Intrada Soundtrack Forum

I'm a fan of musical flying sequences and I noticed that some composers have become specialized in this area and kinda invented the « aerial music ». So I came up with an idea of a Flying Themes topic.

John Williams might be the precursor of a whole flying scores fashion (and the greatest contributor) that began with Star Wars and Superman in the late 70's. He brought a great lightness to the genre, with his sweeping chords and light orchestrations, that gives the auditor a true sense of flying. I guess Jerry Goldsmith followed his example in the 80's, and then became more action oriented. James Horner and Bruce Broughton also began to like to produce high flying music in the late 80's and early 90's and became very good at it. They both exploited the emotional and serene aspect of flying (We're Back, The Boy Who Could Fly), and also liked to give stirring vertiginous sensations (Rocketeer, Rescuers Down Under). Joel McNeely and James Newton Howard arrived quiet lately and pursued the genre in the late 90's and early 2000. I guess I mentioned all the specialists of the flying sequence, have fun re-listening to those :



John Williams :

The Flying Sequence (SUPERMAN)
The Asteroid Field (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK)
The Flying Theme (E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL)
The Landing (THE MISSION)
In Orbit (SPACECAMP)
Cadillac of the Skies (EMPIRE OF THE SUN)
The Ballroom Scene (WITCHES OF EASTWICK)
Among the Clouds (ALWAYS)
Flight to Neverland (HOOK)
Journey to the Island (JURASSIC PARK)
Mr Longbottom Flies (HARRY POTTER)
The Flying Car (HARRY POTTER 2)
Buckbeak's Flight (HARRY POTTER 3)



Jerry Goldsmith :

Theme (THE BLUE MAX)
The Enterprise (STAR TREK)
First Flight (NIGHT CROSSING)
The Flying Journey (THE SECRET OF NIMH)
The Flying Ballet (SUPERGIRL)
First Flight (EXPLORERS)
Test Flight (FOREVER YOUNG)
The Sand Wall (THE MUMMY)
Soarin' (CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE)



James Horner :

Combat Drop (ALIENS)
Flying Away (AN AMERICAN TAIL)
Flying (PROJECT X)
The Flying Circus (ROCKETEER)
Flying (ONCE UPON A FOREST)
Flying (THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE)
Flying Forward in Time (WE'RE BACK)
The Launch (APOLLO 13)
Take Off (HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS)
The Flight of the Griffin (THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES)
Jake's First Flight (AVATAR)



Bruce Broughton :

Holmes in Flight (YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES)
Flying (THE BOY WHO COULD FLY)
Cody’s Flight (RESCUERS DOWN UNDER)
The Launch (LOST IN SPACE)
Andy’s Mission (HEART OF DARKNESS)



James Newton Howard :

Balloon Flight (WATERWORLD)
The Egg Travels (DINOSAUR)
Going After Rourke (ATLANTIS)
The Solar Surf (TREASURE PLANET)
Flying (PETER PAN)



Joel McNeely :

Aerial Pursuit (YOUNG INDY)
Marshall Flies the Skybolt (WILD AMERICA)
Flight of the Mechanical Bees (THE AVENGERS)
Flight Through Neverland (RETURN TO NEVERLAND)

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Most wanted scores: Joshua Tree, Surviving the Game, Marked For Death

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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance...that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
Herbert Spencer

I wasn't criticizing Yavar just being a smart-ass! A couple that come to mind to me are from my favorite composer Hugo Friedhofer. How about Above and Beyond "Hiroshima Run" Pt. 1&2"? I can hear the props going on that one, at least in my head. Or how about from Best Years Of Our Lives "Graveyard and Bombers"? Spirit of St. Louis is of course another outstanding classic. Newman's Twelve O'Clock High is another example. Rozsa's Time After Time is another example.
Tom [/i]

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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance...that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
Herbert Spencer

But Tom, Time After Time is also post-Superman.

I guess Friedhofer might qualify.

Yavar