I love movies!

What greater entertainment than to step from the present into the past or the future! Out of my own shoes into someone else's, all in total safety and with a box of popcorn to boot! And anytime I want to relive the experience, I can dose my eyes, listen to the musical score, and the projector in my head begins to roll the film . . . Who can forget Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in this bold quest to find the lost Ark of the Covenant? Although the theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark, composed by John Williams, can be heard throughout the movie, the score is not played in its entirety until the dose of the film. The original music of the Adagio in sol minore dates back to the early 1700's when Tomaso Albinoni left a figured baseline and six bars of two thematic elements. Remo Giazotto reconstructed Albinoni s work, and the piece was published shortly after the end of World War II. The score was then used in the movie Gallipoli, which starred Mel Gibson and told the story of two idealistic Austrailian youths developing a strong friendship during the first World War. 

When I was a young boy, my father took me to see Ben Hur. I dearly recall the religious impact the film and its music had on me. The composer, Miklos Rosza, had taken eighteen months to compose and orchestrate the entire score. The Prelude opens with the theme from Ben Hur, followed by the "Love Theme" and interspersed with sections from "Parade of the Charioteers." The end of the Prelude announces the birth of Christ, and paints a beautiful picture of the three Kings and the Star of Bethlehem. Parade of the Charioteers depicts all of the charioteers parading slowly around the arena just prior to the famous chariot race. Charlton Heston as Ben Hur and Stephen Boyd as Messala exchange their glances of challenge as the anticipation mounts for this final conflict. 

For the introduction of the Main Theme from Out of Africa, composer John Barry uses the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the French Horns. We see a distant train on African soil, as the main theme develops with full string orchestra. Meryl Streep's opening line, "I once had a farm in Kenya," sets the pace for the story.

The James Bond Theme and You Only Live Twice were written by John Barry. We hear spectacular sound effects during the James Bond Theme, while the helicopter chase is taking place. My friend Craig Knudsen assisted me with the drum programming. The orchestral arrangement for You Only Live Twice, a movie which is set in Japan, is enhanced by the use of the koto, the shakuhachi, and the shamisen. Another of John Williams' popular film scores is from The Empire Strikes Back, the second movie in the immortal Star Wares trilogy. The Imperial March is perfection in sinister music. Closing our eyes as we listen, we can see the huge form, with black floor-length cape swinging back and forth in time to the heavy, purposeful footsteps; the black-helmeted visage impassive as always. We hear the ominous hissing of Darth Vader's respirator mechanism before we actually see the Dark Lord himself- a reminder to 'melt into the woodwork' lest we capture his attention ourselves. 

The sinking of The Titanic - what a tragedy! The film score, composed by James Homer, paints the picture of the entire event as it happens. As the ship is built in Ireland, we hear the sound of bagpipes; then comes the departure from Southampton, when Captain Smith proudly orders, "Take her to sea, Mr. Murdock. " In the second movement, the steerage passengers are engaged in Irish fun and dance. The sea is calm, stars fill the dark sky, and there is no moon in sight. Suddenly, the warning bell rings three times! "Iceberg, dead ahead!` Chaos . .. the frantic crew tries to avoid collision .. ."Hard to starboards .."Reverse engines!". . . the inevitable crash . .. . .. ...Operators Phillips and Bride send an S.O.S. to nearby ships . .. and the great Titanic begins to descend to the bottom of the sea... The score ends with the hymn "Nearer my God to Thee! Mr. Wallace Hartley, the bandleader, plays the violin as we hear the voices of people singing, their deep emotions welling up, as they face the biggest tragedy of their lives. In my vision, the Titanic rises into eternity.

Notes by Lieve & Nancy Daley