Not many "real" westerns get made these days, but when they do, producers wisely seem to turn to Bruce Broughton to provide his brilliant style of Americana.  Aside from acknowledged classics Silverado and Tombstone, Broughton has written many scores for westerns (and his style is so natural to associate with the American West, even when he's writing for something else it sometimes sounds like it's a western!) - O Pioneers! was a 1991 Hallmark tv movie based on the novel by Willa Carter, starring Jessica Lange and David Strathairn.  

Broughton wastes no time in introducing his expansive, expressive main theme in "The Land".  A pastoral consideration of the West rather than a rambunctious Bernstein-style piece, its beauty is great and its power strong.  It goes on to be heard in various incarnations through the score, though Broughton varies the orchestration and feeling of the piece enough to avoid complaints of too much repetition.  A secondary theme is a lovely jaunty little piece which intermingles with the main theme on various occasions; and there's a wealth of other material to boot.  Particularly of note is the delightful action music in "Bishop's Cavalcade" (which certainly does provide the rambunctious material which will satisfy many listeners).

Intrada's album is still in print (and available from Amazon through the link below) and if you're a fan of rich Americana in the vein of Aaron Copland and Elmer Bernstein then I'm sure you will take great pleasure in listening to O Pioneers!  A great score, from a great composer.

Buy this CD by clicking here!

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