Flashnotes - September 2002

Last Flashed:
October 19, 2003

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James Horner's second entry for 2002 is for an amazing seventh film-incarnation of A.E.W. Mason's 1902 novel, The Four Feathers.  Like Horner's previous 2002 release, Windtalkers, the music here is unmistakably "James Horner," yet possesses subtle features that make the work distinctive.  Most of the trademark Hornerisms can be found in The Four Feathers, but fortunately these are occasionally performed with slight variations:  Horner's classic snare roll, string progressions, heroic trumpet, among them.  One of the most striking freatures of the score is Horner's employment of North African/ Arabic vocals performed by Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.  While this element may not initially be the most pleasing to the typical, Western-ear, it does help to separate The Four Feathers from anything Horner has done before.  While it falls far short of Horner's best works, The Four Feathers, offers compelling musical moments.  Also, like Windtalkers, The Four Feathers' best moments are not found in dominant themes, but in the more suspenseful and forceful moments.

Track 4 - Treehouse  |  Track 7 - Escape from DragonSPY  |  Track 16 - Skeletons 

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