Unforgettable Cuts: “Clancy’s Theme,” by Bruce Rowland

Last updated on: February 16, 2015 at 9:56 am by Joseph Susanka

Unforgettable Cuts: “Clancy’s Theme,” by Bruce Rowland 2015-02-16T09:56:23-07:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Bruce Rowland-penned score for The Man from Snowy River is fantastic, and a significant factor in the film’s status as A Fast Favorite of the Susanka Seven. Yes, I’m sure the whips and horses and the insane plunge down the cliffside are all part of its charm, as well. But the soundtrack is spectacular.

For the boys, the film’s musical appeal is largely tied to “The Chase” — a track for which they clamor with heart-warming regularity. Once it’s playing, they tear around the living room with (w)reckless abandon. (Come to think of it, they do that all the time, anyway. But with the score, they’re particularly lively.)

For me, though, it’s always been “Clancy’s Theme.”

Love the humming — both at the opening and at the close — and the flute/recorder-y sound blends wonderfully with the piano and guitar. (I also love the Irish “rebel song” Rowland’s quoting: “Boolavogue.” Rowland’s tempo is better, though. And the humming, remember? Don’t forget that.)

“Unrelated,” but Clancy’s also my favorite character. (Do I love the theme because it’s my favorite character’s? Or is he my favorite character because I associate my favorite theme with him? So…yeah. Chicken-egg issues, for sure. Though I’m leaning “Clancy’s great because Jack Thompson’s great” at the moment.)

View image | gettyimages.com

Bonus Awesomeness: Snowy River’s star, Tom Burlinson, reciting the A.B. “Banjo” Paterson poem that inspired the film. WOW. The InterWebs are amazingly cool places!

Bonus Irritation: It’s not streaming anywhere. You could get it on DVD from NETFLIX, or rent it from AMAZON($) or GOOGLE PLAY($) or ETC($). But no easily-available streaming source, which means I can’t use it for one of my Friday Recommendations. How is it that my every whim is not being satisfied? The Interwebs are amazingly frustrating places!

Attribution(s): Photos courtesy of Getty Images, which allows the use of certain images “as long as the photo is not used for commercial purposes (meaning in an advertisement or in any way intended to sell a product, raise money, or promote or endorse something);” close-up of the image of Banjo Paterson featured on the Australian ten-dollar note comes from Shutterstock.

Movies

Music

Previous Post

May 6, 2014

So It Begins

Next Post

May 8, 2014 Graham Greene's "The Hint of an Explanation" Offers Much More Than a Hint

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz