The Lion in Winter

Music by John Barry

 

 

 

 

 

Remarkable period drama written by James Goldman, The Lion in Winter (1968) display one of the best soundtracks composed by John Barry.

Opening with his famous march, with winds and Latin chant, Main Title gives the medieval tone immediately. But the dramatic density that features de music never happens by sound volume. The polyphonic songs are also not as present as it could. Says the composer that "the Church's influence was a dominant factor at the time and the music said that subliminally." Barry then chose to work on more economical ways. Even in moments of dramatic weight as in How Beautiful You Make Me or To the Chapel is noticeable the care in not overload the sound volume. Anthony Harvey, the director, was more inclined to use a full coral music, as noted by Barry in the liner notes, but he wisely opted for writing details rather than by excess. The music is solemn and dramatically oppressive by their lines and movements never talk through sound weight. The drama is more introverted than declared. The great moments are just the most delicate passages as the lighted madrigals Allons Gai Gai Gai and Eya Eya Nova Gaudia. Barry reviews all these virtues in the solemn closure We're Jungle Creatures.

For a composer working for so many years and with frequent quality, is always doubtful use absolute adjectives, but if The Lion in Winter is not the best soundtrack of John Barry is hard to imagine another for the post.