Customer Reviews

Dances With Wolves - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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This is one of John Barry's masterworks - if not indeed his magnus opus - and we've waited much too long for a comprehensive reissue. Whatever you think of Kevin Costner's film (and I'd hate to base a friendship on whether or not someone loved "Dances with Wolves" as I did) it would be a far less exciting movie without Barry's magnificent score. Eschewing the more traditional Western sound pioneered by Jerome Moross and Elmer Bernstein, which eventually descended into rank imitation and self-parody, Barry went for a lush, poewerful symphonic rhapsody. While avoiding ethnic cliches in his music for the Native American characters, he found expression for the more violent aspects of tribal warfare through a stunning, resonant, absolutely plangent use of percussion that quickens the pulse and suggests menace without going into histrionic overdrive. Barry's melodic work is no less impressive: in his justly famous "John Dunbar Theme," for example, there is a weird, majestic inevitability to the notes - they seem to flow into one another in exactly the right way; you can't imagine a single cadence being any different. This new release restores much that was truncated on the original release of the score. "The Buffalo Hunt" - which accompanies one of the most original and exciting set-pieces in recent American movies - is given the full treatment here, and is therefore twice as satisfying. My only cavil: Barry wrote an hour and 40 minutes worth of music, so even this lovingly restored version is shorter than it might be in a perfect world. And I'm not sure why the producers added the film version of the Dunbar theme as a bonus track rather than reordering it to replace the album version within the score itself. Still, this disc is a major cause for celebration, an essential element for the shelves of any true lover of film music.

John Barry's masterpiece is simply one of the most breathtaking, moving film scores of all time. The rich variety of themes, and his trademark sweeping orchestration are unforgetteble. Most stunning, perhaps, is that the music that captures the epic grandeur of the American West better than any other was written by an Englishman, albeit one who has adopted the US as his home.

This CD does not present the score "in its entirety," as the liner notes claim, but there is a huge amount not available until now, and at the low list price, this is a must have for anybody who enojys film music.

I am reduced to a blubbering fool listening to this. I remember seeing this in the theater way back in 1990 and realizing that the music I was listening to at that time was gutwrenching, endearing and lump in the throat forming. John Barry captured the feel of Dances With Wolves to a tee. What a breathtaking journey he takes us on through this soundtrack. I am a fool for not buying this music until 2005. I have watched my copy of the movie over the years and now have this CD. The John Dunbar theme touches my heartstrings like no other song. Amazing how music can touch the soul. If you don't have this in your collection, do order it. You will be transported to a world that no longer exists. Excellent!

I have been a passionate fan of "Dances With Wolves" since my first viewing; it is indeed one of the greatest American films ever made. Mr. Barry's majestic, soaring film score amazes me each and every time I listen to it (as I am doing at this moment.) I am so happy that an extended version has been released. The film and music deserve it. I was fortunate enough to attend college in Bozeman, Montana and chose to drive across country from Pennsylvania for the trip. I had this soundtrack playing in my old Bronco from South Dakota on and I think one can really appreciate this music when one is driving through the Black Hills and the vast landscapes of Wyoming and Montana. I even saw a herd of buffalo in South Dakota as the music played when John Dunbar first saw the buffalo herd from atop the ridge in the film. Pretty amazing! Anyway, not to wax nostalgic here, but this is an amazingly beautiful and powerful piece of music, one which I cherish and am proud to have in my music collection.

Enough has already been written about how John Barry came back from illness to score one of his greatest achievements with "Dances With Wolves." The expanded score from Epic/Legacy is a treasure. It includes the entire score, and at a price that can only be described as a steal. Over one hour and fifteen minutes of some of Barry's most inspired music. The expanded opening and buffalo hunt music alone are worth the price of this recording. Very nicely produced and packaged by Epic/Legacy, this is what every soundtrack album should be. It is also a worthy tribute to one of the true artists in this field.

This has always been one of the highlights of my soundtrack collection. Finally, I have the version that should have been released back in 1990. Why, oh why, oh WHY did it take 14 years for the real version to come out? And why did the producers of the original CD see fit to alter the brilliance of the original 'Buffalo Hunt' cue? Did they think soundtrack collectors would prefer a repeat of track 1? Well, finally great moments in film music history are available. The Buffalo Hunt would have to be one of filmdom's great musical 5 minutes. Other expanded cues bring tears to the eyes and shivers up the spine.

If you love John Barry's music, or collect soundtracks, then buy this now! If you bought the original 1990 release, throw it away and replace it with this version NOW! As other reviewers have said, this should be the cornerstone of all soundtrack collections.

John Barry's score for Dances with Wolves is some of the best music I have ever heard. I don't know alot about John Barry, but this score is the work of a master. The music works well in the film, as well as on its own. Mr. Barry uses the whole orchestra in a very moving and powerful way. He wrote many themes that give the film more depth and feeling.

For me(and I hope many others), this score is the most relaxing and peaceful I have ever heard. I have never heard the orchestra played in such a smooth and almost quiet way. Even the action and suspense themes are magnifcantly beautiful.

Dances With Wolves is one of the best soundtracks ever. I recommend this album to any one who seeks peaceful music. Just listen to the sheer beauty.

For years, lovers of this soundtrack had to be content with only getting the chance to listen to about 70% of the music from the film.. until now. Finally we have the entire score for Dances With Wolves on one single reissued and repackaged disc. Every piece of music is placed in order.. including some wonderful cues that were missing from the original soundtrack. Even shorter cues like "Shooting Star" and "Arrival at Ft. Sedgewick" are a pure joy, not to mention the film version of the buffalo hunt. Why every soundtrack that's released isn't put together this way is beyond me, but I'm thankful that this release is finally available in it's entirety.

The sound of the cd is better than the original, though still falls short of the gold disc that was released years back.. but I don't think you'll be disappointed at all. Released expanded versions of soundtracks seems to be a trend these days. Classic scores such as "Superman" offer so much more than their original releases. Let's hope it continues!

As for Dances, an already spectacularly moving and beautifully crafted score just got better.

One side note, the liner notes are great, though I wish the photos on the inside were in color instead of black and white. I'm sure they were going for a certain "feel" but this movie had so many great colors and costumes it would have been nice to have an equally colorful insert book. I'm certainly not complaining though.. I've been waiting for this cd for well over a decade.

This music is so beautiful, I loved it very much! John Barry has a awesome, wonderful talent, of creating music, that always speaks to my soul. I love all the songs on this CD! This CD has incredible sound, top quality!

The music for Two Socks in this CD just tugged at my heart strings, with pure raw emotion! I highly recommend this music cd! The musicans in this CD are outstanding, among the very best, that I have ever heard, this is AWESOME TALENT!

I was in a traffic gridlock once, a couple of years ago, because of icy roads, I was trapped in my car, for eight long hours! Guess what I listen too? This music soothe me, and help me get thur those long hours stuck in my car! I felt like I was listening to heaven!

This soundtrack will go down as one of the best ever. You can not be inspired when you hear it. The bonus tracks on the CD were definitely a plus!!