The idea of this scene was Father Gabriel's attempt to subdue the natives, as such, to stop the murdering him (obviously), but the music has ended up being far, far more than that, for many people. It's the seminal piece, for oboe (and organ).
The movie as a whole is anything but peaceful, though, lol. As OBrien said, it's worth a watch, if you ever get the chance!
V strange, but worth the slog. For the music, if nothing else!
I stand corrected, it's "On Earth As It Is In Heaven". As It Is In Heaven is also the name of a fucking fantastic Swedish movie, one assumes the title of which is inspired by The Mission.
Imagine being able to compose music like that, Mon Dieu!
But yes - even Morricone thought the movie was a load of shit when he watched the test screening before writing the soundtrack though, apparently. So you and I are in the minority with that opinion, sadly...
I'm a big fan of film scores. Morricone is one of the greats, as is John Williams (Star Wars, Superman, Harry Potter), James Horner (Glory, Braveheart, Star Trek II) , Jerry Goldsmith (Patron, Air Force One, several Star Trek films), Randy Edelman (Last of the Mohicans, Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story, Gettysburg), Hans Zimmer (Rain Man, Gladiator, the Nolan Batman movies), Alan Silvestei (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Captain America), and Basil Poledouris Conan, Farewell to the King, Hunt for Red October)
One of the neat things about scores is that there are a few companies still cranking out limited edition deluxe CDs that include unreleased tracks, extensive liner notes, and sometimes autographs when the composer is still living. They're not cheap, usually $20-30 each, but they're high quality releases and usually don't sell out too fast despite being limited to 5-10k copies.
The quality of soundtracks has diminished right along with the quality of movies. It used to be that a top-tier film included a score by a top-tier composer, but I have found that my collection has very, very few albums past the early 2000s.
Interesting! Are those special releases a Deutschmark Grammophon/His Masters Voice thing (they’re the two big classical companies, I believe), or more the usual Warner/Sony Classics, etc..?
If you happen to know that.
In terms of composers, would also recommend John Barry (Out of Africa, occasional Bond movie, Zulu) and Elmer Bernstein (Ghostbusters, Great Escape, Magnificent Seven et al.) - both pretty great!
The movie is, apparently, not great. I've never watched it through. Only scenes. De Niro and Irons, though, so...
Regardless, the soundtrack is one of the most beautiful things ever written. It is... Sublime. Morricone obviously did a whole bunch of stuff (ranging from Clint Eastwood to Cinema Paradiso to Once Upon a Time In America), but this is his Magnum Opus - his 9th, if you will.
Makes me sad, though, because Brazil fucking blew up the waterfalls where the film is set (largest by volume in the world) in the 1980s some time, because they could, essentially...
The movie is extremely Catholic (context is Jesuit missionaries in Paraguay, in a region that is being "transferred" from Portugal to Spain, trying to convert the natives), but this is an excellent quote, from the end, nonetheless:
"So, your Holiness, now your priests are dead, and I am left alive. But in truth it is I who am dead, and they who live. For as always, your Holiness, the spirit of the dead will survive in the memory of the living.”
The movie is, apparently, not great. I've never watched it through. Only scenes. De Niro and Irons, though, so..
I always felt the movie was excellent. Uncompromising and violent at times. Well worth a watch if/when you have time. It's always stuck with me, especially the ending.
You're right about the music, though, and that's because it was composed by none other than the incomparable Ennio Morricone.
His score for Once Upon Time In America is still probably my favourite. Cockeye's theme is one I listen and think about often. It's such a beautiful piece and absolutely stands the test of time.
Very peaceful.
You're onto something there!
The idea of this scene was Father Gabriel's attempt to subdue the natives, as such, to stop the murdering him (obviously), but the music has ended up being far, far more than that, for many people. It's the seminal piece, for oboe (and organ).
The movie as a whole is anything but peaceful, though, lol. As OBrien said, it's worth a watch, if you ever get the chance!
V strange, but worth the slog. For the music, if nothing else!
I’ll definitely check it out when I can
Also, may I recommend this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjywvC6Yh0o
Literally life-changing, for me, that one.
Thanks again
Terribly underrated movie. It has one of Morricone’s best scores plus it inspired Joshua Graham from New Vegas.
Bawling rn, ngl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJLFoIn7aLM (Just the End Credits - I believe the track is "Falls")
I stand corrected, it's "On Earth As It Is In Heaven". As It Is In Heaven is also the name of a fucking fantastic Swedish movie, one assumes the title of which is inspired by The Mission.
Here's (appropriately) Gabriella's Song from that one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AViTjRuBpg0
Imagine being able to compose music like that, Mon Dieu!
But yes - even Morricone thought the movie was a load of shit when he watched the test screening before writing the soundtrack though, apparently. So you and I are in the minority with that opinion, sadly...
I'm a big fan of film scores. Morricone is one of the greats, as is John Williams (Star Wars, Superman, Harry Potter), James Horner (Glory, Braveheart, Star Trek II) , Jerry Goldsmith (Patron, Air Force One, several Star Trek films), Randy Edelman (Last of the Mohicans, Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story, Gettysburg), Hans Zimmer (Rain Man, Gladiator, the Nolan Batman movies), Alan Silvestei (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Captain America), and Basil Poledouris Conan, Farewell to the King, Hunt for Red October)
One of the neat things about scores is that there are a few companies still cranking out limited edition deluxe CDs that include unreleased tracks, extensive liner notes, and sometimes autographs when the composer is still living. They're not cheap, usually $20-30 each, but they're high quality releases and usually don't sell out too fast despite being limited to 5-10k copies.
The quality of soundtracks has diminished right along with the quality of movies. It used to be that a top-tier film included a score by a top-tier composer, but I have found that my collection has very, very few albums past the early 2000s.
Interesting! Are those special releases a Deutschmark Grammophon/His Masters Voice thing (they’re the two big classical companies, I believe), or more the usual Warner/Sony Classics, etc..?
If you happen to know that.
In terms of composers, would also recommend John Barry (Out of Africa, occasional Bond movie, Zulu) and Elmer Bernstein (Ghostbusters, Great Escape, Magnificent Seven et al.) - both pretty great!
I usually shop at LaLaLand Records, Intrada, and Varese Sarabande
The movie is, apparently, not great. I've never watched it through. Only scenes. De Niro and Irons, though, so...
Regardless, the soundtrack is one of the most beautiful things ever written. It is... Sublime. Morricone obviously did a whole bunch of stuff (ranging from Clint Eastwood to Cinema Paradiso to Once Upon a Time In America), but this is his Magnum Opus - his 9th, if you will.
Makes me sad, though, because Brazil fucking blew up the waterfalls where the film is set (largest by volume in the world) in the 1980s some time, because they could, essentially...
The movie is extremely Catholic (context is Jesuit missionaries in Paraguay, in a region that is being "transferred" from Portugal to Spain, trying to convert the natives), but this is an excellent quote, from the end, nonetheless:
"So, your Holiness, now your priests are dead, and I am left alive. But in truth it is I who am dead, and they who live. For as always, your Holiness, the spirit of the dead will survive in the memory of the living.”
I always felt the movie was excellent. Uncompromising and violent at times. Well worth a watch if/when you have time. It's always stuck with me, especially the ending.
You're right about the music, though, and that's because it was composed by none other than the incomparable Ennio Morricone.
His score for Once Upon Time In America is still probably my favourite. Cockeye's theme is one I listen and think about often. It's such a beautiful piece and absolutely stands the test of time.