War Horse

War Horse has one of the most beautiful and listenable scores John Williams has ever written, and of course, that's saying something. Williams is without doubt our Film Composer Emeritus, and though an excellent score can always be expected from him, this score is one of his most inspired. It's listenability is enhanced by the fact that most of the tracks are three minutes or longer, something soundtrack fans will find helpful compared to soundtracks that often have tracks of a little more or less than a minute. Because of the setup of the film, the score also falls naturally into three long sections, almost like the movements of a symphony. The first twenty-five minutes is English pastoral music evoking the Dartmoor countryside. This is followed by the central Great War section which gets increasingly dark and dominated by deep brass and tympani, ominous and clashing, peaking with No Man's Land. The final sixteen minutes or so returns to the pastoral mood.The music is full of emotion from sweet to frightening and is thematically varied. Many film scores are variations on a theme or two, but here there are four major themes and many minor ones, appearing and reappearing when necessary, but never so much as to wear out their welcome. John Williams is an admitted admirer of English classical music and wisely and consciously chose to write in the general style of the English Pastoral School of composers who were becoming ascendant at the time of The Great War when the picture is set. Their ai was the aim of most European classical composers since the turn of the century, which was to break away from the predominating Germanic School of the Nineteenth Century and create music that could express itself in smaller forms, be more fluid and frequently to incorporate folk music to express the national identities that were arising at the time. In England this kind of music was being created by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and also Gustav Holst, George Butterworth and others.Williams has not copied their style to make a pastiche soundtrack but instead has been informed by their style to create totally new music that stands on its own, combining elements old and new to capture the spirit of the English countryside. The central section is mostly in the current style of orchestral scores and is unrelated to the English Pastoralists. I've been a fan of John Williams since his wonderfully evocative Americana score for Steve McQueen's The Reivers in 1969, and this score will always rank as one of my favorites. He's written over two dozen scores for Spielberg alone yet none quite sounding like this. The closest would be Far and Away, which incorporated Celtic sounding folk tunes; the folk tunes here (original, of course), sound a bit more Celtic than English, but are effective in suggesting Devonshire. Any Williams fan should have this soundtrack.EXTRA NOTE. I'm a big fan of the English Pastoral School and if you like this music and would like to hear music of a similar inspiration, I would recommend these works. Vaughan Williams, short works: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, English Folksong Suite, A Lark ascending, In the Fen Country, Norfolk rhapsody No.1. longer Works: Symphonies 2, 3 & 5. Holst: Somerset Rhapsody, St. Paul's Suite. Butterworth: Two English Idylls, The Banks of Green Willow.

Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" reaches a gorgeous, nearly overwhelming, climax that film critic Roger Ebert insists is an homage to the great John Ford, and this is almost certainly true. Strangely, however, Ford would have had qualms about one of the fundamental aspects of this film and all of the collaborations of Spielberg and John Williams. Save for a song or two, Ford was not a fan of music, especially orchestral scores, for films, though most of his great efforts were well served by them. The collaborations of Spielberg and Williams have almost always produced scores that have proved special, and some that were truly great. Williams' music for "War Horse" fits in the latter category. Opening with pastoral themes that echo the work of Ralph Vaughn Williams, this score travels the full spectrum of emotions from peace-time to war, and then to fulfilling reunion and redemption. This is an amazing film, and William's score is a vital part of it, as is usually the case with this collaboration, which works on the screen and the soundtrack album. Getting on in age, Williams' scores have become rare these days, but with Williams/Spielberg collaboration, "The Adventures of Tin Tin" (a good deal of fun), the wait has been worthwhile. Expertly produced and nicely packaged by Sony (in both cases).

Williams has written a pastoral concerto of sorts. Spielberg gets it right in the liner notes when he summons the name of Wordsworth to express the film's scoring intent. Some will charge Williams with failing to capture the deeper strains of emotional intensity, as he did so remarkably well with the climax of "Close Encounters" and the "ensemble bicycle escape" toward the finale of "ET." That kind of emotive cascade is not to be found in "War Horse"--but that is not a weakness. Rather, it is a commitment to the pastorale idea of calm and serenity. Despite the film's frequent rush to episodic, emotional peaks (there are many of them and then a grand one at the film's closing), Williams allows the scenes to speak for themselves, wrapping each in music which is more about setting than emotional lift ( his battle music deserts the pastorale for a sustained assertiveness one would expect in such moments). I like the restraint. Listening to this score will not "lift" you into the skies ("Close Encounters" and "ET"), but it will allow you, in tone poem fashion, to experience the historical time and place. If you cannot enjoy that kind of work, you will, at least, admire it.

'War Horse' has distinguished itself as a different class of film-making than most Hollywood films today. The opening and closing 5 minutes of 'War Horse' do the Old Fashioned and most effective way of movie-making: a story told by Images and Music...no dialog. One secret that Spielberg is such a good director is because he is a lover and appreciator of great film music. I am sure that John Williams loves that kind of elbow room that Steven Spielberg gives him! This score (like the movie) is Glossy, Rousing, Dramatic and above all packs a wonderful emotional experience. The music alongside the film is a perfect example of the wonderful marriage of Image and Music. The Boy and the Horse immediately bond and every time that theme is there! This film made a lot of people cry in the theaters and John Williams was a large reason behind it! It seems like the music was put down 1st and then the film was edited to that! Albert is a great guy but he needs his horse! Spielberg cant get anywhere without Williams. Ask Superman, Indiana, Luke, E.T. or that Shark!

War Horse is the latest soundtrack by veteran composer John Williams, and yet another colaberation with director Stephen Spielberg - surely the best double act in Hollywood history. After impressing me with his score for  The Adventures Of Tintin  last December, I was eagerly awaiting this latest effort. I can say right from the outset that War Horse does not fail to deliver. I might even go as far as to say that it could be my favourite John Williams score ever.I won't run through every track (there's 16 in total). But just to mention a few, the main theme is heard in full glory in the opening track "Dartmoor, 1912". As theme, it isn't one of Williams' catchiest but is very sweeping/patriotic without being saccharine. Track 12 "The Death of Topthorn" contains some brilliantly emotive writing for strings and clarinet. There are few action based tracks on the album. In the tracks that did, they are some of the finest I have heard from Williams. In particular, Track 13 "No Man's Land" is simply sensational. It hits its stride just after the 2 minute mark and the next two minutes is just stunning. For me though, the pinnacle of the album are the final two tracks, "Remembering Emilie, and Finale" and "The Homecoming". I can't say anything more other than for fans of orchestral music / film scores, this showcases the best of Williams' writing and ends the album on the best note possible.From a production side, the mix is absolutely wonderful. The whole orchestra comes through with fantastic clarity, whether it's the brass, woodwind or string section. Simply masterful. In addition, the album runs at an hour exactly. That isn't the lengthiest of releases - but here the phrase quality and not quantity is called for. Every track is brilliant, and I don't think the track selection could have been better. Beware though that the film runs for just over two hours and so there will inevitably be music missing on album that will be heard within the film. Don't let that put you off though.Overall, for any fans of John Williams, or film music in general, you cannot miss out on this stunning release. Like I said at the outset, I think this might be favourite JW score. And the reason is simple. There aren't extended sequences of bombastic action/choral passages like in Star Wars, nor is there a childlike sensibility as heard in his Harry Potter scores. Instead, this is a masterclass in brilliant sweeping orchestrations and wonderful melodies that are emotive without being cheesy. Even at 80 years of age, John Williams has shown with this release, and with Tintin, why he is still the number 1 film composer alive and probably, of all time. Do not think twice about buying this sensational score. The Adventures Of Tintin

John Williams at his very best. Some of the music is reminiscent of Ralph Vaughan Williams especially his third symphony. That symphony was written during the great war. Are they related? You should not be disappointed!

What a wonderful CD absolutely fab

Firstly, this music is very different from that of the National Theatre Stage Play.It is different, but nevertheless superb. Each track is evocative of the period, and captures the atmosphere of the film brilliantly.Buy this, you won't be disappointed.

Love this soundtrack! John Williams doing the same old thing he has done so well for decades! A very sensitive soundtrack to the moving story of War Horse - I felt the setting was well captured through the music. John Williams deserves more credit for this soundtrack!!