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General Discussion: The ENGLISH HORN Appreciation thread

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	Posted:	Jan 25, 2015 - 8:56 PM
	By:	bobbengan (Member)

I absolutely love this instrument - It's got an incredibly rich, vocal, expressive quality that I find just endlessly transfixing. Let's show some love for it!

Here are a few great pieces where I love its use:

Michael Kamen's CRUSOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yfECc8aBLw

Lee Byung-woo's A TALE OF TWO SISTERS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4E35Jojn5Y

Other scores that use it prominently that come immediately to mind are R.R. Bennett's FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, where the instrument is given gorgeously pained and longing solos, Merrill Jenson's utterly magnificent and underrated fantasy/western score WINDWALKER, Carter Burwell's FARGO, plus numerous John Scott scores where he allows it to carry his central themes in a rich and vivid manner - MAN ON FIRE, WALKING THUNDER, FAR FROM HOME and ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA come to mind.

Basil Poledouris write elegant solos for the instrument in a few early scores, most notably CONAN and THE BLUE LAGOON.

I'm sure I'm forgetting a ton right now, but hence getting the conversation started!

Does anyone else find this wonderful instrument especially evocative and beautiful?


	Posted:	Jan 25, 2015 - 9:02 PM
	By:	SBD (Member)

Off the top of my head, I love the English horn quote of Max's theme in MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME when he decides to spare Blaster's life ("Darkness/Gulag").


	Posted:	Jan 26, 2015 - 5:33 AM
	By:	Broughtfan (Member)

I put forth the name William Criss, a well-respected symphony musician before he became a much in demand Hollywood session player. You can hear his Cor anglais artistry in numerous episodes of "Star Trek" and "Mission Impossible." For those of you who have either the La La Land ST: TOS box set or the GNP Crescendo Volume 3 recording featuring Alexander Courage's "The Naked Time score," check out his poignant unaccompanied solo that opens "Future Risk" (based on the "Captain's Theme"). Criss' oboe solos on Gerald Fried's "Shore Leave" and "Paradise Syndrome" scores are also exceptional.


	Posted:	Jan 26, 2015 - 6:30 AM
	By:	jkannry (Member)

How about many of the Bond Barry scores?


	Posted:	Jan 26, 2015 - 7:07 AM
	By:	Broughtfan (Member)

And of course Sibelius' "Swan of Tuonela" and Copland's "Quiet City."


	Posted:	Jan 26, 2015 - 7:17 AM
	By:	Stefan Gritscher (Member)

"Star Trek Nemesis" by Jerry Goldsmith -End Cast

Not to forget the famous solo from the classic world:
"From the New World" Symphony No.9 by Antonin Dvorak - Adagio


	Posted:	Jan 26, 2015 - 9:41 AM
	By:	Rozsaphile (Member)

The solo opening of the sensuous "Assyrian Dance" in QUO VADIS. It also opens the suite movement called "Bacchanale." Evidently a challenging piece. I recall from the Tadlow recording sessions that the player had much difficulty getting it right. In fact they may actually have used a different player at a later session to patch the final version.


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 2:29 PM
	By:	'Lenny Bruce' Marshall (Member)

I absolutely love this instrument - It's got an incredibly rich, vocal, expressive quality that I find just endlessly transfixing.

How can ub sure it aint an oboe?

bruce


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 3:02 PM
	By:	Howard L (Member)

Oh wow I can 'hear' an English Horn in a classic cue or two from The Adventures of Superman that comes from growing up with the series. Gonna havta pull out the soundtrack for specific identification purposes...

PS
aaargh oboe, indeed, in a cue entitled Beating Heart...or is it?


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 3:30 PM
	By:	Yavar Moradi (Member)

Are there any good/great post-Beethoven English horn concertos?

I mean, I'm sure there are a few but have they been recorded/have you heard them, Bob?

Yavar


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 3:46 PM
	By:	bobbengan (Member)

I absolutely love this instrument - It's got an incredibly rich, vocal, expressive quality that I find just endlessly transfixing.

How can ub sure it aint an oboe?

bruce

Slightly "wider", denser, less nasal sound, brotha!


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 3:53 PM
	By:	Jim Doherty (Member)

THE MUMMY, 1932.


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 5:09 PM
	By:	connorb93 (Member)

Goldsmith's use of the English horn was common in the 90s but was used so perfectly in POWDER. I still get chills and watery eyes listening to "Stephen and the Snow"


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 5:52 PM
	By:	bobbengan (Member)

Goldsmith's use of the English horn was common in the 90s but was used so perfectly in POWDER. I still get chills and watery eyes listening to "Stephen and the Snow"

Oh man, don't know how I could have forgot this one! Indeed he used the instrument phenomenally during this period of his career, POWDER being a wonderful example and THE EDGE having a few noteworthy uses as well.


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 8:12 PM
	By:	iain k (Member)

I saw the thread title and wanted to mention John Scott's excellent woodwind writing – but you've done that.

Coccoon (First Tears) has quite a nice passage during which the English horn and horn double on a melody.

Also Field of Dreams (The Place Where Dreams Come True).


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 10:30 PM
	By:	bobbengan (Member)

I saw the thread title and wanted to mention John Scott's excellent woodwind writing – but you've done that.

Let's not kid ourselves though, there's no part of the orchestra this man ISN'T brilliant at writing for. His finesse not only for great themes but evocative orchestration in unparalleled by any other film composer, except maybe Michiru Oshima, who I might argue shares a similar orchestral "voice" to Scott.


	Posted:	Jan 27, 2015 - 11:11 PM
	By:	hal_jackson (Member)

I like the cue in Raiders of the Lost Ark when Marion examines the medal, after Indy leaves her bar. Lengthy English Horn solo statement of the Medallion theme, which returns throughout the score. As originally scored, this cue had other Woodwinds with the English Horn but Williams must have changed it on the podium to just English Horn.


	Posted:	Jan 28, 2015 - 10:58 AM
	By:	Rozsaphile (Member)

TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, act III. OK, it's not a film score, though the composer, Richard Wagner, is often considered the father of symphonic film music. As the curtain rises in Act III, the wounded Tristan lies at his seaside castle, pining for his lost lover. An onstage shepherd pipes a melancholy tune. This returns several times during the act, but when Isolde's ship is finally sighted, the shepherd's playing turns brilliant and agitated.


	Posted:	Jan 28, 2015 - 11:38 PM
	By:	dandrew (Member)

I love the sound of both the English Horn and the Oboe!

With specific reference to the English Horn, these are my favourite pieces:

1. The Fourth Musketeer - Michael Kamen: The Three Musketeers. There is wonderful English Horn solo by Tom Boyd towards the middle of the piece. Michael Kamen was a musical genius and his compositions for the English Horn and Oboe were spectacular!

2. It is a Thing of Glory - Mark Isham: October Sky.

3. The 'Mr Holland's Opus' selections from Michael Kamen's 'The New Moon in the Old Moon's Arms' is something special, especially since it is Michael Kamen himself who is the soloist.

4. Catch A Train - The Ghost and the Darkness: Jerry Goldsmith.

5. Quiet City - Aaron Copland.

General Discussion: The ENGLISH HORN Appreciation thread

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