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I can't believe it!
I was just talking about how much I love his score for "Conan the Barbarian!"
I'm heartbroken.
A truly gifted and unique composer is gone... and much too soon.
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Rest in peace Mr. Poledouris.
Thank you for the gift of music you gave us.
My deepest sympathy to his family.
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Oh God, no.
One of my favorite composers....... I'm actually crying, for myself, for his fans and his loved ones.
I will play a great deal of his music in his memory.
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Posted: |
Nov 9, 2006 - 12:17 AM
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By: |
SheriffJoe
(Member)
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I would like to pass on this note from a good friend of Basil's, Christopher Lennertz:
I can’t tell you all what a sad day this is. I lost a person today who was very important to me. Basil Poledouris was an amazing mentor, an inspired teacher, and above all, a good friend. Sadly, he lost his hard-fought battle with cancer this afternoon and now can be free of pain and suffering, but he will be so very missed by all of us…perhaps more than he even knew. He and his family were extremely generous and kind to me. I learned so much from him, not only about music, but about the business, life, and even sailing. His daughter, Zoe, even sang on demos for me. Their selfless love and support has lasted years beyond my work with him and never ceased to amaze me.
I truly wish with all my heart that everyone could have known him like I did…but then I realize that we all can: Listen carefully to Conan and you’ll know how powerful and passionate he was. Listen to the beautiful love theme from Farewell to the King and you’ll know how deeply he loved his daughters, family, and friends. Listen to Wind and you’ll know how he felt on his boat, sailing to Catalina. Listen to the subtle strains of It’s my Party and you’ll hear how he celebrated and valued life. It absolutely breaks my heart to think that I will never be able to see him again…never be able to ask his advice, or look to him for guidance. But then I realize that he left us the greatest gift of all…that we can still hear him: when I put in a CD, turn on my ipod, or put in a favorite DVD. I can listen to his music and be in the presence of him once again…be inspired by him again. And thank God for that. It doesn’t make the pain go away, or the loss any less, but after I clear the lump from my throat and wipe my eyes, it does make me smile, if just a little.
I cannot thank him enough for the impact he had on my life, and I’m so positive that the world is a better place with the music he left for all of us. Be at peace now, my friend.
With love, sadness, and admiration,
Chris Lennertz
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This is devastating. When I moved to Los Angeles after college and was running around trying to interview as many film composers as possible for Soundtrack! magazine, I was fortunate to meet and interview Basil. Right from the start he made me and my co-interviewer feel welcome in his home, and gave us a good three hours of his time.
I found him personable, funny, upretentious and utterly devoid of self-importance. It was was also cool to meet someone who was a classically trained composer and concert pianist, and a beachy California surfer all at the same time!
Basil Poledouris was also brilliant and articulate. Our conversation soon turned from film music to art and aesthetics in general, and it became less and interview than two young guys hanging onto to every word this genius had to impart.
Toward the end of our time at his home, I asked Basil if he knew anyplace one might still be able to purchase the extremely rare Cherry 2000 CD. He casually answered "Well, I might have one lying around" and he immediately pulled one off his shelf and said "Here ya go!" 
I was fortunate enough to interview Basil twice more -- for Film Score Monthly in '95, and finally in '97 for a documentary I was doing. Again was Basil exceedingly hospitable and generous as I fumbled with my Hi8 camcorder and he affably spent 40 minutes answering questions on camera. Before leaving he kindly presented me with another gift: an "Honor and Glory" CD!
We all want to believe the people we've admired from afar are nice, kind, virtuous and interested in talking to you. It doesn't always prove to be so, but I'm here to tell you that in the case of Basil Poledouris, it was most definitely true. He was an extraordinary musician, but more than that he was an extraordinary person. In my experience he was always pleasant, kind, witty, generous and a great human being.
He will be GREATLY missed. 
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Ditto to your experiences Paul. Basil was one of the first composers I met and interviewed upon moving to LA, and he graciously welcomed me to his Encino studio. Basil, like Jerry, came across as an "ordinary" guy who just happened to produce brilliance in his job as a film composer. I could see why so many filmmakers counted him as a friend. And upon leaving, Basil gave me one of the precious Cherry cd's as well. And I loaned him a Conan laserdisc (which he didn't have for some reason) for a couple of months.
From the ED 209 battle in ROBOCOP to the submarine pursuit in HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, the car chases in NO MAN'S LAND to the bug attacks in STARSHIP TROOPERS, and the beautiful (and as yet unreleased) cue in CONAN THE BARBARIAN as the princess descends Thulsa Doom's staircase with outstretched snakes, Basil's music remains some of my favorite cues in all film scoring.
Basil had a truly muscular approach when it came to the ever-increasing lost art of pure, symphonic film scoring- and a tender heart to match. I'll miss him dearly. My only regret is that he didn't stage a comeback he so richly deserved. But that being said, he's left us with a wealth of music that remains so vibrant that it hardly seems he ever left.
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