
5. Into Town (2.32)
6. Goodbye (2.22)
7. Rustling (3.07)
8. The Forest (2.01)
9. Early Morning (1.45)
10. Getting There (1.14)
11. Farewell (3.23) Excellent track
12. Reunion / End Title (5.10) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
13. Locked Up (3.12)
14. Hotel Escape (1.54)
15. Riding the Rails (1.29)
16. To Seattle (3.18)
Total Length: 43.01
And his album (finally released after nearly 25 years) is constructed in the great love able tradition of 80's adventure music, meaning Horner's soundtrack is the perfect antidote to the absence of quality adventure music of today. No wonder that the score was quickly sold out, even if it shares resemblances to a Horner album which would stand the test of time several years later (namely The Land Before Time). Accept or hate them as you would any Horner album, because fact of the matter is, The Journey of Natty Gann came first, your much beloved The Land Before Time second.
The resemblance is the second part of the main theme, heard in "Main Title". The main theme makes more of an impact when Natty and the wolf share a connection for the first time (though doesn't appear to be on the album). This bond suddenly becomes much stronger when Horner unleashes it with additional assistance of the strings in the thrillingly short "Getting There" and the sad goodbye of a short known companion in "Farewell". The added triumph here is the short but stunningly emotional motif that Horner unleashes at 0.55, a moment of utter brilliance and heartfelt beauty. Or another moment how mere seconds ridicule 70% of today's music.
A secondary theme, the emotional theme first appears in "Leaving", and would later flourish amazingly in "First Love" and "Reunion / End Title", having the unmistakable feeling it's used by Horner more whenever he wants to make an emotional point, here and especially later in numerous scores.
The first sign of adventure arrives in "Freight Train" (though already late in the film), a moment where Horner goes back to the delicious rhythms of his Amazing Stories adventure (the episode Alamo Jobe), capturing the same innocence of a young child trying to escape. And when Horner tries the first Western rhythms of Fievel Goes West in "Into Town", the Horner temp track list is complete. This western playfulness returns more prominently in "Rustling", when Natty and the wolf are face to face with a bull. Though the bull doesn't face any problems, the fact they are chased by the police is, and Horner's second part explodes with exciting suspenseful material.
The bonus cues (which have a slightly lesser sound quality) hold "Locked Up", containing the emotional theme for when the wolf is captured, the Wolfen inspired atonal attack music in "Riding the Rails" and the charming main theme (when one of the few friendly people Natty meets) sets her off to find her father in "To Seattle".
The Journey of Natty Gann is typical Horner loveliness. It captures the adventure of Natty's quest to find her father, the emotion of finding a friend in the wolf and a first romantic crush on the boy who helps her through her journey. And though the album is not very long, it has 2 wonderful themes carrying all the typical James Horner vibes fans will go crazy over. It's lovely, it's exciting, its beautiful and it has above all heart. Heart that makes the film 10 times more engaging. Basically the typical quality music of the 80's which is now finally available in this short but endearing release.
Track Listing
1. Main Title (1.57)
2. Leaving (3.21)
3. Freight Train (2.45) Excellent track
4. First Love (3.31)
5. Into Town (2.32)
6. Goodbye (2.22)
7. Rustling (3.07)
8. The Forest (2.01)
9. Early Morning (1.45)
10. Getting There (1.14)
11. Farewell (3.23) Excellent track
12. Reunion / End Title (5.10) Excellent track
Bonus Tracks
13. Locked Up (3.12)
14. Hotel Escape (1.54)
15. Riding the Rails (1.29)
16. To Seattle (3.18)
Total Length: 43.01