Customer Reviews

Far And Away: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Far and Away. This is Ireland for you! John Williams expresses his talent in writing Irish music in this soundtrack, and whether or not you like Irish music, this soundtrack is still likely to please all! John Williams makes a good mix between Irish and American-style music. Track number 1, "Country Galway, June 1982", starts with low piano chords, and then a bagpipe (recorder rather) joins in. As the music progresses, it eventually leads to the main theme, which is heard quite often throughout the CD. Track 2 is the closet I have ever heard John Williams come to writing a totally, great-sounding Irish song. Performed by the music group, "The Chieftains", the music begins with the low beat of Irish drums, and then a couple of fiddles and a recorder join in. The rest of the music on Far and Away is a good mixture between peaceful, flowing music to occasional tense music. "The Land Race" (track 15), begins with low strings and a few percussion instruments in the background. (This track reminds me of Medal of Honor) Eventually, as the music continues to build, brass join in with the strings and play a wild, inspiring track. Later on, the same Irish instruments used in track 2 play for a short period of time, then the strings take over once again in the background, and the brass and percussion continue to play on until the high-point of the music, where it becomes very inspiring, and carries that big orchestral sound that is always right around the corner...(It's always like that with any John William's score) I absolutely love this CD, and many would say that 5 starts would be their own rating of Far and Away. Get this soundtrack!

I don't know how many times i've said that before. So many i've lost count. John Williams is without a doubt the best composer out there. He is the best thematic composer hands down and writes knockout theme after knockout theme. This one is no exception. With a touch of Irish in the music, similiar to the route Horner used in Braveheart (Braveheart used Scottish), Far and Away blows Braveheart out of the water. 2 dominant themes occur throughout the score. The first one features The Chieftains, along with Uillean pipes, pan flutes, and penny whistles. The second, which is the main theme and the one that gives the score its 5 stars, is bold, brassy, noble, and heroic all thrown into one. "The Duel Scene" and "Leaving Home" feature this theme played by strings. Fun cues to listen to include "Blowing Off Steam" and "Fighting For Dough". Both contain exciting and very fast violin lines. "The Big Match" is a highlight action cue with a militaristic snare drum thrown in. "Joseph's Dream" contains an upbeat brass march that explodes into the main theme. The best track on the album by far is "The Land Race" which is Williams in top form. It is an epic action cue that lays out the main theme the best you will ever hear it in a full brass performance. "End Credits" features both themes thrown into one suite. Enya's song "Book of Days" is good and fits into the score perfectly. This is a score that deserves to be heard because it is so good. In other words, its a John Williams score.

This is one of John's most outstanding pieces! Great Irish tunes, very catchy themes, and every song is good. Sounds a lot like "The Patriot" with an Irish twist (but that's a good thing)! And for being rare to find, this is a great price!

In this film score John Williams takes his very effective film scoring brush and dips it into the very colorful waters of Celtic themes. The results are exquisite. If you liked James Horner's score for Titanic, you will love this score by John Williams. Just remember, Williams' score was first, by five years!

There seems to be an easy way to tell an artist's appreciation for his own work. No matter the style nor the intensity, whether the project is naturally subtle and reserved or inherently loud and bombast, there can always be an underlying excitement that reveals the artists passion for the project. Far and Away, in that case, seems like one of composer John Williams' absolute favorites. He seems to be in love with everything about this film and the style he was able to use. There is a wild energy here that many film composers never achieve, but even for Williams--who remains, with little argument, as the greatest living film composer--this exceeds some of even his more well-known works.

Starting with the sheer quantity and quality of themes, the score for Far and Away is epic. They are innumerable, just listen to the concluding "End Credits" track--and moreover, each has its own, fun style that circles the complex melding of Irish and American culture. And that is really what this score is about, the complementation of the Irish and American together as they coalesce into one and prove and develop one another. And in between Williams' masterful development of these multiple themes, as he presents them, re-imagines them, and utilizes them to their fullest capacity, he interjects some of the most beautiful thematic outbursts ever created for a film. It's harsh calling this score capricious, since it doesn't work to the music's detriment, but sometimes the mood will change so quickly and develop into a new style with new and interesting rhythms, sounds, and harmonies, that one cannot help but be enthralled by Williams' abundant imagination.

And so the finished product is the amalgamation of some of the most beautiful music, instruments, and rhythms ever to grace the big screen. Williams' undoubtedly paid a lot of attention to the music for this score, as it comes across as a veritable feat of composition. Since it does heavily reflect Irish music, I mark it as somewhere as a cross between James Horner's Willow and Ronan Hardiman's Lord of the Dance. But while in Willow Horner divulged the same outbursts of singular beauty, Williams' in Far and Away manages to surpass it by enshrouding the same outbursts more cohesively in the thematic beauty of the whole film. Certainly, this is a score not to be missed by even the most remote film music fan, and not least of all the Williams' aficionado. Far and Away represents an exciting, perpetually entertaining, adventure through the complimentary cultures of Ireland and America, as they form together to make one of the most satisfying scores ever composed.

You pop in this CD, and as soon as song 1 starts, you are hooked. I am a huge fan of John Williams and his scores. They are all so intensely rich and detailed. The celtic air of this score is simply thrilling, and the main theme is beaturiful.

This CD has no flaws. Aside from all the slow drama music, this CD is also full of fast paced action music.

A must have!

MEDIA LOVER

Of the 45 or more OST CDs by John Williams in my collection, this one includes some of the most different, interesting and simply enjoyable music composed by him. The Chieftains add their contemporary flavor, and Enya's "Book of Days" is superb! This is not just mood music a la "Nixon" or "The Lost World," but music obviously spent quite some time on by John Williams. It's near the top of my most-played albums in all of my collection.

This is the kind of work you can buy on the artist's reputation and movie title and not be disappointed. I'll never tire of the sweeping themes that evoke far more than a mere motion picture ever could. Admittedly, the Celtic motifs wear out after the first few listenings (sorry Chieftains, not your fault, I still love ya), and a couple of the orchestral tracks are a bit tedious, but Williams fans gotta get this one.

The item arrived in good time and as described, it was great doing business with you. The product met my needs, Thank you.

Thank you. Keep it in the car CD player to listen on way to / from work. Thanks.