In a previous post, i lamabasted this overlong, pretentious movie. But, just listened to the CD of the score-it is wonderful! is the theme based on any folk song? It is truly beautiful-reminds me of the scores written for the old classic westerns-sort of like a John Ford western. perhaps I was a little too harsh-the music is really nice!
I’m not aware of any period music John Barry used as a reference for the film. The various themes he used (the ones for Dunbar, Two Socks, the love scenes, etc.) are all original. Barry won his 5th Oscar for the film (that’s as many as John Williams has)–though none were for the Bond films, for which he’s probably best known.
“Journey To Fort Sedgewick” is my favorite track on the DwW CD. If you like this score, definitely get the brilliant score for The Lion in Winter, perhaps his best work.