# Composer John Barry dies aged 77 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627 "2011-01-31T10:46:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/1 "2011-01-31T10:46:46Z")
IMO agruably the greatest movie comopser Those great Bond themes and so much more. Also TV series, I was only listening to this last night - [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t99QQIXez4M/hqdefault.jpg "Tv Theme The Persuaders (Full Theme)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t99QQIXez4M) ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/2 "2011-01-31T13:12:55Z")
Loved the theme from The Persuaders! I was watching this on DVD just a few days ago. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZJj-jQ9dTHc/hqdefault.jpg "Eleanor & Franklin (1976) - ABC: Opening Credits") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJj-jQ9dTHc) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/3 "2011-01-31T14:32:00Z")
John Barry was an awesome composer. As much as any other party, his music defined even the least memorable Bond movies that he scored, and was one of the few composers who effectively enmeshed instrumental and electronic music. And somehow, his scores were always characteristic, even when they were distinctly different styles. I remember watching both _Enigma_ and _Walkabout_ and thinking, “This sounds just like a very John Barry score,” only to find his name in the credits. The only other film score composer I would put on the same level is Lalo Schifrin, and I’d still pick Barry overall. I even enjoyed his non-film compositions despite not generally being my cup of tea (“modern classical” being an oxymoron, and generally a poorly done one at that). He will be sorely missed. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/4 "2011-01-31T14:46:48Z")
A very talented film-score composer. My favorites of his, other than the Bond theme (the credit for which is disputed, BTW: [John Barry (composer) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barry_(composer)#Authorship_of_the_.22James_Bond_Theme.22)), are _Out of Africa, Dances with Wolves_ and _The Black Hole_. May he rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/5 "2011-01-31T14:53:11Z")
He co-wrote my favorite Bond song, a-ha’s “The Living Daylights.” There are two versions, as they couldn’t agree on the best one… I’m a huge a-ha fan, but Barry’s is the best. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/6 "2011-02-01T00:21:39Z")
I, too, was saddened to hear about the news, but, as I read on another site, it’s hard to be too sad about a long life that was so full of accomplishments. I thought myself fairly well-versed in John Barry’s compositions, but, looking over his composition listings on IMDB, I’m amazed at what he’s responsible for. As an example among many, I didn’t know that he wrote the music for [Born Free](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhGeH07lo5M) (or that there was even an orchestral version of the Andy Williams song). His was an amazing talent. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/7 "2011-02-01T01:50:36Z")
The number of memorable film scores he was associated with is jaw-dropping. Some of my personal faves are his scores for _Zulu_, _Goldfinger_, and _On Her Majesty’s Secret Service_. A stupendous talent; he will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/8 "2011-02-01T06:27:10Z")
Can’t let this thread go much farther without mentioning [_The Lion in Winter_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK52DQekWfg&feature=related). As **Stranger On A Train** pointed out, it’s distinctively Barry; but it’s about as far from _Born Free_ or the Bond movies as one could imagine. And I gotta give bonus points to a composer who puts a “Dies Irae” into a film score. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/9 "2011-02-01T06:27:24Z")
What a giant- only John Williams compares among those of the past decades. I love _The Lion in Winter_ soundtrack. [Main Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jde-NT7vfn0&feature=related) [Eleanor’s Arrival](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwQ3kVJv7AI) And for those who really love his Lion in Winter music- [the 10 minute Royal Albert Hall LiW suite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyNTfaifS2Y). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/10 "2011-02-01T13:50:57Z")
I’d not heard about this. What a loss. I remember as a kid, still too young to go to movies by myself, riding my bike to the mall so I could buy the new Bond soundtracks whenever they came out. I’d sit in the living room alone just marveling at the music, staring at the cover illustrations and pictures and imagining just how good the movie was going to be. Thank you, Mr. Barry, for such a marvelous, legendary contribution to the enjoyment of so many. ---
**Author:** ![StJoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@StJoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StJoan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/11 "2011-02-01T13:57:32Z")
Just popped in to mention this: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZb64XQYpcs) That was when I first heard of Mr. Barry… lovely music. Rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/12 "2011-02-01T16:52:00Z")
What a loss! I’ve seen no mention of his amazing score to [_ **Midnight Cowboy** _](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGORPUzLxtU). But to those who say only John Williams or Lalo Schifrin compare, how soon we seem to have forgotten Jerry Goldsmith. Look at this [body of work](http://www.jerrygoldsmithonline.com/soundtracks.htm)! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/13 "2011-02-01T17:33:29Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > But to those who say only John Williams or Lalo Schifrin compare, how soon we seem to have forgotten Jerry Goldsmith. Look at this [body of work](http://www.jerrygoldsmithonline.com/soundtracks.htm)! Goldsmith may have done a large body of work, but his compositions tend to all sound very similar and generally unmemorable; ditto for Williams (aside from his “Indiana Jones theme” and the opening bars and “Emperor’s March” from the _Star Wars_ movies, I can’t really recall a Williams score on its own), and James Horner. Barry, however, composed very memorable and distinctive scores across a wide range of musical styles, from pure orchestral and jazz to electronic and modern pop. That the same composer has the range to work with Shirley Bassey, Louis Armstrong, and Duran Duran, producing some of the most remembered hits of their respective careers (“Goldfinger”, “We Have All The Time In The World”, “A View To A Kill”) is damned impressive, and there are few composers working today that have that talent. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/14 "2011-02-01T19:21:07Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Goldsmith may have done a large body of work, but his compositions tend to all sound very similar and generally unmemorable Really? The themes from _The Man From U.N.C.L.E._, _Planet of the Apes_, _Patton_, _Chinatown_, and _The Omen_ are similar and unmemorable? Mind you, I wasn’t saying that Goldsmith was superior to John Barry - I don’t think he was. But I do think he deserves a spot as one of the great film composers of all time. So does Randy Newman, for that matter. And I think both Goldsmith and Newman are the equal of John Williams. But Barry was superior to the three. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/15 "2011-02-01T20:17:03Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Really? The themes from _The Man From U.N.C.L.E._, _Planet of the Apes_, _Patton_, _Chinatown_, and _The Omen_ are similar and unmemorable? Of them, I can only remember _Chinatown_ distinctly, and only because I have seen the movie at least a dozen times. (I thought Schifrin did _The Man From U.N.C.L.E_ but [IMDb.com](http://IMDb.com) indicates that there were a number of different composers and theme songs.) Goldsmith is a solid composer with a large body of work, but I don’t hear a soundtrack that he has scored for the first time and think, “That sounds like Jerry Goldsmith.” With Barry (or Schifrin or Ennio Morricone) I can listen to a score and think, “That sounds like John Barry,” and lo and behold, it is. What is phenomenal about Barry, however, is how many different musical media he worked in. The guy could go from a full orchestra to a Moog synth and simple native percussion instruments and still put a distinctive stamp on his material. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/16 "2011-02-01T21:20:51Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > What is phenomenal about Barry, however, is how many different musical media he worked in. The guy could go from a full orchestra to a Moog synth and simple native percussion instruments and still put a distinctive stamp on his material. I could not agree with that statement more! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/composer-john-barry-dies-aged-77/569627/17 "2011-02-01T23:30:23Z")
A bit of an aside but hopefully not a hijack: I wonder if future generations will ever look upon people like John Barry and John Williams the way we look upon classical composers. It’s true that they don’t compose symphonies or operas, but they often compose just as much music for a movie as you’d hear in a symphony and many movie themes are just beautiful melodies.