Sad, sad, sad news. I'm terribly sorry to hear this. I love Basil's music, he was a mster composer and gifted all of us with masterpieces like CONAN, HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and BIG WEDNESDAY.
May you rest in peace, dear Basil. You'll be missed.
"It's My Party" is especially poignant to listen to now. For those who haven't heard it, it's just Basil and his piano. Beautiful melodies, tender performance, a fitting testament to his musical gifts.
He was a fine composer. It is a sad day. I've got some listening to do.
Damn, that's a shocker. I will always remain a big fan of the man. Condolences to his family and friends, and a massive thank you to the man himself for his music.
For what it's worth Jeff Bond finally found the Star Trek episode in which Basil was a Klingon -- it's Errand of Mercy, and you can see Basil marching with a group of Klingons early in the show coming out of a commercial break. He's in the background of the group and peels off to go into a building. Lukas
I always believed - KNEW - and stated here many times that Mr Poledouris would have written an absolutely magnificent Star Trek movie score. And now we'll never know.
I like poems, and so I'm posting one I found just now and find quite beautiful:
Remember
Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you plann'd: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad.
Like Michael Kamen's illness a few years ago, I had no idea that Poledouris struggled with cancer. So this was a shock to me as well (I thought he had simply retired to lead a quiet life). Poledouris was - and still is - one of my top 10 composers.
I think CONAN is probably the only score I've heard about that is loved by EVERYONE, everywhere - despite age differences or varying tastes in music. Not even STAR WARS has a similiar "unanimous" fan base. That's quite amazing, and is a testament to Poledouris' musical instincts.
I hope the guys from the Ubeda conference managed to catch his last concert appearance on tape and that this will be released on DVD or something. As John Ottman says above, it's really touching that the got to go out with such well-deserved "honour and glory".
As always a shock and very sad news.Also from 'our' point of view I think it's safe to say film music of quality has just dropped a few notches at least.
My condolences to Mr Poledouris' family, friends, and fans.
I'm not overtly familiar with his works, Conan of course, and after Lonesome Dove my second CD of his is soon to arrive (Starship Troopers). I loved him in the FSM documentary. Another great artist, another great human being taken away by cancer...
