Well, I think it's fair to say that while the film The Rocketeer failed to set the box office alight, the music has been a huge success and big seller for Intrada, whatever incarnation.
Love the original album but the complete score is unecessary.I just gave the expanded version a listen on Spotify and found myself skipping through a lot of the filler.The album presentation gathers all the highlights very well.
Love the original album but the complete score is unecessary.I just gave the expanded version a listen on Spotify and found myself skipping through a lot of the filler.The album presentation gathers all the highlights very well.
SILENCE!
*clears throat*
I don't mind filler. Gives me a chance to fill it with stuff I might use.
This score never quite clicked for me, but it’s probably because I saw the TV spots so many times that the music from that was what I was expecting. Horner’s main theme is great and all and fits the film but takes its time. It’s expansive for sure, but doesn’t really fly.
In contrast, the trailer music (Christopher Page's "Wings Of A Hero") moves at a rapid pace and has a quick, catchy melody that better fit the rapid pace of the flying scenes and the more confident and assertive visuals of the Rocketeer himself.
This score never quite clicked for me, but it’s probably because I saw the TV spots so many times that the music from that was what I was expecting. Horner’s main theme is great and all and fits the film but takes its time. It’s expansive for sure, but doesn’t really fly.
In contrast, the trailer music (Christopher Page's "Wings Of A Hero") moves at a rapid pace and has a quick, catchy melody that better fit the rapid pace of the flying scenes and the more confident and assertive visuals of the Rocketeer himself.
I remember that trailer music too, Jurassic T. (I think there's some Alan Silvestri in there, too). I felt a similar pang of regret when I initially heard Laurence Rosenthal's music for CLASH OF THE TITANS after enjoying the trailer with THE BLACK STALLION music and hoping for something similar.
As for THE ROCKETEER, It's interesting to me your feeling that the score doesn't fly for you (which you explain perfectly well why that is) and yet my reaction to the same score is quite the opposite. It really shows me how mercurial music appreciation is among us fans. THE ROCKETEER has a wonderful sense of nostalgia to my ears that I find affecting as well - maybe that's the time-taking you refer to.
At any rate, here's to any and all scores that we may jointly get excited about!
This score never quite clicked for me, but it’s probably because I saw the TV spots so many times that the music from that was what I was expecting. Horner’s main theme is great and all and fits the film but takes its time. It’s expansive for sure, but doesn’t really fly.
In contrast, the trailer music (Christopher Page's "Wings Of A Hero") moves at a rapid pace and has a quick, catchy melody that better fit the rapid pace of the flying scenes and the more confident and assertive visuals of the Rocketeer himself.
I remember that trailer music too, Jurassic T. (I think there's some Alan Silvestri in there, too). I felt a similar pang of regret when I initially heard Laurence Rosenthal's music for CLASH OF THE TITANS after enjoying the trailer with THE BLACK STALLION music and hoping for something similar.
As for THE ROCKETEER, It's interesting to me your feeling that the score doesn't fly for you (which you explain perfectly well why that is) and yet my reaction to the same score is quite the opposite. It really shows me how mercurial music appreciation is among us fans. THE ROCKETEER has a wonderful sense of nostalgia to my ears that I find affecting as well - maybe that's the time-taking you refer to.
At any rate, here's to any and all scores that we may jointly get excited about!
JSD
Yeah, the song is almost like a ballad of wistful yearning and hopes and dreams. That really is the emotional core of the movie and it works very well for that. So during the flying scenes I think the theme is just structurally too long to play quickly enough (though it still plays) because it's basically climbing up and then down a scale for about 4 measures before it makes its statement. However, the heroic TV spot music playing HEROISM is not really the core of the film and while its short segments work well for action, as a melody I think it would really struggle if it was played more intimately for emotional scenes.
So they all have their pluses and minuses!
It really weird though - it's probably the only time I can think of where trailer/TV spot music created expectations that clashed with what was ultimately in the movie.
But I also saw The Rocketeer for the first time after having seen Apollo 13 and Titanic - the theme is structurally similar to those ones, and so it also played a little too familiar for me. I might have had the reverse reaction if I had seen The Rocketeer first. I had also just been waiting for years and years with the TV spot music in my head so the whole time watching the film I was waiting for that moment.
It's interesting how the timing of when people see movies can affect their enjoyment.
Yeah, I'm testing it out on the piano. "Wings Of A Hero" works well for rapid flying because it constantly jumps up and down, over and over, in relatively short intervals (there's only one part where it goes a full octave). Also, side note, it starts on the fifth, drops to the tonic, then reaches up an octave, just like the Superman Main Theme (I'll bet Christopher Page was inspired by Superman).
Anyway, The Rocketeer main theme basically just goes UP, and then DOWN, very slowly over about four measures.
"Wings Of A Hero" also establishes the root/tonic of its key immediately within the first two notes, whereas "The Rocketeer" Main Theme doesn't settle on a the root/tonic until the end of its melody, with the horns.
So melodically, "The Rocketeer" theme is literally searching for itself, whereas "Wings Of A Hero" always knows where it's going. But consequently, that gives "The Rocketeer" that wonderful yearning, as it reaches up for the heights... and then drops back down.
But like I thought, it's very difficult to get "Wings Of A Hero" to play intimately if it were to match the emotional arc of the film itself. It's on par with getting the Superman theme or Star Wars main theme to play intimately - the melody is too firmly in a major key. So you can tweak the melody - like in The Empire Strikes Back, there are sections during Yoda's training of Luke where Luke's Theme / Star Wars Main Theme is played in a minor key.
But then that's changing the melody (which is a legitimate technique).
Anyways, all that to say I do think The Rocketeer music as it is perfectly fits the film and its themes
Yeah, the song is almost like a ballad of wistful yearning and hopes and dreams. That really is the emotional core of the movie and it works very well for that. So during the flying scenes I think the theme is just structurally too long to play quickly enough (though it still plays) because it's basically climbing up and then down a scale for about 4 measures before it makes its statement. However, the heroic TV spot music playing HEROISM is not really the core of the film and while its short segments work well for action, as a melody I think it would really struggle if it was played more intimately for emotional scenes.
So they all have their pluses and minuses!
It really weird though - it's probably the only time I can think of where trailer/TV spot music created expectations that clashed with what was ultimately in the movie.
But I also saw The Rocketeer for the first time after having seen Apollo 13 and Titanic - the theme is structurally similar to those ones, and so it also played a little too familiar for me. I might have had the reverse reaction if I had seen The Rocketeer first. I had also just been waiting for years and years with the TV spot music in my head so the whole time watching the film I was waiting for that moment.
It's interesting how the timing of when people see movies can affect their enjoyment.
Very interesting analysis. Also interesting that you came to THE ROCKETEER after APOLLO 13 (my second favorite Horner score) and TITANIC. Familiarity with Horner's music can often breed (maybe contempt is too strong) a kind of disappointment with the end result. Lord knows many internet battles have been fought over his integrity as a composer.
I remember being concerned, as a fan of the comic book (or 'graphic novel' as the credits have it), with Horner doing the score to this film before it hit theatres in 1991. The end result (as mentioned before) pleased me greatly.
As you say, the timing of scores (when we encounter them) has a definite impact on our perceptions of them.
Yeah, I'm testing it out on the piano. "Wings Of A Hero" works well for rapid flying because it constantly jumps up and down, over and over, in relatively short intervals (there's only one part where it goes a full octave). Also, side note, it starts on the fifth, drops to the tonic, then reaches up an octave, just like the Superman Main Theme (I'll bet Christopher Page was inspired by Superman).
Anyway, The Rocketeer main theme basically just goes UP, and then DOWN, very slowly over about four measures.
"Wings Of A Hero" also establishes the root/tonic of its key immediately within the first two notes, whereas "The Rocketeer" Main Theme doesn't settle on a the root/tonic until the end of its melody, with the horns.
So melodically, "The Rocketeer" theme is literally searching for itself, whereas "Wings Of A Hero" always knows where it's going. But consequently, that gives "The Rocketeer" that wonderful yearning, as it reaches up for the heights... and then drops back down.
But like I thought, it's very difficult to get "Wings Of A Hero" to play intimately if it were to match the emotional arc of the film itself. It's on par with getting the Superman theme or Star Wars main theme to play intimately - the melody is too firmly in a major key. So you can tweak the melody - like in The Empire Strikes Back, there are sections during Yoda's training of Luke where Luke's Theme / Star Wars Main Theme is played in a minor key.
But then that's changing the melody (which is a legitimate technique).
Anyways, all that to say I do think The Rocketeer music as it is perfectly fits the film and its themes
You have musical acumen that far outstrips my meager knowledge and ability - but I do follow you.
The WINGS OF A HERO music always seemed to have, at it's core, a kind of "old style" adventure aesthetic that helped it to pair well with the imagery of THE ROCKETEER. It put me in mind of an ersatz RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK or perhaps closer to something like Goldsmith's KING SOLOMON'S MINES. In other words a bounding hero's adventure theme - perfect for derring do.
The Rocketeer was a special project for Horner being an avid aviator. I think he really gave his heart to this project, which for me stands easily in his Top 5.
I find myself agreeing with Goldsmith Daking regarding the original album release compared to the expanded edition. I bought the later, more oomph as requested edition but find very little in the additional music tracks that I can honestly say improve the overall listening experience. It's nice to have it, but it tends to stall the flow of the original edition which swept along at a breakneck pace. And I still prefer the sound of the old Hollywood Records release, even after Intrada added some sonic boom boom to the re release edition.
You have musical acumen that far outstrips my meager knowledge and ability - but I do follow you.
The WINGS OF A HERO music always seemed to have, at it's core, a kind of "old style" adventure aesthetic that helped it to pair well with the imagery of THE ROCKETEER. It put me in mind of an ersatz RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK or perhaps closer to something like Goldsmith's KING SOLOMON'S MINES. In other words a bounding hero's adventure theme - perfect for derring do.
Again...great analysis!
JSD
I was really curious to see if the "Wings of a Hero" melody could translate to a more intimate tone, so I orchestrated my own version of it.
It sort of works - but it's hard to tell because my choices in orchestration could be misleading from other treatments of the theme that may work better.
(Also the opening horn melody is a cheat because it's not in the original music at all, but it was required to give the song some kind of intro):
You have musical acumen that far outstrips my meager knowledge and ability - but I do follow you.
The WINGS OF A HERO music always seemed to have, at it's core, a kind of "old style" adventure aesthetic that helped it to pair well with the imagery of THE ROCKETEER. It put me in mind of an ersatz RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK or perhaps closer to something like Goldsmith's KING SOLOMON'S MINES. In other words a bounding hero's adventure theme - perfect for derring do.
Again...great analysis!
JSD
I was really curious to see if the "Wings of a Hero" melody could translate to a more intimate tone, so I orchestrated my own version of it.
It sort of works - but it's hard to tell because my choices in orchestration could be misleading from other treatments of the theme that may work better.
(Also the opening horn melody is a cheat because it's not in the original music at all, but it was required to give the song some kind of intro):
Jurassic T. - that was fantastic! You have more than proved the adaptability of that theme - great work! I am humbled by your very clear talent and ability. It won't make me give up the Horner, but it may make me take up J.T. Park!
I was thinking of other film melodies that Price piece made me think of and I remembered Elmer Bernstein's theme for Den in his HEAVY METAL score. Melody different, but a similar up-and-down quality.
I was really curious to see if the "Wings of a Hero" melody could translate to a more intimate tone, so I orchestrated my own version of it.
It sort of works - but it's hard to tell because my choices in orchestration could be misleading from other treatments of the theme that may work better.
(Also the opening horn melody is a cheat because it's not in the original music at all, but it was required to give the song some kind of intro):
Jurassic T. - that was fantastic! You have more than proved the adaptability of that theme - great work! I am humbled by your very clear talent and ability. It won't make me give up the Horner, but it may make me take up J.T. Park!
I was thinking of other film melodies that Price piece made me think of and I remembered Elmer Bernstein's theme for Den in his HEAVY METAL score. Melody different, but a similar up-and-down quality.
Thanks! I'm surprised myself how it turned out. I really thought the theme wouldn't hold up at all but it did better than I thought.
I'm still not totally convinced because Page's theme is so cheery and major-mode focused and doesn't have that wistful yearning of Horner's stuff which I think is probably still a better fit for the film. The slow harp gets it a little ways there, but it can only do so much before you have to change the melody (or add stuff like the Horn intro).
What I should really do is find a clip of the film and try putting this music against it to see how it plays.
If you're thinking of THIS from Heavy Metal, the first 30 seconds do sound reminiscent and actually would be perfect for one of the scenes in THE ROCKETEER where you've got the danger drama of the stunt plane going down and The Rocketeer saves them at the last minute:
That horn fanfare sounds like something out of Zelda - short, quick, and heroic!!!
