FSM # 11: There’s a train a-comin’…
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So I was on this two-hour train trip today (job-related trip every Wednesday), listening to the CD’s I had brought with me – Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” and a Jean Michel Jarre techno remix album called “Odyssey Through O2”. Both of these (and especially the first, of course) had that chug-along train rhythm as base. It made me think about film music that served some of the same purpose. There’s always something very entertaining and appealing with film composers trying to emulate the steaming pace of a train through the music.
For example, there’s the energetic main theme from Goldsmith’s THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY. Or the circus train music that Williams composed for INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE.
Any other examples?
Another ‘failure’ topic that I somehow thought would be interesting.
Doesn’t have to be whole scores, could be individual tracks too.
The LONELY PLANET series (later renamed GLOBE TREKKER, for some reason) has absolutely brilliant music by Ian Ritchie & co., and a few tracks that have that ‘train’ element going for them. Like “Uzbekistan Express” from the second volume.
Unless I felt like listening to From Russia With Love’s “Zagreb Express” or Ennio’s “L’Ultimo Trento Della Notte” on a loop (which much as I love them I probably wouldn’t), I’d be listening to Steve Reich’s astonishing album DIFFERENT TRAINS.
Sorry, it’s not film music, but it’s great.
Train travels don’t always have to chug along. They can be more elegant too. I’m thinking the MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS films, be it Bennett or Doyle or whatever. Or about 9:50 into the suite from Tiomkin’s STRANGER ON A TRAIN on the Ketcham/Utah Symphony Hitchcock compilation.
Annette Fock’s gorgeous NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON subscribes to this slower, more elegant train pace as well.
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