I have a few scores by Michael Kamen (Shining Through, Circle of Friends, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Mr. Holland's Opus, Band of Brothers) but I really want to experience more.
One thing that strikes me is how beloved Michael Kamen appeared to be to so many people. This comes through in his music and inspires me to know more. I listened a bit on YouTube to The Winter Guest and Last Action Hero. I would appreciate other recommendations. Thanks.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is an absolute must.
Suspect is also very good. While the score seems to meander, it builds towards a very impressive End title, the full payoff of which can only be realized through a patient listen to the entire score.
There are many more of course, but first a word of caution. Kamen isnt always an easy listen, however the rewards of "sticking with it" always far surpass the "effort".
For me Robin Hood, Back to Gaya, and The Iron Giant are some of his best. I can't stand things like X-Men with all the synth mixed in. What are some of his best pure orchestral works?
I have a few scores by Michael Kamen (Shining Through, Circle of Friends, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Mr. Holland's Opus, Band of Brothers) but I really want to experience more.
One thing that strikes me is how beloved Michael Kamen appeared to be to so many people. This comes through in his music and inspires me to know more. I listened a bit on YouTube to The Winter Guest and Last Action Hero. I would appreciate other recommendations. Thanks.
Based on the scores you already have of him, I would highly recommend Open Range, What Dreams May Come and Mona Lisa. The Dead Zone is also beautiful.
While there isn't a whole lot of his score on the album release, Kamen's Licence to Kill is highly recommended. It's probably the easiest to listen to of all his action scores. There's some lovely guitar work and a terrific, rousing reworking of the James Bond theme.
The saxophone concerto. Period. There is a used copy in town, I'll happily pick up & send to you, seriously!
- Sean
You would do that for me? Seriously? How kind of you. Let me know the details and I will gladly send you the payment. I am placing my email address back in my profile so you can contact me there. So many great people on this board - warms me heart truly.
Some awesome recommendations here. Keep them coming please. I found a work entitled "On Wings of Victory" written for the 1996 Olympics. The snippet I heard is wonderful. Any thoughts on this? Thanks everyone.
I have On Wings Of Victory. It came out as a single in Japan only, as far as I know.
It's a pretty modern, large scale work. As much as I like it, Kamen tends to drown himself out in "largeness". His best work is the smaller material that comes from the heart, not so much the gut.
- Don Juan De Marco was Kamen's personal favorite. It's quite a magnificent score. - Brazil is amazing - What Dreams May Come will rip your heart out and make you fly. His most emotional. - The Three Musketeers is loaded with action and fun orchestral maneuvers - Die Hard is Kamentastic and oh so playful. Die Hard 2 is full throttle action with huge orchestra. Get the Extended edition. - Avdentures of Baron Munchausen is loaded with fun - Lethal Weapon Box Set is hard to beat. Incredible music in there. Kamen at his best action form. The box set is well worth the price. - The Dead Zone has that old melancholy Kamen sound. Haunting. - And my personal favorite is his Guitar Concerto. There's a Japanese CD of the Hotei studio recording. And there's a live recording of the original Eric Clapton recording, but it's not an official release. - The Iron Giant - Open Range
Those are the must haves in addition to the ones you have. You won't go wrong with any of the above. Enjoy.
And one more, his concert work: New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms.
Absolutely yes. I'm very fond of most of Kamen's work, but this concert piece is tremendous, especially the lengthy slower passages.
Both Terry Gilliam scoresm BRAZIL and BARON MUNCHAUSEN are Kamen at his best, although Milan's BRAZIL release leaves out much of the best music from the film.
It's also very interesting to hear Kamen's early orchestral arrangements for rock bands like Pink Floud (The Wall and Final Cut) and Kate Bush (Hounds of Love and The Red Shoes). His sound was already very distinctive sound back then.
