War Horse
John Williams
" Steven Spielberg to critic: he's my composer sir! "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
It seemed like an eternity. I mean the absence of composer John Williams these past few years. For fans, there is nothing more sacred than hearing the joy and craftsmanship of one of the last top A-list composers every once and a while. But 3 years never felt so long without the music of John Williams. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull was the last time we heard him in action. But now, Mr. Williams is back with a vengeance. 2 scores in one mere month. The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse, 2 Steven Spielberg films (a director we also missed these past 3 years). Because there is no Steven without John, no John without Steven. No Williams without making your musical year magical.
And that's exactly what War Horse is. Magical in its storytelling, magical at its emotional core, magical in its moving cinematography, magical in the way Williams makes a comeback of sheer magnitude. For all the composers out there who believe they have made it because they composed music for one of today's summer blockbusters, listen to how it's supposed to be done. Because it is evident nothing has left this man's genius the moment we open the first track "Dartmoor, 1912" in almost Far and Away style. Flute and immediate passion coming from the strings unravels a theme (the brave theme) that depicts playful manners and sheer will, 2 characteristics that define both the horse Joey as his master Albert.
A nudge of Tintin makes the end of "Bringing Joey Home and Bonding" funny, a track that has a variation of "No Ticket" of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in the begin and the first appearance of the main theme (the theme that was heard in the trailer), highlighting the playful communications between Joey and Albert. A sound that continues in "Learning the Call", making it a delightful piece of music in the second part of the cue.
The first highlight comes swiftly with the typical playful, rhythmic and feisty John Williams music in "Seeding and Horse vs. Car", delivering not only a magical performance of the brave theme, but also an outburst of brief rhythmic adventure music. The second highlight comes directly after that, when perseverance pays off in "Plowing", because it's an ingenious mix of the brave theme and the soaring main theme (as it was heard in the trailer) like only Williams can do it. Another sign like only Williams can do it is "The Charge and Capture", a track that goes through the bone through the thunderous use of the trumpets, delivering nerve wrecking suspense. That urgency continues in "The Desertion" and "Pulling the Cannon", before being relieved by the best of them all, namely "No Man's Land". Now, If there's one track that says: 'we missed you so very much Mr. Williams', it's this one. Welcome to one of this year's most thunderous runs through war itself. Wow!
The final tracks are left for the emotional reunion, goodbyes and homecomings Steven Spielberg has in store for you. For some, it will have been too much, for others not enough. But what's not enough is John Williams' soaring versions of the main theme accompanying Joey and a sunset at the end of the movie. Either way, "The Homecoming" is delightful to end the score with, with its playful opening and its noble end. Not that War Horse is John Williams' best, but there's a sense of class running through the veins of this score that we have missed too much these past few years. And that is themes (and multiple ones at that) running through masterful development. And I'm not afraid to say that there are at least 3 tracks here that should be in the top 10 of 2011. This is and stays Mr. Williams delivering what he does best, beautiful mesmerizing music, with a hint of playfulness and a dash of thunderous action in what is definitely John Williams' big return to movie music. Welcome back Mr. Williams.
Favorite Moment - No Man's Land (1.53 - 3.52)
My god, simply brilliant
Track Listing
1. Dartmoor, 1912 (3.35)
2. The Auction (3.34)
3. Bringing Joey Home and Bonding (4.42)
4. Learning the Call (3.20)
5. Seeding and Horse Vs. Car (3.33) Excellent track
6. Plowing (5.10) Excellent track
7. Ruined Crop and Going to War (3.29)
8. The Charge and Capture (3.21)
9. The Desertion (2.33)
10. Joey's New Friends (3.30)
11. Pulling the Cannon (4.11)
12. The Death of Topthorn (2.45)
13. No Man's Land (4.35) Excellent track
14. The Reunion (3.55)
15. Remembering Emilie and Finale (5.07)
16. The Homecoming (08:06) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.26
And that's exactly what War Horse is. Magical in its storytelling, magical at its emotional core, magical in its moving cinematography, magical in the way Williams makes a comeback of sheer magnitude. For all the composers out there who believe they have made it because they composed music for one of today's summer blockbusters, listen to how it's supposed to be done. Because it is evident nothing has left this man's genius the moment we open the first track "Dartmoor, 1912" in almost Far and Away style. Flute and immediate passion coming from the strings unravels a theme (the brave theme) that depicts playful manners and sheer will, 2 characteristics that define both the horse Joey as his master Albert.
A nudge of Tintin makes the end of "Bringing Joey Home and Bonding" funny, a track that has a variation of "No Ticket" of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in the begin and the first appearance of the main theme (the theme that was heard in the trailer), highlighting the playful communications between Joey and Albert. A sound that continues in "Learning the Call", making it a delightful piece of music in the second part of the cue.
The first highlight comes swiftly with the typical playful, rhythmic and feisty John Williams music in "Seeding and Horse vs. Car", delivering not only a magical performance of the brave theme, but also an outburst of brief rhythmic adventure music. The second highlight comes directly after that, when perseverance pays off in "Plowing", because it's an ingenious mix of the brave theme and the soaring main theme (as it was heard in the trailer) like only Williams can do it. Another sign like only Williams can do it is "The Charge and Capture", a track that goes through the bone through the thunderous use of the trumpets, delivering nerve wrecking suspense. That urgency continues in "The Desertion" and "Pulling the Cannon", before being relieved by the best of them all, namely "No Man's Land". Now, If there's one track that says: 'we missed you so very much Mr. Williams', it's this one. Welcome to one of this year's most thunderous runs through war itself. Wow!
The final tracks are left for the emotional reunion, goodbyes and homecomings Steven Spielberg has in store for you. For some, it will have been too much, for others not enough. But what's not enough is John Williams' soaring versions of the main theme accompanying Joey and a sunset at the end of the movie. Either way, "The Homecoming" is delightful to end the score with, with its playful opening and its noble end. Not that War Horse is John Williams' best, but there's a sense of class running through the veins of this score that we have missed too much these past few years. And that is themes (and multiple ones at that) running through masterful development. And I'm not afraid to say that there are at least 3 tracks here that should be in the top 10 of 2011. This is and stays Mr. Williams delivering what he does best, beautiful mesmerizing music, with a hint of playfulness and a dash of thunderous action in what is definitely John Williams' big return to movie music. Welcome back Mr. Williams.
Favorite Moment - No Man's Land (1.53 - 3.52)
My god, simply brilliant
Track Listing
1. Dartmoor, 1912 (3.35)
2. The Auction (3.34)
3. Bringing Joey Home and Bonding (4.42)
4. Learning the Call (3.20)
5. Seeding and Horse Vs. Car (3.33) Excellent track
6. Plowing (5.10) Excellent track
7. Ruined Crop and Going to War (3.29)
8. The Charge and Capture (3.21)
9. The Desertion (2.33)
10. Joey's New Friends (3.30)
11. Pulling the Cannon (4.11)
12. The Death of Topthorn (2.45)
13. No Man's Land (4.35) Excellent track
14. The Reunion (3.55)
15. Remembering Emilie and Finale (5.07)
16. The Homecoming (08:06) Excellent track
Total Length: 65.26