MovieChat Forums > Band of Brothers (2001) Discussion > The music at the end of Ep 1

The music at the end of Ep 1

posted 8 years ago by bengt_malma
3 replies | jump to latest

I live in Sweden but consider myself something of a WWII-buff. One neighbour and good friend of mine is an Englishman who worked as an extra on BOB. He pointed himself out on two occasions in Ep 3, and told about how they all had their hair cropped short although they wore German helmets, which speaks to the attention to detail.

Anyway, having been a film buff for over 50 years, I agree with those in another thread who consider this the best miniseries ever, and I would say about the best thing ever done about WWII, big screen included. I watch it every year, still with awe.

But what my post really was about is the music by Michael Camen for Ep 1, the theme played at the end as the planes take off, and nowhere else in the entire series. It's so beautiful and perfectly matched to the seriousness of the scene, and it brings tears to my eyes every time. Anyone else agree?

[–] murph24 8 years ago

Totally agree.

The music underscoring the departure of the C-47s is breathtaking; that entire sequence is my favorite in the miniseries. The same theme is used again during the final moments of episode 5 ("Crossroads") and episode 8 ("The Last Patrol"), but it's particularly stirring at the end of episode 1.

Though he's composed music for a number of high-profile projects ("Lethal Weapon," "X-Men," etc.), Michael Kamen also created a wonderful score for a little-seen 1991 film called "Let Him Have It."

[–] bengt_malma 8 years ago

Thanks, murph24, you're totally right of course about the melodic theme returning later in the series. It was this exact orchestration that I found so haunting and stirring, with the horns like in the distance, calling these young guys to the greatest battle of all time. It's my favourite sequence also.

About Michael Camen, he has written some of my favourite film scores, Open Range, Brazil, and he especially pulls out all stops and goes to town in Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Check it out if you haven't already. He died much too young.

[–] grJubei 8 years ago

I came to this forum to make a post about how the final scene of episode one with the episodes taking off is a truly moving scene and that the music is a perfect complement. I have instead found your post. I am glad. It's a very powerful scene and is evidence that Band of Brothers is a true masterpiece.