Field of Dreams
James Horner
" John Kinsella: Is this heaven? Ray Kinsella: It's James Horner. "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Field of Dreams is a magical and wonderful film, full of heart and mystery, and at the end a wonderful dramatic conclusion. The kind of stuff tearjerkers are made off. It's the kind of film you won't find anymore today, simply because it's moving too slow for audiences. The same can be said about Horner's music. Yet, today it's got a wonderful classic vibe that made sure it's still sought after today. Reason for LaLaLand to release it in expanded format after all those years. Field of Dreams has many things, a mysterious vibe that underscores Kevin Costner's reasoning. Is he imagining it, is he hearing or seeing it alone, is he going crazy? Horner's mysterious vibe and sounds almost whisper through the music, yet is so undeniably effective. Another returning tranquility is the piano music, either eerie, either emotional.
Then there's the bright and bouncy theme, standing for the spirit and chasing your dreams manor in "Deciding to Build the Field", and it's here where the emotional theme is heard for the first time (on electronics in a dream like nature). This is a stroke of genius, the ethereal quality that stands for the fact Ray doesn't know yet what the purpose is, what the conclusion will be. Therefore the electronic ethereal vibe. When the reason will be known, you'll hear this theme soar in an orchestral fashion. Most of the tracks after that feature the same ideas, offering little variation when it comes to the "new" material. Yet a new theme is noticed for "Moonlight Graham", when the mystery of Ray get's another level. The theme for Moonlight returns in "The Magic Hit" and "Doc's Memories" when the conclusion is unfolding around the corn field.
The conclusion is of course "The Place Where Dreams Come True" when suddenly the voice begins to show new meaning to the mystery. And Horner leaves nothing behind anymore. His gentle strings, the mystery turning into Iowan emotion, having a wonderful moment when themes are connecting, just like father and son are connecting on the pitch. The 7th minute is extremely magical when each ball they catch gets another meaning, unraveling finally the mystery around the opening line. Horner doesn't go full out bombastic, but he does give new meaning to emotion.
This score was composed and released in the same year as Glory, but got nominated over the war epic. I can't say Field of Dreams is better than Glory, I can only say this score's got heart. Now in this expanded format, things are finally unraveling all around your speakers. There isn't really much that was missing when you compare it with the original 50 minute release. But clarity does seem to have been improved, making it sound even more magical. Anyway, Field of Dreams is a little Horner classic, oozes class from the get go. A sense of awe that flows through the corn field and a wonderful sense of emotion that you don't hear anymore today. Nowadays everything has to be toned down, stripped from emotion. Back then it was make it better, make it bigger. Composers then had the range to knock it out of the ballpark.
The mood is perhaps the best thing about this score, it really gives new meaning to the mystery.
Multiple themes, weaving through one another.
The bouncy theme is of course the variation that's definitely needed.
The final track features goosebumps moments when both father and son catch their first ball.
The short tracks of various seconds don't amount to anything, and should have been deleted.
Fielf of Dreams (1989 release) ****
Field of Dreams 2 CD (2022 release) ****
CD 1: 70.07
Track 1-24: Expanded original soundtrack
1. The Cornfield (5.36)
2. The Voice at Night (0.46)
3. The Vision (1.25)
4. Deciding to Build the Field [Film Version] (5.49) Excellent track
5. Man On Your Lawn (0.19)
6. Shoeless Joe (2.22)
7. Night Mists [Film Version] (3.18)
8. Old Ball Players [Film Version] (2.06)
9. Dinner's Ready (2.10)
10. The Voice (1.09)
11. The Library (2.32) Excellent track
12. I Had the Same Dream (0.33)
13. "Moonlight" Graham (2.07)
14. Terence's Vision (1.05)
15. The Timeless Street (2.41)
16. I Play Baseball / I'm Archie (0.40)
17. The Drive Home (2.17)
18. Rookies (0.28)
19. Night Game (1.37)
20. The Magic Hit (1.01)
21. The Decision (2.41)
22. Doc's Memories (3.21)
23. The Place Where Dreams Come True (9.09) Excellent track
24. End Credits (4.12) Excellent track
25. Dinner's Ready [Utility Take] (3.09)
Track 25-27: Additional music
26. Deciding to Build the Field [Alternate] (5.51)
27. Dinner's Ready / The Voice [Film Combo] (1.43)
CD 2: 50.55
Track 1-13: Remastered original soundtrack
1. The Cornfield (5.37)
2. Deciding to Build the Field (5.54)
3. Shoeless Joe (2.22)
4. The Timeless Street (2.41)
5. Old Ball Players (2.46)
6. The Drive Home (2.17)
7. Field of Dreams (3.35)
8. The Library (2.32)
9. "Moonlight" Graham (2.07)
10. Night Mists (4.23)
11. Doc's Memories (3.21)
12. The Place Where Dreams Come True (9.09)
13. End Credits (4.11)
Then there's the bright and bouncy theme, standing for the spirit and chasing your dreams manor in "Deciding to Build the Field", and it's here where the emotional theme is heard for the first time (on electronics in a dream like nature). This is a stroke of genius, the ethereal quality that stands for the fact Ray doesn't know yet what the purpose is, what the conclusion will be. Therefore the electronic ethereal vibe. When the reason will be known, you'll hear this theme soar in an orchestral fashion. Most of the tracks after that feature the same ideas, offering little variation when it comes to the "new" material. Yet a new theme is noticed for "Moonlight Graham", when the mystery of Ray get's another level. The theme for Moonlight returns in "The Magic Hit" and "Doc's Memories" when the conclusion is unfolding around the corn field.
The conclusion is of course "The Place Where Dreams Come True" when suddenly the voice begins to show new meaning to the mystery. And Horner leaves nothing behind anymore. His gentle strings, the mystery turning into Iowan emotion, having a wonderful moment when themes are connecting, just like father and son are connecting on the pitch. The 7th minute is extremely magical when each ball they catch gets another meaning, unraveling finally the mystery around the opening line. Horner doesn't go full out bombastic, but he does give new meaning to emotion.
This score was composed and released in the same year as Glory, but got nominated over the war epic. I can't say Field of Dreams is better than Glory, I can only say this score's got heart. Now in this expanded format, things are finally unraveling all around your speakers. There isn't really much that was missing when you compare it with the original 50 minute release. But clarity does seem to have been improved, making it sound even more magical. Anyway, Field of Dreams is a little Horner classic, oozes class from the get go. A sense of awe that flows through the corn field and a wonderful sense of emotion that you don't hear anymore today. Nowadays everything has to be toned down, stripped from emotion. Back then it was make it better, make it bigger. Composers then had the range to knock it out of the ballpark.
The mood is perhaps the best thing about this score, it really gives new meaning to the mystery.
Multiple themes, weaving through one another.
The bouncy theme is of course the variation that's definitely needed.
The final track features goosebumps moments when both father and son catch their first ball.
The short tracks of various seconds don't amount to anything, and should have been deleted.
Fielf of Dreams (1989 release) ****
Field of Dreams 2 CD (2022 release) ****
CD 1: 70.07
Track 1-24: Expanded original soundtrack
1. The Cornfield (5.36)
2. The Voice at Night (0.46)
3. The Vision (1.25)
4. Deciding to Build the Field [Film Version] (5.49) Excellent track
5. Man On Your Lawn (0.19)
6. Shoeless Joe (2.22)
7. Night Mists [Film Version] (3.18)
8. Old Ball Players [Film Version] (2.06)
9. Dinner's Ready (2.10)
10. The Voice (1.09)
11. The Library (2.32) Excellent track
12. I Had the Same Dream (0.33)
13. "Moonlight" Graham (2.07)
14. Terence's Vision (1.05)
15. The Timeless Street (2.41)
16. I Play Baseball / I'm Archie (0.40)
17. The Drive Home (2.17)
18. Rookies (0.28)
19. Night Game (1.37)
20. The Magic Hit (1.01)
21. The Decision (2.41)
22. Doc's Memories (3.21)
23. The Place Where Dreams Come True (9.09) Excellent track
24. End Credits (4.12) Excellent track
25. Dinner's Ready [Utility Take] (3.09)
Track 25-27: Additional music
26. Deciding to Build the Field [Alternate] (5.51)
27. Dinner's Ready / The Voice [Film Combo] (1.43)
CD 2: 50.55
Track 1-13: Remastered original soundtrack
1. The Cornfield (5.37)
2. Deciding to Build the Field (5.54)
3. Shoeless Joe (2.22)
4. The Timeless Street (2.41)
5. Old Ball Players (2.46)
6. The Drive Home (2.17)
7. Field of Dreams (3.35)
8. The Library (2.32)
9. "Moonlight" Graham (2.07)
10. Night Mists (4.23)
11. Doc's Memories (3.21)
12. The Place Where Dreams Come True (9.09)
13. End Credits (4.11)