Trevor Jones ( & Randy Edelman) - "The Last of the Mohicans" Soundtrack
Few soundtracks have had the kind of influence on my life the way this one has. It was driving and powerful and yet tender and beautiful. Reworked countless times to fit seamlessly with the movie, the score became a backdrop for many of my teenage dramas.
The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 American epic historical drama, set in 1757 during the French and Indian War. It was directed by Michael Mann, based on James Fenimore Cooper's eponymous 1826 novel and George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation, owing more to the latter than the novel. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, and Jodhi May, giving brilliant performances, with Russell Means, Wes Studi, Eric Schweig, and Steven Waddington in beautifully supporting roles.
The soundtrack features music by Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman, and the song "I Will Find You" by Clannad. Director Michael Mann initially asked Trevor Jones to provide an electronic score for the film, but late in the game, it was decided an orchestral score would be more appropriate for this historic epic. Jones hurried to re-fashion the score for orchestra in the limited time left, while the constant re-cutting of the film meant music cues sometimes had to be rewritten several times to keep up with the new timings.
Finally, with the release date looming, composer Randy Edelman was called in to score some minor scenes which Jones did not have time to do. Jones and Edelman received co-credit on the film (thus making the score ineligible for Oscar consideration). The main theme of the film is taken from the tune "The Gael" by Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean. Released on September 25, 1992 in the United States, The Last of the Mohicans was met with nearly universal praise from critics and commercial success during its box-office run.
The tribal timpani that layers with emotional strings gets me every time. There is a true art to using music to help a movie become more than just film. This is the first time I truly understood that. So today, as the rain came down and I heard this soundtrack pounding down in rhythm with the rain, I took a moment to thank the genius who gave us this gift.
So, with memories and mirrors staring back at me, I choose Trevor Jones ( & Randy Edelman)’s "The Last of the Mohicans" Soundtrack as my create your own icon, find your first blush, let no one tell you who or how you are meant to be, song for a, find the little moments, stand in your center and pull back all the magic you’ve lost, you are not anyone else’s idea of who you should be, Wednesday.