LONESOME DOVE

BASIL POLEDOURIS

Rating:

Original Review: Here's a question for you: how many superlatives can one person work into a single review? Actually, I don't think there are enough positive words in the world that can sufficiently describe Lonesome Dove, the ultimate indulgence for fans of sweeping Americana. It is a score full of broad lush themes for the full orchestra, soft sentimental melodies for an array of instrumental solos and a healthy dose of nostalgia for the Old West, Basil Poledouris won an Emmy Award back in 1989 when it was first released, and both the score and the TV series for which it was written have since gone on to be regarded as some of the finest work ever created for the small screen.

Based on the classic novel by Larry McMurtry and directed by Simon Wincer, Lonesome Dove featured an all-star cast including Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover and Angelica Huston, and followed the fortunes of two friends who, seeking to find a better life for themselves and their families, embark upon an epic cattle drive to Montana. The whole score exudes an air of majesty and grandeur, and Poledouris' trademarked huge orchestral style seems to be trying to musically embody the scale and beauty of the American west.

The 'Theme from Lonesome Dove' which opens the CD is quite simply one of the most beautiful pieces of music Basil Poledouris has ever written. It may seem a cliché to say it but, listening to the theme, one really can visualise vast, wide-open prairies, majestic mountain peaks looming in the distance, and rugged, trustworthy folk going about their business of making a life in this magnificent land. The theme is a constant throughout the score, giving the 50 minute-plus running time a sense of completeness which is often sadly lacking from many scores. However, not content to simply re-state the theme as is, Poledouris instead reorchestrates it and redefines it continually in many cues. 'Night Mares' opens with a series of brief but bold horn fanfares before launching into a vigorous rendition of the Lonesome Dove theme, embellished by dynamic cymbal rings, percussion effects, and even a brief Spanish interlude complete with castanets. The first half of 'The Leaving' has a soft, tender feel to it, before turning it into an almost comedic mock-Bavarian march with rhythmic parps on the tuba. 'On The Trail' is upbeat and optimistic, and is embellished by delicate tinkles on a xylophone to intonate a definite sense of hope, while 'Gus & P-Eye' adopts the stylistics of an old folk song, and has a lovely fiddle solo. The final performances, in 'Captain Call's Journey' and 'Farewell Ladies/Finale', are tracks you simply never want to end.

In many of the later cues, such as 'Arkansas Pilgrim', 'The Leaving' and 'Murdering Horse Thieves', Poledouris takes a leaf out of Aaron Copland's book and composes music which is rooted firmly in the musical traditions set out by him back in the early part of this century. He employs a small ensemble of fiddles, banjos, guitars, accordions and a hammered dulcimer to great effect in a series of folk-like tunes which effectively portray the earthy, hard-working men and women of the time.

The extra tracks not on the original, Cabin Fever release - now long out of print - include one cue worth taking time over, a piece of light-hearted piano and banjo honky tonk ('Cowboys Down The Street') which, although you may not believe it, actually features the main theme again. The others - 'Statue/Deets Dies', 'Sunny Slopes of Yesterday' (which sounds like it should be the title of a Dimitri Tiomkin/Ned Washington song) and 'Gus Dies' - are all good and attractive, but add nothing particularly fresh to what was an already excellent enough album. Nevertheless, Sonic Images, Brad Pressman and Ford Thaxton must be heartily congratulated for finally making one of the classic scores of the 80s available to the wider public. The liner notes, by Randall Larson, are first rate; the packaging is superb; and the sound quality is crisp and clear. This score had been on my personal wantlist for almost two years. I am a happy man.

Track Listing: Running Time: 56 minutes 05 seconds

Sonic Images SID-8816 (1998)

Music composed and conducted by Basil Poledouris. Orchestrations by Greig McRitchie and Scott Smalley. Featured musical soloists Richard Greene, Dennis Budimir, Tim May, Herb Peterson, Dan Greco, Frank Marocco, Kenny Watson, Steve Forman and Chuck Domanico. Recorded and mixed by Dan Wallin, Shawn Murphy and Bobby Fernandez. Edited by Tom Villano. Mastered by Joe Gastwirt and James Nelson. Album produced by Basil Poledouris and Ford A. Thaxton.


Home Page | Reviews A-M | Reviews N-Z | Composers | Links

Movie Music U.K is designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton (c) 1999. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those the University of Sheffield. All photos and album artwork used on Movie Music U.K. are only for the non-profit making promotional purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.