Film music offers a wealth of evocative, moving music. These are some lesser-known film score pieces, alongside some more famous selections.
“Train Station Farewell” from Michael Collins by Elliot Goldenthal
Elliot Goldenthal is not known for writing tender melodies. His specialty is in neo-classical, complex works with vast orchestras and stunning power. But for portions of his lush score for Michael Collins, he exercised his not-insignificant capacity for lyrical thematic composition and wrote a beautiful melody called “Kitty’s Waltz,” used to gorgeous effect in the track “Train Station Farewell.” A delicate piano is joined by deep layers of strings to culminate in most graceful, mellow piece.
“Harvest” from Days of Heaven by Ennio Morricone
Days of Heaven, an acclaimed film from director Terrence Malick, boasts an obscure but lovely score by Italian Maestro Ennio Morricone. The opening cue, “Harvest,” is a melancholy, nostalgic piece for woodwinds and strings which alternates seamlessly between minor and major keys. The aching, low-key beauty of the melody is explored fully in the cue’s 3-minute running time, and displays Morricone’s infinite gift for creating moving musical dreamscapes.
“Once Upon A Time in the West” from Once Upon a Time in the West by Ennio Morricone
One of Morricone’s most famous scores, Once Upon a Time in the West is a nearly perfect representation of the traditional “Spaghetti Western” sound (which he himself invented). The main theme for the film is a beautiful work for wordless soprano, endlessly lyrical and utterly captivating. One of the composer’s finest works, no doubt.
“The Great Migration” from The Land Before Time by James Horner
An eight-minute piece resembling the opening movement to a classical symphony, this Horner piece is outstanding in its grace and buoyant, sweeping scope. Light choir and a flawless performance by the London Symphony Orchestra cause the piece to resemble the softer moments of Horner’s earlier Willow, and stands alongside that masterpiece as a classic work of film music. Not to be missed!
“The Ludlows” from Legends of the Fall by James Horner
One of James Horners best-loved and most touching themes was written for Ed Zwick’s American epic, Legends of the Fall, and is tinged by light piano, fiddle, choir and Japanese flute. The effect is a mesmerizing, haunting elegy for the film’s characters of a beauty which has never been surpassed by Horner since.
“The Hand of Fate, Part 2” from Signs by James Newton Howard
One of James Newton Howard’s most nail-bitingly suspenseful scores, Signs is a triumph for the composer. The few moments of beauty in it stand out with astonishing clarity, like brilliant sunbeams through dark, broiling clouds. The nearly four-minute finale is a powerfully satisfying piece which evolves the three-note suspense motif into a lovely and redeeming major-key version. Simply stunning.
“Main Title” from Rudy by Jerry Goldsmith
The late Jerry Goldsmith was a master of melody, and nowhere is this displayed better than in his inspiring score for Rudy. A slow theme on harp and flute is expanded gradually to envelop the entire orchestra, with a full choir thrown in for good measure. It is one of Goldsmith’s best-loved themes, and not without reason.
“A New Beginning” from Minority Report by John Williams
A fluttering, sunny cue which bears the listener up on the wings of a delicate, rapturous melody. Williams rarely writes music so moving with making it fiercely epic or swooningly romantic, but this piece is so elegant and so quietly delicate, it’s the musical equivalent of a small butterfly in a field of wildflowers.
“Ann and Gabriel” from The Patriot by John Williams
The innocence and tenderness of this piece is a perfect complement to the picturesque portrait of colonial America as seen in the film. The fragile love theme is unfolded in a lush four-minute arrangement, with accents of harpsichord, harp and wind instruments giving added depth. This is music as sweet and innocent as Heath Ledger’s smile.
“Cole’s Tune” from Mr. Holland’s Opus by Michael Kamen
Possibly the late composer’s greatest score, Mr. Holland’s Opus is a triumph of musical expression. Joy and sorrow, power and delicacy, weakness and strength, defeat and triumph: they are all conveyed with unswerving conviction by Michael Kamen’s deep, heartfelt score. “Cole’s Tune” is an almost heartbreakingly lovely ballad for solo flute which will be sure to entrance the listener despite its simple, uncluttered manner. A must-listen for lovers of beautiful orchestral music.
Explore Further
After the bombast of summer blockbuster music, and in anticipation of the wide variety of holiday movie scores, it's comforting to listen to these softer, lyrical pieces. The film score collector is encouraged to seek out more such lovely works, as they give a feeling of warmth, serenity, and comfort. Highly recommended are the works of James Horner, Thomas Newman, Ennio Morricone, George Fenton, and many, many others. Make Autumn musical!
See Also: More Essential Soundtrack Music for Autumn.
