Okay, I’ve been wondering about this piece for years, and it’s time to finally learn the truth. It’s a piece I believe I have heard in the television advertisements for many movies. The one place I know I’ve heard it for sure was in commercials for the film A Far Off Place. I have heard a recording of it being played by two different college roommates, but alas, I never got the chance nor remembered to ask either of them what it was.
The melody is sung by a chorus. In my mind’s ear, they’re singing on the syllables “he,” “ha,” “hel,” and “ho.” It would sound even more ridiculous if I tried to describe it further, so I created a little “score.”
According to soundtrack.net, the music used in the trailer for A Far Off Place was “The Mission” by Ennio Morricone, from the score for the movie of the same name. While the movie’s official score is performed by an orchestra, you can apparently get the version with vocals on “Pure Moods”.
Definitely from The mission. One of my favorite movies, and my all time favorite movie score. In fact, I just got the film on DVD and rewatched it last weekend. Even my wife, who had never seen the movie before and wasn’t all that impressed with it, was totally enchanted by the music (especially with “Gabriel’s Theme” as it was played over the final credits, sung by a choir with drums and the theme you quoted playing in the background).
I’m sure you can still find the soundtrack available on tape or CD. It’s well worth it, believe me.
