What so special about Bruce Broughton?

[Bill]

I know that I have the reputation of someone who likes to complain....but the truth is, I do try to give equal time.

So...with so many of you Broughton fans out there, can someone point me in a direction that will lead me towards a greater appreciation of his work? Of course I love "The Rescuers Down Under" score...and appreciate some of the film scores he did in the 80s...

But why is it that he has earned such fierce devotion from you folks? Especially, what is it that has but him above other composers in your esteem?

 

[BLM07]

I don't know, his music for Ellen's Energy Adventure and The Timekeeper are amazing (I love The Timekeeper music the most). I say the next petition should be for George Wilkins!

 

[Gurgitoy2]

"But why is it that he has earned such fierce devotion from you folks? Especially, what is it that has but him above other composers in your esteem?"

Well, I wouldn't say I'm in the fiercly devoted camp. I like him as much as the other composers out there. He's better than a lot of mid-level composers, and his work is pretty memorable. I think people are talking about his theme park stuff only because it's not readily availible. I think if his work was out there, there wouldn't be so much talk.

He is good though, and I would put him in the camp with Elmer Bernstein, John Williams, James Horner, Jerry Goldsmith, etc. The thing I found interesting was that he seems to be the current "go to guy" for EPCOT.

 

[MWRuger]

Bruce Boughton has a wonderful gift for melody and orchestration that harkens back to the golden age of film scoring. He writes bright and cheerful music that adds class to just about anything. If you want a really good example of this, listen to his score for Lost in Space.

Here is a film where was called in to write a replacement score (I believe Jerry Goldsmith was to score) and had only a few weeks to do so. He delivered a powerful score that not only worked in the film but is a joy to listen to.

If that doesn't do it for you try, Young Sherlock Holmes or Monster Squad. Both are excellent scores that convey exactly the right tone while conjuring a sense of fancy that many fail to bring to movies that are essentially meant for a young audience.

The bottom line for me is that I seldom ever disappointed in his work, which is more that I can say for many other composers, that includes some heavy hitters.

 

[BLM07]

I found a bootleg score of Moonwalker by Bruce Broughton...

Now there's some unreleased music we crave for... right? right?

 

[X-S Tech]

blm07 said "The bottom line for me is that I seldom ever disappointed in his work, which is more that I can say for many other composers, that includes some heavy hitters."

I'll second that. Not being a totally well rounded Music expert, I don't know every composer out there, or know a lot of Bruce Broughton's non disney stuff either. But I've liked every bit of his music that I've heard. And Ellen's Energy Crisis theme is still an absolutely amazing piece each and every time I hear it

 

[diegorivera2]

The eye in the sky does, Bill; that's who. Plus - who can find fault with Inigo Montoya and the gang? (Come to think of it, the Mark Knopfler score is something the modern Princess films at WDW could benefit from.)