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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > March > 30 > Entry
UPDATE: Farewell to a great film composer
The cinema lost one of its greatest composers this past weekend with the death of Maurice Jarre.
The AP story about his passing mentions that Jarre is the composer of Dr. Zhivago, which is more than reasonable, considering how ubiquitous “Lara’s Theme” was.
To my ears, however, his greatest score was for another David Lean film. When I think of Lawrence of Arabia, one of the first things that springs to mind is that sweeping, majestic score. Here’s some video of Jarre conducting it.
Although Jarre was best known for his work with Lean, he wrote fine scores for many other films, including several by director Peter Weir, such as Witness and the ever-underappreciated Fearless. Jarre scores include movies as varied as Hitchcock’s Toapz, Ghost, and of all films, the Zucker-Abrams-Zucker spoof Top Secret! On the whole, his lush, enveloping style made for a sound too rarely heard in movies today.
According to Wikipedia, Jarre once said: “One could say my life itself has been one long soundtrack. Music was my life, music brought me to life, and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head and that only I can hear.”
(Update 5/12/09) News stories have revealed that Jarre never actually said that. A shame. But his music sings for itself.
More on Maurice Jarre: A fine tribute by film critic Joe Leydon, highlighted by an amusing anecdote about how Jarre almost shared the Lawrence score with one Richard Rodgers (yes, that one, with a D). See also Jarre’s fascinating interview with fellow composer Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) on CNN.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Tributes
Comments
By Joe
May 12, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this
there is a fake quote in this article. see news stories on Student Hoxes wiki.By harry
May 12, 2009 10:01 PM | Link to this
“Irish student hoaxes world’s media with florid but phony quote from dead French composer”By Allie D.
March 30, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this
My condolences to his loved-ones. He was indeed a brilliant composer. I didn’t know him by name, but once you said Doctor Zhivago, I knew exactly who you meant. I also love what he said about music. What a beautiful sentiment.