John Barry - Dances with Wolves

Kevin Costner directed and starred in Dances with Wolves, a 1990 Western, which hoovered up seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

With a running time of nearly three hours (the director’s cut comes in just four minutes shy of four hours), it truly was a saga, and one that worked. Made for just $22 million, it eventually took more than $184 million at the box office.

The British film composer John Barry’s sweeping string sounds suited the epic nature of the story’s Sioux-soaked skylines perfectly. As well as the main 'John Dunbar Theme', the 'Love Theme' is eloquent and ever so slightly haunting; while the music used to accompany Two Socks (the ‘star’ wolf) is both shifting and beautiful.


The full score rewards extended listening. Don’t be put off by titles such as 'Two Socks at Play' or 'Stands with a Fist Remembers'. These are meat and drink to a film composer whose primary role is to write music that accompanies exactly what is happening on screen at any given moment. Unsurprisingly, the CD remains in demand more than two decades after the movie’s premiere.

Recommended Recording

John Barry conducts a Studio Orchestra. Epic Soundtrax: EK 63555.