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OHMSS / "Winter Ambience"


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#1 MattofSteel

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 01:46 AM

Bit of an odd start, this thread. Stay with me.

 

Adore the OHMSS score - I annually punish it with repeated seasonal listens (starting December 1st) right up through Christmas. Christmas Eve, in particular - its a decade-unbroken tradition that I watch the film.

 

There's something about the Piz Gloria sequences at night - warm, stylistic, dark, Christmassy, and underlined by a mysterious glamour that's all insulated from a frigid and treacherous environment outside. It defines "winter" to me. It's that aesthetic contrast of cold, and - dare I say it - "cozy" that invoke memories of my own classic Christmas experiences. Probably why I'm so attached to it.

 

Four of Barry's outstanding tracks - Bond Settles In, Bond Meets the Girls, Sir Hilary's Night Out, and Dusk at Piz Gloria - utterly and completely capture the spirit musically for me. Phenomenal as that entire score is, I'm not ashamed to say it's not uncommon for me to leave them on a nighttime loop if I'm up working late or even just thinking and relaxing. I might be overrating them, but personally, they're a bit of "Barry zenith" to me.

 

Open question / clarification - I'm attempting to build out something of a library for pieces along these lines, call it "Winter Ambience." Anything resembling those tracks or that could fit the same spirit described above. Any suggestions? Any similar affinities? Bond or not, Barry or not, any tracks one might see fitting in such a collection?



#2 Walecs

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 06:14 AM

Hard to say, as I think Barry's OHMSS score is unique. I can't think of any piece of music which resembles that style.



#3 Guy Haines

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 08:20 AM

One of the reasons I became a Bond movie fan was the music, and OHMSS was the first Bond film I watched, and through it John Barry's score was the first I heard. I started collecting the LPs of the scores a few years later, and I have the "fold out cover" version of the OHMSS LP, with the painting of George Lazenby in  ski gear and typical Bond pose.

 

The score is one of Barry's best, Bond or non-Bond. He went into a kind of overdrive, in the best sense, to create a Bond score but a distinct one for a new Bond, and it was brilliant.

 

As for winter ambience music, when I'm listening to OHMSS I also add "The More Things Change", a Barry tune that I think was meant to be included in the score.



#4 New Digs

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 10:41 AM

I get exactly what you mean about the winter ambience in the film. One of OHMSS's strengths is evoking atmosphere. The cinematography is standout in this respect, ensuring the scenes in Piz Gloria (and everywhere else) don't look stale and stagey.

I also think when Bond is trying to evade Bunt and the spectre killers in the village after escaping from Piz Gloria, the Christmas atmosphere is captured perfectly on film. This ambience is ultimately what makes the attempted killing of Bond in the telephone booth one of the most effective scenes in the series. The danger contrasts superbly with the warm and festive holiday feeling Hunt created.

Can't think of any specific tracks to add to the winter ambience, but I am in total agreement Barry's music is phenomenal. The score and film are an essential part of Christmas.

Edited by New Digs, 23 December 2014 - 11:01 AM.


#5 hilly

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 01:03 PM

Yep. I wrapped my Christmas presents on Sunday with the OHMSS dvd on in the background.

The perfect Christmas accompaniment



#6 MattofSteel

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 02:39 PM

I get exactly what you mean about the winter ambience in the film. One of OHMSS's strengths is evoking atmosphere.

 

Something Tom Newman's also particularly stellar at. Pre-Skyfall, I was practically up-at-night anxious about his ability to handle the larger, louder, melody-driven parts of a Bond score - boy, was I wrong. With SPECTRE, I'd like to see Newman unleash on the atmospheric front and create some really rich, memorable, Bondian environmental music that makes use of all the layering and depth he's displayed in much of his best work.



#7 FlemingBond

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Posted 23 December 2014 - 03:27 PM

i love the score, but overall i wouldn't say it evokes Christmas, otherthan the skating rink scene with "Do you know how Christmas trees are grown" playing.



#8 agentbug

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Posted 04 January 2015 - 07:04 PM

Interesting. I've just finished watching OHMSS - practically for the first time ever would you believe (I've always put it off) - and the ice rink scene in particular got me thinking 'Christmas'. I may have to make sure the next time I watch it is Christmas 2015.

Sadly I didn't particularly notice the music of the scenes you mention, so will have to look them up as I'm a sucker for this winter ambience you mention. Just earlier I got to a new level of a computer game which had snow and music with bells in, and it occurred to me how it'd be nice to have such music in one place so I could crack it out when the season rolls around. As it is I'll have to stick with the Home Alone soundtrack. ;)

#9 MattofSteel

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Posted 06 January 2015 - 11:20 PM

Which game?



#10 sharpshooter

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Posted 07 January 2015 - 12:21 AM

Sir Hilary's Night Out is a masterpiece of atmosphere. Very introverted and thoughtful cue. It connects with Bond's soul, this solitary man on a mission alone in the Swiss Alps. It's a bittersweet sound and I often return to it. Thomas Newman's Someone Usually Dies is another one of these cues. Mysterious, but also relaxed and somewhat tense in places. So happy he's back again for SPECTRE.

#11 MattofSteel

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Posted 28 January 2015 - 04:21 AM

Sir Hilary's Night Out is a masterpiece of atmosphere. Very introverted and thoughtful cue. It connects with Bond's soul, this solitary man on a mission alone in the Swiss Alps. It's a bittersweet sound and I often return to it. Thomas Newman's Someone Usually Dies is another one of these cues. Mysterious, but also relaxed and somewhat tense in places. So happy he's back again for SPECTRE.

 

Agreed. Newman's especially good at those types of pieces - I'd love to see him embrace the idea and take it even further. Context/film allowing, of course.



#12 agentbug

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Posted 28 January 2015 - 07:12 AM

Which game?


It was, of all things, a level in Toad: Treasure Tracker lol, however these two are also so wonderfully (if a little over the top) Christmassy:

Banjo Kazooie:



Diddy Kong Racing



But I digress lol. These probably aren’t the kinds of music you were talking about, but if you’ve played the games they’ll bring back good memories. :)

#13 sharpshooter

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Posted 28 January 2015 - 08:02 AM

 

Sir Hilary's Night Out is a masterpiece of atmosphere. Very introverted and thoughtful cue. It connects with Bond's soul, this solitary man on a mission alone in the Swiss Alps. It's a bittersweet sound and I often return to it. Thomas Newman's Someone Usually Dies is another one of these cues. Mysterious, but also relaxed and somewhat tense in places. So happy he's back again for SPECTRE.

 

Agreed. Newman's especially good at those types of pieces - I'd love to see him embrace the idea and take it even further. Context/film allowing, of course.

 

Especially considering Austria will feature for a solid length of screentime. It's our best hope for more of this winter/cozy sound.



#14 Walecs

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Posted 28 January 2015 - 10:26 PM

Well, now that's a wonderful surprise. Banjo-Kazooie is one of my favourite games ever and part of my childhood, not to mention the reason I became a Bond fan (the software house who made Banjo had previously made GoldenEye 007, which had me watch the movie of the same name).

 

I'd like to suggest the score for the videogame "Viva Piñata", which I think is the closest you'll get to tracks like "Dusk at Piz Gloria". By far the best classical music-like score you'll ever find in a videogame.

Especially "Tomorrow's Wonders",  "Snowy Blankets", "Winter Shines", "Tranquil Hours", "Chilly Promise", "Stardust Falls" and "Frosty Morning" are the ones which fit the winter atmosphere the most.


Edited by Walecs, 28 January 2015 - 10:32 PM.


#15 FlemingBond

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Posted 29 January 2015 - 04:43 PM

not only does OHMSS take place at Christmas , but years ago when i got my dvd player that was the first movie i got and i played it right after Christmas. So every year i feel like i should be watching it at Christmas time.



#16 agentbug

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Posted 29 January 2015 - 09:28 PM

Well, now that's a wonderful surprise. Banjo-Kazooie is one of my favourite games ever and part of my childhood, not to mention the reason I became a Bond fan (the software house who made Banjo had previously made GoldenEye 007, which had me watch the movie of the same name).


GoldenEye 64, soooooo many hours of fun had with that game. And Banjo-Kazooie is a blast from start to finish. Rare were amazing back then. Ah, nostalgia...!

#17 Call Billy Bob

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Posted 29 January 2015 - 09:29 PM

Well, now that's a wonderful surprise. Banjo-Kazooie is one of my favourite games ever and part of my childhood, not to mention the reason I became a Bond fan (the software house who made Banjo had previously made GoldenEye 007, which had me watch the movie of the same name).


GoldenEye 64, soooooo many hours of fun had with that game. And Banjo-Kazooie is a blast from start to finish. Rare were amazing back then. Ah, nostalgia...!

PERFECT DARK

#18 agentbug

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Posted 30 January 2015 - 09:09 PM

PERFECT DARK


Elvis the alien!

#19 Walecs

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Posted 31 January 2015 - 07:50 PM

 

 

Well, now that's a wonderful surprise. Banjo-Kazooie is one of my favourite games ever and part of my childhood, not to mention the reason I became a Bond fan (the software house who made Banjo had previously made GoldenEye 007, which had me watch the movie of the same name).


GoldenEye 64, soooooo many hours of fun had with that game. And Banjo-Kazooie is a blast from start to finish. Rare were amazing back then. Ah, nostalgia...!

 

PERFECT DARK

 

 

I have no words to say how much I love that game. It made me buy the two novels based on the game, which are my favourite pieces of literature (and I read many books).

 

You guys should really check this, it's an unofficial film and trust me when I say it is awesome. https://www.indiegog...rfect-dark-film



#20 Aziz Fekkesh

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Posted 01 February 2015 - 01:00 PM

I very much enjoyed reading your post - you've beautifully described a quality in the music that I think perhaps I've known for a while on some level but never really consciously considered. It's a perfect morning for reflecting on it - it's just dawn and a snowstorm is in progress with windblown snow piling up on the windowsills.

 

The only thing that occurs to me straight away is "Walking in the Air" from Howard Blake's music to "The Snowman".

 

I'll keep thinking - it'll be winter for a while yet here.

 

Aziz



#21 Leo R.

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Posted 18 February 2015 - 08:46 AM


Open question / clarification - I'm attempting to build out something of a library for pieces along these lines, call it "Winter Ambience." Anything resembling those tracks or that could fit the same spirit described above. Any suggestions? Any similar affinities? Bond or not, Barry or not, any tracks one might see fitting in such a collection?

 

I always thought of this piece in that way, just ignore the sea sounds:

 


Edited by Leo R., 18 February 2015 - 08:47 AM.