John Barry

[Doc Average]

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.

I just read of the death of the composer John Barry, famous for his James Bond scores and many other film soundtracks. He put his love and knowledge of early jazz to great use on his soundtrack for Francis Coppolla's The Cotton Club.

His scores were always very distinctive, and his style was instantly recognisable. He brought a beauty and delicacy to his music, even for the most hard-edged action movies.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/31/john-barry-james-bond

 

[Rundquist]

Bummer. What a talent.

[video=youtube;q_fAEdw7ts0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_fAEdw7ts0[/video]

[video=youtube;QJvt1r1uO8E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJvt1r1uO8E[/video]

 

[Black Dahlia]

Oh no! I hadn't heard this sad news. He wrote some great scores; love some of the Bond ones.
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BD

 

[Mr Vim]

Did he write the original Bond song? The one used in most of the opening credits? That is a shame.

 

[Herr Döktor 1]

Did he write the original Bond song? The one used in most of the opening credits? That is a shame.

Well, that's a matter of some debate: until his death it has been broadly credited to him and Monty Norman, but since his death he's been quoted as arranging Norman's original piece, proving that you can't libel the dead if nothing else.

Sad to see him go, saw him twice in concert at the Albert Hall, the first time introduced by his long time chum Michael Caine, he was a truly inspired composer, and has left a lasting legacy, including this tune:

[video=youtube;J3LopRkEPOI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3LopRkEPOI[/video]

And possibly the finest TV theme tune ever:

[video=youtube;ykLCAfVa410]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykLCAfVa410[/video]

 

[PADDY]

Loved his music for Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa and Midnight Cowboy. He'll be missed.

 

[djd]

Great composer and he's left a fantastic legacy. RIP

 

[martinsantos]

R.I.P.

My preferred soundtrack by him still is Somewhere in Time.

 

[Doc Average]

he was a truly inspired composer, and has left a lasting legacy, including this tune:

[video=youtube;J3LopRkEPOI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3LopRkEPOI[/video]

I love this tune! Thanks for posting!

As to the origins of the Bond theme, I think the issue was finally settled in court a few years ago. And I remember seeing an interview with Monty Norman, in which he openly and graciously acknowledged John Barry's input on the final version of the Bond theme. Before Barry arranged it it was a Calypso... Still it's only fair that Mr Norman should've received the credit that was rightly his. He never seemed to be bitter about it, he just wanted his due.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Keep an eye out for two CDs which collect many of his major film scores: "Moviola I" and "Moviola II". No longer in print and hard to find, but both are great collections for movie fans to have.