Customer Reviews

Willow

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Boy, was I happy this soundtrack was available on CD. As with so many 1980's movies W-I-L-L-O-W has an excellent musical score. I had not really been a big James Horner fan until I remembered it was him that wrote this great score. Its better than COCOON. The first track "Elora Danan" is my favourite because it contains the main title theme and I so love that panflute which plays so strong there and throughout the CD. The soundtrack has wonderful celtic overtones mainly because of the use of instruments like the panflute and the celtic bagpipes. I also love the part in track 7 "Bavmorda's Spell is Cast" near the end which is the part where Madmartigan defeats General Kael, a memorable villain. Track 8 "Willow the Sorcerer" is magical too containing all the themes along with the excellent Nelwyn music. I don't think there is any of the score not on the CD, which is great. W-I-L-L-O-W is a brilliant soundtrack to have in any collection. I am now collecting more James Horner film scores.

Frank Kimbrough's piano and Joe Locke's vibes mesh together exquisitely in this achingly beautiful musical offering. The interplay -- mostly the two of them but occasionally supplemented by reedman Tim Ries and percussionist Jeff Ballard -- is richly textured and inspired. Kimbrough's and Locke's original compositions are sublime in their range of expression. This is an album you will never hear the same way twice.

If you thought the Braveheart score was good, think again! James Horner's score to Willow is classic movie music! It contains one of the greatest main movie themes I have ever heard! I just love Horner's choice to use a pan flute! It sounds beautiful beyond words! I was so relieved to find this soundtrack on CD! Mr. Horner, I want to congratulate you on a job VERY well done! I will be listening to this score for many, many years down the road!

. . . suspicious, as I was, of the limited sonorities of an album consisting primarily of two percussive instruments, piano and vibes. Yes, I'd heard the quite remarkable piano/vibes duo of Hutcherson/Tyner (although not one of my favorites, it must be admitted), and yes, Frank Kimbrough is probably my favorite jazz pianist.

But I figured there'd be insufficient tonal variety on a disc like this (indeed, that was my difficulty with the Hutcherson/Tyner outing) for me to put out $15.

I freely admit I was wrong; I should've trusted my growing infatuation with the music of both these remarkable artists (Frank with his regular gig in Medicine Wheel and with his trio recordings, Quickening and Lullabluebye, and Joe Locke with his estimable band Four Walls of Freedom and their two recordings) and snapped this disc up earlier. Well, I didn't. But I've got it now, and I'm entirely glad I do.

As far as the objection of reduced aural soundscape, these two artists are absolute masters of coloration, so that one kinda fades into the background. Besides, they're joined on about half the cuts by two artists of the very first rank, Jeff Ballard, long-time Kimbrough colleague, on percussion, and Tim Ries, criminally under-recorded and -regarded player, on a variety of wind instruments. Really, you need not concern yourself with sonic boredom or sameness: there's plenty of variety here.

With a clutch of smart, sophisticated, yet approachable tunes, great interaction and soloing, and impeccable production, this disc has seldom left my regular rotation.

Simply wonderful.

I remember when I bought the soundtrack to the Rocketeer...it was by James Horner, some guy I never heard of before, and I loved it.

After getting the soundtrack to Willow, I'd never forget that name again! Not only Horner's all-time best ever, but in my opinion the best film score ever written!!! You've probably already heard some of it, even if you never saw the film--Madmartigan's theme has been used as background music for trailers for adventure films ever since! And, though I shouldn't say so, James Horner knows when he has a good thing, and has quoted from himself, putting little bits from Willow in some of his other film work. :o/ If you like movie soundtracks, then this one is an indispensible addition to your collection.

This score is hailed by many fans and critics as Horner's greatest adventure score. I agree that its one of the best. The problem I have with choosing Horner's best score is difficult because the `80s was Horner's best composing decade.

Between Williams' Star Wars and Shore's Lord of the Rings, we have Willow. I haven't seen the film yet but the music conveys the message of epic adventure. Wonderfully performed-as always-by the London Symphony Orchestra, Willow stands on par with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

"Elora Danan" opens with chorus much like The Land Before Time accompanied by tense moments before we hear the main theme played by the flute at the 2 ½ minute mark. After the main theme's performance, the track becomes dark and tense and leads up to soft, childish music.

"Escape From the Tavern" is a sweeping, action song carrying the energetic version of Willow's theme.

"Willow's Theme" is probably the best of the bunch because its Willow's theme on its own.

"Bavmorda's Spell Is Cast" is a colossal track lasting over 18 minutes long! There's much diversity in this track ranging from panic scoring to mellow to tense action.

This album definitely belongs with your Star Wars and Lord of the Rings collection.

Other adventure scores by Horner I recommend are: Krull, Mask of Zorro, Legend of Zorro and Braveheart.

Also, discover CutThroat Island, one of the greatest swashbuckling adventure scores in music history.

Willow is one of James Horner's greatest scores. The score is so diverse. "Elora Danan" is the first track you hear and it is orchestra at it's finest. It is a score that sticks with the movie. Tracks like "Elora Danan" and "Willow's Journey Begins" are slower and soothing. And then tracks like "Escape from the Tavern" and "Willows Theme" are fast paced and you feel the energy of the music. The wonderful thing about this score is that it fits the movie terrifically.

Aside from "Titanic", "Battle Beyond the Stars", and "Glory", I'd say that this is one of James Horner's greatest works.

I gre up watching movies like Willow, and i still love them, this soundtrack is trully amazing, The music is powerful , full of action and makes one feel as if theyr ein the movie itself. I love it and so will any soundtrack lover.

James Horner has established himself as the second best composer in Hollywood behind the living legend John Williams. Horner is most known for the excellent score he wrote for Titanic, but the music he wrote for Willow is his best work ever.

The music on this soundtrack is wonderful. The horn arrangements are terrific. The brass work is incredible. Words can't give this song the justice is deserves.

Willows Theme is amazing. The trumpets are fantastic in the song. It's very upbeat and fast. The melody is so awesome. It's a powerful song and is one of the best themes ever written. This song has stuck with me so many years. I commonly find myself whistling this song. You have to hear this song.

Elora Dann is a beautiful song. It's slow and very moving. The melody is a great one and this another song you will find yourself humming or whistling after you hear it in the movie or on this cd.

This is a fantasic soundtrack. It is James Horners best work that he's ever done. This is a must for movie score fans. You won't regret buying this one if you loved the movie or love music scores. It ranks up with the best ever done.

James Horner's Willow is a score that creates a world of it's own. When I start hearing the distant sounds from the choir I simply are no longer here. Horner has an extraordinary talent of making me cry whenever I hear his new the for the first time. This very soundtrack has the feature of making me cry every single time I hear it. The usage of the huge London Simphony orchestra is wonderful when complemented with the King's College Choir. No words is enough to describe this one. Forget about Titanic and get Willow!