If I were asked to think of the perfect composer for scoring a film adaptation of Mark Twain's semi-true "autobiography" Roughing It about life on the frontier in the old west, nobody would spring to my mind quicker than Bruce Broughton.  Having almost certainly scored more westerns than every other film composer put together over the last twenty years, Broughton excels in the genre; coupled with the inherent wit and warmth in the story, there could be nobody better.  The movie is actually one of Hallmark's high-budget productions (Broughton scoring a theatrically-released feature film seems about as likely as me becoming King) but even so, he clearly had the budget to write a lengthy orchestral score and record it with a top orchestra, so no complaints.

There are several themes which intertwine over the course of the score.  Mostly of the semi-comic variety, this is very much happy music, designed to generate warmth and put a smile on your face.  And what's wrong with that?  Far too little of it these days.  Few composers can write such lyrical, expressive music and use an orchestra so well as Broughton.  Here, his themes are jaunty, favouring warm strings and quick-tempo woodwind, creating images of strolling through an old town, drinking a beer, chewing hay, jumping onto your horse, exclaiming "them darn critters!" and so on.  It really is terrifically descriptive music.  Broughton mixes in a little action - "Bandits!" - a little romance - "Silver and Snow" - and a whole lot of joyous spirit. 

The album is the ninth in Intrada's Special Collection.  At 75 minutes (and thirty-eight tracks) I think it begins to wear a little thin, but by and large this is a winning score.  Perhaps not quite on the same level as other Broughton scores for westerns, nevertheless this is a winning album, well worth getting for the composer's fans. 

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