1) The Legend (Tristan's Theme)
This is the central theme of the film - it stands for the
Legend itself. As the main character of the film is Tristan,
this theme is his key signature theme. This is the real
Main Theme of the film.
2) Samuel's Theme
This theme is only used sparely in conjunction with the screen
appearance of Samuel, it is most often used during rememberances to
him after he died.
3) Alfred's Theme
This theme is used more sparely than Samuel's, only in the
most important scenes where Alfred is playing a central role
in the story.
4) The Colonel's Theme
This theme is used only twice in the film: during the first meeting
with Susannah and in the finale
Now to a track-by-track analysis of the score and its relation to the film:
1. Legends Of The Fall (4:17)
"Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness.
And they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy
or they become ... Legend"
0:00 This track starts with a lone trumpet playing a fraction of the
Legend Theme.
0:36 A rhythm with the shakuhachi flute starts
after the narration above. This special flute is always used in
the score to comment the 'animal' side of Tristan.
1:38 The scene cuts to the Colonel who leaves the army because he
recognised that he can't help the Indians this way. Low flutes
and strings emphasize the desperate situation.
1:59 The colonel begins again and settles into a house far away
from any civilisation. With this action the main theme is first
presented in full development.
The young boys are shown and how the young Samuel was covered by
his older brothers. The cue ends when Tristan seeks out a contact
with a bear.
2. The Ludlows (5:40)
All the themes for the various members of the family are
introduced in this cue:
0:00 It begins with a piano rendition of Samuel's Theme which is
performed on screen. Samuel sings along the tune.
0:40 For the first time Susannah's theme is introduced.
1:39 The Legend Theme starts as we see Tristan on a horse riding off
to catch a wild horse.
2:22 Alfred's theme
2:53 A musical segue into a (yet unidentified) theme
3:32 Another (yet unidentified) theme
4:12 Alfred's theme
4:43 The cue ends with Samuel's Theme
3. Off To War (5:55)
This cue starts when Susannah is very worried when she heard that
Samuel wants to go to war. She tells Tristan to not let him go.
The sad situation is scored only with a flute and some muted strings
0:43 Alfred enters the room as he sees Susannah and Tristan hugging
each other. His misinterpretation is commented with crying strings
and lonely piano.
1:28 As the morning comes when the boys leave to war, a typical
'John Barry Sound' is heard.
3:18 The Colonel's theme is played with the final goodbyes.
4:43 A Horn signal leads into the main theme as the brothers ride
off to war.
4. To The Boys... (2:49)
This track starts with optimistic brass fanfares and heavy percussion
as the first pictures of the war are shown - they are willing
to win. As the soldiers are beginning to be decimated and have to
retreat the brass is muted and the Strings get more subdued into
a requiem-like sound.
5. Samuel's Death (8:24)
Tristan tries to rescue Samuel. He rides of furiously with his horse.
One of Horner's best action moments in his career underscore his
ride through enemy lines.
2:15 The action comes to an abrupt halt as Samuel falls down in
the midst of a toxic gas. Blinded from this gas he tumbles helplessly
around. Tristan searches him desperately.
3:35 Tristan arrives too late and sees how Samuel is been shot.
The music calms down.
5:08 Tristan condems God and cuts Samuel's heart out to sent it
back home.
5:38 The shakuhachi flute begins with a rhythm as Tristan's animal
side awakens and he takes skalps from various enemys. He is on the
edge of madness now.
6. Alfred Moves To Helena (5:01)
Alfred sees no chance to win Susannah's heart and so he leaves the
farm and goes to the town Helena. His theme gets a first full
rendition here.
The music is optimistic but not glorious.
2:00 The scene cuts to Tristan and Susannah together happy. Susannah's
Theme is played.
7. Farewell / Descent Into Madness (8:13)
A devastating moment: Tristan couldn't rescue a calf from
wired string and had to shoot it.This remembered him that Samuel
died in a similar helpless situation. He decides to leave the land
to go as far as possible away to forget this horrible moment.
His theme is now played, but disturbed with the shakuhachi flute to
show that now the animal inside him becomes stronger.
1:19 Tristan is about to leave, a piano comments this.
4:30 A cymbal crash serves as a suiting cut in the music as Tristan
rides of. A second cymbal crash is in sync with a wave as Tristan
is shown on a ship heading for a country far away.
5:32 The love theme for Tristan and Susannah is played during scenes
when they tell each other in Letters what they do.
6:50 But Tristan is slowly sliding into madness. Again the shakuhachi
in addition to dramatic drums comment this. But this time it is
the most critic situation in Tristans life - he left his love for
Susannah.
8. The Changing Seasons, Wild Horses, Tristan's Return (5:11)
The years are going by, and Tristan did not return. The colonel grews
old within one day as he received the fatal letter from Tristan to
Susannah: 'All that we have is dead - Marry another'.
1:33 But with the sound of hooves (both in the music and on screen)
Tristan returns finally in a heroic moment.
2:18 His theme is played with the full orchestra to comment this.
3:05 The music gets more subdued as Tristan mets his weak father,
being without speech since he received the letter.
9. The Wedding (3:06)
Tristan and Isabel are marrying. The bear inside Tristan is now quiet
and they live happy together.
10. Isabel's Murder, Recollections Of Samuel (3:58)
Isabel has been shot by accident, but Tristan is so enraged about
another tragic loss of a beloved person that he attacks a police
officer and nearly kills him. The music starts when he picked up
the dead body of Susannah.
1:58 Samuel's theme starts as he is remembered
11. Revenge (6:20)
Tristan seeks revenge for the death of Isabel, all preparations
from sharpening knives to loading guns until the final attack
are described musically in this cue.
It ends very mournfully as finally Susannah commits suicide
12. Goodbyes (3:12)
This cue was not used in the film (?)
13. Alfred, Tristan, The Colonel, The Legend... (15:09)
The track starts with the revenge music as policemen want
to judge Tristan for doing revenge.
1:53 A trumpet blast signals the one good deed of Alfred
as he shoots a policemen to protect Tristan from being shot.
Due to this, the colonel finally forgives him.
They all say Goodbye to each other as Tristan leaves them
6:32 Tristan meets his destiny as he is killed by a bear.
A shakuhachi in conjunction with his theme is again used
to describe this.
7:09 A fiddle solo starts the End Titles where all major themes
are played to lead this score to a great end.
This study was created by Ralf Treuherz
Thanks a lot for this contribution.