Timpani, percussion 1 (tenor drum, tam tam, bell tree), percussion 2 (bass drum, susp. cymbal)
Difficulty
2
Duration
7
Structure / Movements
One movement.
Andante
Giocoso
Largo con espressione
Andante sostenuto
Clefs
Treble, bass
Meters
5/4, C, 3/4, 6/4, 12/8, 2/4
Key signatures
1#, 2#, None
Range
Horn 1: b - c#3
Horn 2: a - a2
Horn 3: g - b2
Horn 4: f# - g#2
Horn 5: c# - d2
Horn 6: c# - f#2
Horn 7: F# - b1
Horn 8: G - g#1
Wagner tuba 1: F# - c2
Wagner tuba 2: d - a1
Wagner tuba 3: E - d1
Wagner tuba 4: C# (opt. C) - f#
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Braveheart is a1995 Mel Gibson (director, producer, actor) movie, telling the story of William Wallace, the Scottish independence warrior with the not too kind fate. It was a huge success in the year it was released, and despite its graphic violence has retained an almost cult-like following many years later.
James Horner had a very prolific year, with scores to Apollo 13, Casper and the animated film Balto to his credit. Music for Jade and Jumanji were also completed in 1995, but it was Braveheart that foreshadowed the later success of Titanic in terms of soundtrack sales, and the associated income.
As Horner has said on numerous occasions, he is most inspired by Celtic music (Titanic being another example), and Scottish and Irish influences can be found in numerous of his film scores. Braveheart provided an opportunity to really focus on that kind of sound, even though, stylistically speaking, the score never quite stuck with traditional Scottish sensibilities. Anyways, the success of the film, and the music that goes with it, is undeniable, and so it was only a matter of time until it was Bravehearts turn, after Titanic got its fair treatment by Richard Bissill.
The publication itself doesn't give away too much, however the copyright information is very helpful in identifying the parts of the score that made it into the arrangement. The list reads as follows:
Main title
Freedom
The execution
Bannockburn
Making plans
Gathering of the clans
For the love of a princess
For most ensembles that should be enough to make an informed decision on whether to purchase this arrangement or not - it is easy to find the soundtrack for little money in used bins, and a quick listen to the relevant tracks will reveal he style of the work.
Braveheart opens with the customary James Horner horn solo, Horner being one of the foremost exponents of writing for solo horn in film scores. The Wagner tubas alternate on the pedal notes, while horns 1 and 2 introduce the Scottish landscape. The "Giocoso" section is based on the characteristic tenor drum rhythm (in 12/8), and muted solo lines in horns 3 and 1, as well as the broad theme in the tubas. New themes are being introduced, until the massive crescendo before the final "Andante sostenuto", which introduces "For the love of a princess" in its quiet and (very) loud versions. Horn 1 with a solo and Wagner tuba pedals finish the piece as it started, quiet and melodic, with fair bit of melancholy and a flavour of a different place in a different time.
The technicl difficulty is somewhere between medium and difficult, which makes this piece approachable by many ensembles. It is not as difficult as Titanic, but certainly as effective, and is available at a very competitive price (2/3 of Titanic). Chances that this arrangement will be included on a future horn ensemble CD release are extremely high - it's high quality arranging of a very popular film score, and best of all: it's available.
Credits
Provision of review score: John Lynsdale-Nock (Corniworld)