Personal quote I think John Barry is the most warmhearted composer there is. Most scores of him are so richly melodic that it becomes a joy to listen to, however to a certain point. Since recently his style of Enigma has been so alike that you have to draw the line. Still, the central point of the score is the heart that drives his music, it feels warm and frustratingly gorgeous and his tempo is soft but appropriate. Still, other genres have shown what kind of music Barry can do best, and his immense contribution to the Bond Movies have been his own personal jackpot list. And surprisingly, none of the Bond scores were ever nominated. Only his rich dramatic and romantic style was accepted and his best scores like Dances with Wolves and Out of Africa have won an Award. His experience has kept him in the absolute A list of movie composers and his undeniable touch for perfecting a score has kept him successful with the fans. No matter if its been Bond or romance in general, John Barry is such a person that comes and goes once a lifetime, treasure it while you still can. Biography Jonathan Barry Prendergast was born on November 3, 1933 in York, England. He started playing piano and ended rather quickly his studies to become a project monitor in his dad's theatre. After his success with the jazz group The John Barry Seven he started to score movie projects. His first feature film was Beat Girl and his career started to develop rather quickly, especially through the success of the Bond Movies, he scored the first one Dr. No 2 years later. He became associated with the Bond theme, the Bond success and the Bond sound. But Barry was not an action composer and his style began to flourish sooner or later. Barry kept doing the Bond movies but scored other more dramatic and romantic epics also. His first success in this category was Born Free, that gathered him his first Academy Oscar of his career. Other titles include Zulu, The Lion in Winter, The Black Hole, Raise the Titanic, Body Heat, High Road to China, Out of Africa, and especially Dances with Wolves. John Barry won 4 Oscars and 1 Golden Globe, though not one of his successive Bond scores became nominated. His last renowned score is Chaplin, receiving an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination. Still, Barry maintained his warm status as film composer and scored My Life, Indecent Proposal, The Scarlet Letter, Swept from the Sea and Mercury Rising. John Barry can portray one of the most impressive lists of all and his career is hopefully far from over. Perhaps to add some re recordings of his earlier works and the party can be complete for Barry fans. At least that prospect seems to be rather positive. Barry's latest score is Enigma and it looks like it will be his last of his career to.
(on The Specialist) March 7, 1996 I don't think you can take a body of 80 or 90 musicians in tune, and in more ways than being in tune, being in spirit; I don't think there's anything as strong as that. (on orchestra vs. synthesizer) March 7, 1996 People seem to think that the director has this control over his film, but within the music areas you're still unbelievably free. (overall impression) 
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The Works ллллл лллл лллл The Lion in Winter / Mary, Queen of Scots ллл
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