On this day in 1933, John Barry was Born.
John Barry is one of the most renowned and celebrated film composers of all time. With a career spanning over six decades, Barry has left an indelible mark on cinema with his distinctive film scores. His collaborations with several acclaimed filmmakers have resulted in some of the most iconic soundtracks from the last century...
Dances With Wolves (1990) Touted as one of the most successful Westerns of all time, Dances With Wolves also happens to be one of John Barry’s most memorable scores. The sweeping and beautiful music was a perfect fit for this tale of the American Frontier and helped bring the period to life. It’s John’s orchestral scoring that really brings this film to life, with the sounds and melodies bringing out the drama and emotion of the story. The music is both thematically consistent and true to the period, providing a unique sound that has become synonymous with the film. John’s score is responsible for much of the film’s success and has rightly earned a place among the best film scores of all time.
Midnight Cowboy (1969) The soundtrack to Midnight Cowboy is a classic example of how John Barry uses music to tell a story, using the sound and melody to evoke a mood or emotion. The soundtrack is also famous for its use of the harmonica in the main theme and deserves its reputation as one of the best film scores of all time.
And of course.....
"Bond, James Bond"
Dr No (1962) Dr No is a classic James Bond film that was the perfect start to the franchise. The score to this iconic film is another example of John’s ability to create music that tells a story and adds emotional depth to the film. The music perfectly captures the feel of the film, with its mix of exoticism, romance, and adventure. This score is also famous for inspiring many of the themes that were used in later Bond films. This is most evident in the use of the famous trumpet fanfare that is synonymous with the franchise. Dr No is a classic Bond film with a classic soundtrack that’s well worth a watch. And even if you’re not a fan of the films, it’s still worth checking out the score.
Goldfinger (1964) The soundtrack to Goldfinger is another example of John’s ability to create a distinct theme or sound for each film. This one is famous for its use of Shirley Bassey's powerful delivery and is one of the most iconic film scores of the last century. Barry's ability to create a sound or theme for each film is extremely impressive and highlights his skill as a composer. Michael Caine, who was flat sharing with Barry at the time was the first person to hear Goldfinger after being kept up all night by Barry working on the score! Barry wrote the scores on a total of 11 James Bond films, each bringing a unique sound.
John Barry is one of the most celebrated film composers of all time. He has a distinct style of Brass and is responsible for some of cinema’s most memorable soundtracks. The films featured in this article are some of our favorites, and are certainly worth a watch if you’re new to John Barry’s work. In the world of film, music is a very important part and can be responsible for enhancing a scene or even creating an entire atmosphere and mood.
Without Barry, Bond would not be Bond.
This weeks sketch....
