The Film Music of John Barry

[swashbuckler332]

Governor on the Film Score Monthly Message Board has pointed out these clips of a BBC Proms concert featuring suites from two Oscar-winning scores and two selections from the Bond films.

ALL CLIPS ARE WORK SAFE

Suite from The Lion in Winter
Main Title • Eleanor's Arrival • We're Jungle Creatures

Click to view

Suite from Dances With Wolves
The John Dunbar

Comments

[iainh]

I love the old 007 tune. It surprises me that, given his love of all things Barry, that David Arnold hasn't worked it into his scores. He uses the old Norman/Barry theme enough - a bit of 007 might be just the ticket!

[swashbuckler332]

I agree... I also think that the rhythmic pulse of the "007" theme could easily be adapted to a more modern idiom; it's sort of ready-made for one of Arnold's blends of techno and orchestra. It would be nice to hear it show up for a traveling scene in Quantum of Solace or the next Bond, even if only for a moment. Certainly more appropriate than the From Russia With Love fanfares in Tomorrow Never Dies (not that I'm complaining, I felt that score in particular leaned on the Barryisms as an apology by the producers for Eric Serra's Goldeneye).

I have to say that my favorite version of "007" is the variation heard on it in Thunderball, both the street chase and the finale. It had so much power and energy, especially in the Disco Volante sequence.

I wonder why Barry didn't use it in Goldfinger, while he used it for all of the other Connery Bonds he scored. I always liked how Barry altered the bass line on his Monty Norman's James Bond theme for each actor - bass guitar for Connery, psychedelic organ for Lazenby, violins for Moore

[ehowton]

How delightful! And my, that conductor is energetic! I've recently been through my Dances With Wolves. Might be time to dust off The Lion in Winter.

[swashbuckler332]

There is never a wrong time for The Lion in Winter!