Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius [SOUNDTRACK]

James Horner (Composer)

Product Details

• Composer: James Horner
• Audio CD (May 11, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B000223512
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #217,503 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Casual of pace, endlessly nuanced and often elegiac in tone, the game of golf is hardly the stuff of sure-fire Hollywood box office. Writer-director Rowdy Herrington's biopic of legendary links boy-phenom Bobby Jones (who retired at 28) turns instead on the inner demons and driving compulsion that made Jones arguably the greatest golfer in history. This interior-out approach requires a deft hand in scoring, and veteran James Horner imbues his cues here with a graceful, impressionistic restraint that recalls some of Rachel Portman's similarly shaded work. The composer's musical motif for Jones is a rising melodic figure for orchestra that shines with courage and resolve, one Horner returns to frequently in a score that manages to fuse traditional ethnic motifs with a modernist's pastoralism, traditional scoring foundations with contemporary pop vibrancy. The opening "St. Andrews" immediately sets the dramatic tone, interweaving Horner's main theme with fiddle and pennywistle flourishes, all the while stirring up a decidedly brooding undercurrent. "Destined for Greatness" weaves the ethnic touches into a rich interplay of themes powered by a Vangelis-like rhthymic urgency, while "A Win, Finally!" marches them proudly front and center. Music for most sports dramas rises to thunderous crescendos in their moments of ultimate triumph, but the triptych of cues that close this one find Horner digging ever deeper into Jones' complex soul with fragile, introspective music that serves as a tender, bittersweet elegy for the golfing great. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 Stars for Bobby Jones, January 30, 2006

By	KZ "KZ" (Canada) - See all my reviews

We all know James Horner self-plagarizes. That's a truth that not only his critics and fans admit to, but Horner himself. With Bobby Jones, Horner outdoes himself in terms of plagarizing - there are moments in the score that are literally (no, I mean it, literally) note-for-note the Freedom theme to Braveheart.
So that begs the question - is that a bad thing? Depends on how you see it. I loved the Braveheart score, but I liked this one too. Horner's plagarism is something you have to deal with when you buy one of his albums - like he said, it's his music, and if he wants to reuse themes, I guess he has the right to do so. What needs to be addressed is no longer how much he plagarizes, but if the music is any good and serves the film. This is good film music. It's occasionally moving and powerful, as well as fun and skippy (the Scottish bagpipes are back in full throttle here).
Ultimately, it's up to you and your ability to deal with Horner. This is a competent score from him that sometimes becomes a really enjoyable listen (it doesn't quite reach Braveheart territory because of a lack of extremely innovative material), but if you know the Braveheart score by heart, this one may play a bit like a flashback.
cheers
KZ

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SPELLBINDING!, May 16, 2004

By	patrica (miami, florida United States) - See all my reviews

This music complements the motion picture like a glove. From the awkward strings in the scene in which young Bobby is just learning the game, to the stirring percussion sounds as Bobby begins to turn the tide and starts to win championships, this music cradles the movie from start to finish! The somber notes during the first St. Andrews championship where Bobby is given "a trashing" by the old golf course are absolutely perfect. This musical score mirrors the champion's life and emotional turmoil. Like the film itself, it is a masterpiece and a class act! Kudos to James Horner.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars James Horner - Stroke of Sameness, May 11, 2004

By A Customer

I am a big fan of James Horner's scores and to be honest I was really looking forward to hearing this score and Troy (both due out on the same day!). I bought Bobby Jones first because I haven't seen the movie and I really wanted to hear Horner's take on scoring a golf movie. Sadly I am a little dissapointed with the score, mostly because the main theme is exactly like a secondary theme from Braveheart. Almost note for note! I know Honer tends to repeat himself many times in his scores but I thought he would he able to come up with a different theme for Bobby Jones and not just a rehash of one of his most famous scores. There are some good tracks in the score but it never really takes off into some grand theme and I haven't found myself getting caught up in the music. This will be one of the Horner scores that will grow on me and I like it but was just a little dissapointed. Hopefully Troy will be better...