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Goldsmith's "Gale's Theme" from The River Wild
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Topic: Goldsmith's "Gale's Theme" from The River Wild
Camillu
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I heard the first score track of Goldsmith's The River Wild today, and got quite a surprise.Call me crazy, but I've been singing a church hymn to that exact theme ever since I was a wee toddler.
Next time I'm in church I'll definetely check who wrote the music to that hymn (definetely before 1994).
Does anyone know anything about the originality of this piece?
posted 05-22-2001 08:45 AM PT (US) Bulldog
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It's not a Goldsmith original. I think that it's taken from an old [how old I don't know] Canadian melody.
posted 05-22-2001 08:56 AM PT (US) PeterK
FishChip
The 300 year old tune is "The Water is Wide," called "O Waly, Waly," (O, Willow, Willow) in in the world past. In the film, Goldsmith incorporates the theme, and the Cowboy Junkies sing the song. Junkies are from Canada, which may be the connection Bulldog makes - it's believed to come from Scotland or England (some think it's the oldest surviving English sailing tune).
posted 05-22-2001 10:06 AM PT (US) Camillu
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Merci Beaucoup
posted 05-22-2001 04:16 PM PT (US) John Zimmer
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It's directly from a hymn. I'm not sure which but I'll try to find out.Jz
posted 05-22-2001 04:41 PM PT (US) Al
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I too have heard this hymn ever since I was a tike, which is why I enjoy Goldsmith's score so much. A Goldsmith treatment of a Catholic hymn from my youth? How can I not like it?
posted 05-22-2001 05:13 PM PT (US) Richard
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GOLDSMITH IS A HACK!
posted 05-22-2001 05:59 PM PT (US) Richard
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oh, woops, did I say "hack"? I meant "person".
posted 05-22-2001 06:01 PM PT (US) Al
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You meant "smoker" and you know it.
posted 05-22-2001 06:40 PM PT (US) jonathan_little
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Has that cool Goldsmith dude cut his hair yet?
posted 05-22-2001 09:03 PM PT (US) Probable
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Am I supposed to link 'smoker' to 'hack' through 'lung cancer' or something?
posted 05-22-2001 09:05 PM PT (US) Quill
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Is there a mention of the themes roots on the album...if not...the shame...
posted 05-23-2001 09:17 AM PT (US) Shaun Rutherford
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But of course Goldsmith gives credit on the album.Shaun
posted 05-23-2001 03:07 PM PT (US) Camillu
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Shaun - We want proof......
posted 05-23-2001 03:43 PM PT (US) Gae
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That explains why Willard Whyte was singing it on a Sunday Worship TV programme recently..and theres me thinking "Goldsmith is such a great composer that even the church uses his music!! Am I daft or what?...Dont answer that on the grounds it might incriminate me!! Gae Where Eagles Dare
posted 05-23-2001 03:45 PM PT (US) André Lux
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Of course he does give credit. He isn't a Horner you know...
And it was quite nice to hear him talking about his melody on the documentary of this life I saw, featuring the sessions of THE RIVER WILD: "A quite beautifull melody! I wish I wrote it..."
Can you imagine Horner or Zinzer doing this?
[Message edited by André Lux on 05-23-2001]
posted 05-23-2001 03:46 PM PT (US) John Zimmer
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I got it! I got it! Gale's Theme in The River Wild is When I survey The Wonderous Cross. (hymn)Jz
posted 05-24-2001 05:00 AM PT (US) Gae
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That explains the clip even more! Willard White was standing on a hill top singing to a statue of Jesus on the cross. Obviously he was "Surveying the Wonderous cross" Gae[Message edited by Gae on 05-24-2001]
posted 05-24-2001 04:16 PM PT (US) lars b
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It's also on the James Taylor album 'New Moon Shine'
posted 05-25-2001 02:40 AM PT (US) John Zimmer
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Really? Well I'm sure that the hymn was written before "New Moon Shine."Jz
posted 05-25-2001 07:41 AM PT (US) Quill
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My curiousity is tickled...I'll have to go home and check the disc for reference...
posted 05-25-2001 07:44 AM PT (US) Old Infopop Software by UBB