LEGENDS OF THE FALL (1994) - James Horner - Soundtrack Score Suite

The 1994 film Legends of the Fall is for the big screen what romance novels are for old ladies. It is limitless, brute romanticism against the painted skies of Montana, primordial in its appeal and doomed by those who are not swayed by tear-jerking character dramas. If anyone doubted that director Ed Zwick was trying to yank at the emotional chains of audiences with his 1989 stunner Glory, then Legends of the Fall is proof that you can succeed at it not just once, but twice. Heroic and tragic, honorable and sorrowful, Legends of the Fall combines the most potent elements of a British period production with the vast expanses of Big Sky Country. Its cast was remarkably strong, led by a headstrong and painfully humorous performance by Anthony Hopkins as the father of three adult sons split by ideals, ambitions, and one woman. As he had accomplished for Glory, composer James Horner matched Zwick's engrossing melodrama with an unashamed powerhouse of a score, and while the music for Legends of the Fall doesn't quite equal the ethereal qualities of Glory, it comes damn close. The early 1990's were a time of few hits and numerous misses for Horner, scrounging around in the trash bin of video-quality animated films and failed light dramas. With Legends of the Fall came a sudden and overwhelming resurgence that would launch the composer into a year of incredible success in 1995, led by Apollo 13 and Braveheart. These three scores together would yield two Golden Globe nominations and two Academy Awards nominations, and yet none would win either award. Still, these three scores together (and you can even throw in the decent Casper and Balto in the middle of the timeline) represent one of the greatest periods of production that any composer has ever enjoyed. As the first in line, Legends of the Fall caught listeners by surprise with its sheer weight of performance and rich variety of themes.
Horner has reveled in his fair share of dramatically thematic scores, but never before or since Legends of the Fall did he accomplish the same level of gravity... not even with Titanic. And it's the strength of the themes in Legends of the Fall that leads to its success. The meaning behind Horner's several ideas for the film overlap in conceptual use on screen, so the following labels for the purpose of this review could be up for debate. The title theme, introduced in the latter half of "Legends of the Fall" is the broad representation of the story's overarching mores and location. It accompanies the beauty of the land and is the soul of the score. It isn't heard perhaps as much as the second major theme of the score, but it definitely bookends the proceeds with a lovely and extremely deliberate performance at the very end of the film. That secondary theme is the one that ties the Ludlow family together, used most frequently by Horner as the story constantly reminds the viewer of the bond that culminates in bitter vengeance and sweet victory at its conclusion. This theme receives the same string-dominated weight as the primary theme for the landscape, and the two interact in a few places. Softer variations of the theme for piano and fiddle are a melancholy representation of Hopkins' austere character.
One of the strengths of Legends of the Fall is the fact that every moment of thematic development is conveyed with the same heavy heart. The orchestration work of Thomas Pasatieri and Don Davis presents the London Symphony Orchestra in a form that eclipses even the Americana spirit of Dances With Wolves.
Another important point to consider with Legends of the Fall is that despite the connections to the shakuhachi rhythms in the aforementioned previous score, this work is relatively unique in Horner's career. There are interludes for tinkling percussion and piano that would foreshadow The Spitfire Grill and the opening of "Samuel's Death" would mirror the frantic action of the "Master Alarm" cue in Apollo 13. A later, more harmonious line of action in the same cue would resemble the finale of Balto. But these similarities are not as obnoxious as they tend to be in many of Horner's other large-scale scores. The album for Legends of the Fall continues its strangely "cult" status more than a dozen years after its release, branching out well beyond the normal Horner collector base in its appeal. An isolated DVD score track has added more material to the bootleg market, but the 75-minute commercial album provides more than enough magnificent material for all film score collectors to sink their teeth into.
(www.filmtracks....)

[@FinleyMcB]

Seriously one of the best scores to any film. Just haunting and uplifting... so beautiful

[@dfadden62]

I had no idea James Horner composed this--one of my very favorite films I've loved for its amazing music . RIP :'(

[@UniqueGeekFreak]

it's the first time i ever hear this soundtrack,yet it's so familiar, it's amazing how many different sets of "ethnic" music styles are mixed in this, james horner is without a doubt one of the most talented music composers ever lived, he really knows how to capture the moment and turn it into a mindblowing magic emotional experience :) this is the reason why i've exchanged all the popcrap to this, so soothing for ur soul :) some real soul music, priceless!

[@outdoorlife25]

Great movie, with stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack. It wasn't filmed in Montana however (although that's where it is supposedly set). It was filmed just west of Calgary, Alberta, Canada in the same area as productions such as Brokeback Mountain, Open Range, Unforgiven and the series Hell on Wheels were filmed. The river seen below the family graveyard is the Bow River, which further downstream runs through downtown Calgary.

[@sahir313]

One of the great movie ever produced

[@KB_Grimweaver]

I KNOW! The grandeur of the mountains and landscape was enhanced by James Horner... music genius!

[@LaSharown]

Thanks for the music and commentary. I too love his Glory score.

[@zebralady81]

Thanks for sharing this - it is as beautiful as the whole movie

[@cocodakilla]

without it the movie would have been nothing. the child marriage was disgusting and ruined the whole vibe!!

[@RMGCBK]

Thank you for this comment. So many people think films like this are shot in the US when the majority are around Canmore and the Rockies. Not knocking the US - beautiful landscape, but the CDN rockies are spectacular!

[@wildwomanbyrne]

Just bought this for my twin daughters 38th birthday, score is something else, Brad just a nice view and as for Anthony Hopkins,,,well I just love him to bits.

[@hillena]

RIP James Horner, a sad sad day

[@ahfaxthis]

AHH< well this is just freak'n amazing, this tune says so much about how wonderful it is to be alive. And living in the United States as an American. Thank you for posting this gem !

[@teresadallagnol8071]

O filme,atrilha sonora são a coisa mais linda de todos os tempos.

[@explore9036]

It was filmed in Canada!

[@01RobPwr]

Excellent stuff. 6:22 is Patriot Games!

[@pubgero7271]

Perfectisima ❤️

[@kingdisney]

This movie was epic. Score was as well

[@ericfmg3799]

What a legend. RIP.

[@peterlinie3]

Great music by Horner - I just love all his work. Re. comment by ahfaxthis; USA is certainly a beautiful land, it's just that so many of the people there seem to be a bit weird (or have I just been unlucky in who I meet?!)

[@guilhermedestefani7575]

A true family storytelling

[@lyrensutz]

I've always thought this score is vastly superior to the movie itself.

[@senojah]

Yes. I always think that the movie images spoil the great music written for them. I would rather have my own images

[@josejairdasilvajair7911]

muito lindo

[@katoca007]

Sokéves önkéntes száműzetės során, a fiú hazatér családjához, feltehetően egészségesebb gyógyult lèlekkel. Ez az Érzelmek Viharában című filmből való.

[@jimmyzee7040]

RIP James Horner

[@moniczkakoss]

IN 1994 I HAVE FOUND MY LOVE .................

[@NERFgunWARLORD]

The music makes the movie.

[@edsonleal2964]

7:07 no man on earth can avvoid to cry.

[@LTG22]

People who are are not tear jerkers suddenly found that they are indeed not immune.

[@jimworkman277]

9:39 for those who just want the Twilight and Mist part...fyi...

[@augustofrancelinodasilva7646]

Som muito bonito

[@peterraab3411]

And people like hip-hop and rap........

[@kalsingh6762]

RIP

[@user-tm9dw7vq9x]

НЕВЕРОЯТНА МУЗИКА

[@cayde6669]

R I P MY FRIEND MY FAVORITE

[@Tootle222]

Sad news. RIP.

[@LTG22]

and sometimes it completely saves it(Titanic)

[@shahir10]

Does anyone know the song one stab was singing when Isabel dies ???

[@KingsofSparta]

what is that instrument at 6:23 ?

[@jimworkman277]

G/F and I listened over and over...can't identify it. Sorry...

[@KingsofSparta]

Jim Workman shame,,, thanks anyway. I think its a form of flute or pipe.

[@Schnurpselbacke1]

KingsofSparta, this intrument is a Shakuhachi, a Japanese flute. :)

[@LTG22]

skin flute

[@explore9036]

Alberta

[@Dafnessific]

Borrowing heavily from '92's Mohicans, just like the cinematography did. Still a very fun movie.

[@lfricmunuc4534]

Doth anyone else recognise similarities to "Amazing Grace" with the main theme?

[@danmaodi3940]

Still don't accept the fact James Horner is no longer .......

[@PsychoKiwiiAKARiley]

@NERFgunWARLORD And brad pitt :P

[@angelamccartney198]

Riley Sony

[@astroprognozamirjanajanis8159]

Fatale women!

[@kingdisney]

This movie was epic. Score was as well

[@greeman92]

RIP