Search - John Williams :: The River: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

A gorgeous and moving score

06/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This soundtrack is one of Williams' most beautiful, romantic and sentimental compositions ever. The initial track, "The River," is a moving and vibrant piece. It features piano and trumpet solos and then a flute solo at the track's conclusion. A sweeping guitar melody is provided in "Growing Up." "Love Theme From The River" is analogous to the second half of the score's main theme. At times, there are foreboding and dark feelings. In "The Ancestral Home," one can easily visualize a farm atmosphere. As the piece sparkles with triumphant beats, it rises to a crescendo. Guitar and flute solos foreshadow and hint at doom and uncertainty in "Rain Clouds Gather." The seventh track, "From Factory," is very elegant as it contains creepy sounds from the piano. "Back From Town" features subtle parts from the main theme. In this particular track, a melodic love theme is interwoven with a piano solo. The most haunting piece is the constantly eerie "Tractor Scene." With piano accompaniment, the flutes solos are extremely pretty in "A Family Meeting." Essentially, this brings everything together from most of the score. In the final track, "Young Friends Farewell," the guitar/flute solo collaboration moves rapidly.Awards: 1984 Academy Award Nominee for Best Original Score; 1984 Golden Globe Nominee for Best Score"

A Lesser Known Masterpiece

Staysun | Downers Grove, IL USA | 06/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1984 Oscar nominated score features one of Williams' very best scores. The trumpet solo on the love theme alone is worth the price of the disc. This music can be enjoyed as a part of an ongoing collaboration with director Mark Rydell and his American film reflections. With the brilliant "Reivers" and "The Cowboys," this is the last of a rich orchestral Americana trilogy that deserves to be heard."

A Gorgeous and Heartbreaking Impression of Rolling Fields

Staysun | 11/16/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Easily one of John Williams' most endearing soundtracks of all time. The music is melodic as one might expect of the composer's "popular" compositions (as opposed to, say, his jarring modern flute concerto) but it is a far more subtle piece than his overwhelming orchestral confections for Lucas and Spielberg. "The River" is sometimes melancoly, sometimes peaceful, sometimes mororse, but it is always searching for a way to carefully describe the love and determination and trumph of the characters who struggle in a glorious and unforgiving American landscape. Williams is a master of impressionistic music and this score speaks of sunsets along lonely country roads and whispers tales of the wind rustling through stalks of corn and rain rattling on the roof. With this score, Williams leaves behind the legacy of Copland (see "The Reivers" and "The Cowboys") and creates an American music that is all his own."