$5 for $5: Voices of Freedom

by Travis Elder

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For last couple weeks I have treasured John E. Ferling's Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence.  I am also reading William Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.  Both books have renewed my appreciation for the freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of the United States of America and awakened a remembrance that freedom is not free.  If we are not careful, watchful, and engaged freedom can be lost.  

Many score composers over the years have shared with all of us wonderful, musical expressions of freedom.  Below I present six pieces (I couldn't keep it to five this time), each featuring the use of the human voice as an instrument, that inspire gratitude for freedom and spark the desire to preserve and protect those freedoms.

My Name is Lincoln by Steve Jablonsky from The Island.  My first pick is the most modern sounding of the bunch and has since been featured in a number of trailers.  While not necessarily the most original of pieces, I have always enjoyed how Steve Jablonsky scored the liberation of the clones near the movie's end.  It is an inspiring piece I have returned to many times over the years.

Arnhem by Michael Giacchino from Medal of Honor: Frontline.   During World War II British and Polish military units attempted to secure a bridge located in Arnhem, a city in the Netherlands.  German forces offered stiff resistance and repelled these Allied troops.  Giacchino's choral tribute to these freedom fighters for the EA video game always stirs my soul and reminds me that in the fight for freedom success will not always occur immediately.  Allied forces later defeated German forces in the area.

They'll Remember You by John Ottman from Valkyrie.  Another piece inspired by a World War II era work, John Ottman beautifully eulogizes the failed, but valiant efforts of a group of German army officers to rid the German people of the tyranny of Adolph Hitler.  Featured over the end credits the beautiful choral melodies engender a reverent respect for the brave attempt of Colonel Stauffenberg and others to take back their country from despotism.

Cadillac of the Skies by John Williams from Empire of the Sun.  As American P-51 Mustangs attack a Japanese internment camp towards the end of World War II, Jim, a British youth captured by the Japanese, shouts triumphantly, "Cadillac of the Skies!"  John Williams' score captures the moment through angelic choir that mirrors Jim's exultant cries.


Elegy for Dunkirk by Dario Marianelli from Atonement.  Early during World War II as the German's moved against France the British intervened and their army was nearly destroyed.  Fortunately, inexplicably, and even miraculously Hitler ordered a temporary stop to the hostilities during which time the battered British army evacuated their beaten soldiers from a beach at Dunkirk, France.  Marianelli's somber, but tender tones, mixed halfway through with a group of soldiers singing the hymn: 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind' reminds us that even in the face of defeat hope remains.

End Credits/Sgt. MacKenzie/The Mansions Of The Lord.  There is a reason this piece found its way into President Ronald Reagan's funeral.  It is truly one of the most moving choral pieces found in any cinematic piece.  No matter how many times I hear it I still get the chills.  This cue more than any other helps me appreciate those who have fought and died for freedom.  Ponder the words to hymn, The Mansions of the Lord, by Randall Wallace:

To fallen soldiers let us sing,

Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing,

Our broken brothers let us bring

To the Mansions of the Lord

No more weeping,

No more fight,

No friends bleeding through the night,

Just Devine embrace,

Eternal light,

In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry

And no children weep,

We shall stand and guard

Though the angels sleep,

Oh, through the ages let us keep

The Mansions of the Lord

5 for $5 - Rousing Sports Score Greats

by Travis Elder
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This year on ScoreCues we are excited to present a new feature for the budget conscious looking for some great music.  If you are like me you a) don't have the funds to buy even a tenth of the large number of score cues released each year and b) have limited time for listening to the gargantuan amount of hours of score music available.  With these ideas in mind we will regularly feature each month a playlist of five cues costing no more than $5.99 that will let you get the most bang for your listening pleasure buck.  So with out further adieu we present our first 5 for $5: Rousing Sports Score Greats. 

Sports movies often bring out a composers best.  Perhaps this is because sports movies at their core are almost always about an underdog overcoming great odds to triumph.  This theme lends itself well to musical interpretations as this fine playlist below shows: 


Titans Spirit by Trevor Rabin from Remember the Titans (7:25).  First up is Trevor Rabin's muscular manthem from Remember the Titans.  Rabin gave the Titans a spirit in his music that resonates to the core and is sure to arose your inner titan.

The Final Game by Jerry Goldsmith from Rudy (6:13).  Jerry Goldsmith set the gold (couldn't resist the pun) standard for sports movie scoring with his scores to Hoosiers (aka Best Shot ) and Rudy.  The Final Game highlights the final pivotal sequence in Rudy where Daniel "Rudy" Ruettgier fulfills his dream to play football as a player for the University of Notre Dame.  The scene brought me to tears and Jerry's score packs an emotional wallop.

Overture by Bill Conti from Rocky II (8:38).  The Overture from Rocky II is arguably the best cue from the entire Rocky franchise particularly as it states most all of the great themes from the first two movies including the Rocky fanfare including the discoized version, the heartful theme for Adrian, and the new Redemption theme.  This cue is sure to get your heart pumping, energize your disco juices, and inspire you to run ever faster and work harder during your exercise routines.

From Master to Student to Master by James Horner from The Karate Kid (10:33).  This cue from the 2010 Karate Kid reboot was a highlight for me that year.  If you listen to the thirty second sample for this cue you are scarcely given any idea of the powerful punch this cue has to offer.  The cue starts off soft and builds until the last amazing five minutes and 44 seconds, the training montage sequence from the movie, which will blow you away with its stirring and inspirational fanfare.

Ballet for Brawlers by James Peterson from The Red Canvas (11:29).  Don't be fooled by the use of the term 'ballet' as this cue is definitely not Tchaikovsky, but a modern, epic action brawl for a little known mixed martial arts movie.  Its obvious the composer put his heart and soul into this cue and hopefully more will come to appreciate it.  

With so many other great sports cues remaining we are certain to revisit this theme again for our 5 for $5.  At $4.85 and clocking in at over 44 minutes this playlist of sports score cue classics is an out of the park deal!