# Please ID this movie soundtrack piece

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-id-this-movie-soundtrack-piece/189292>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 18, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-id-this-movie-soundtrack-piece/189292 "2003-07-18T02:36:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-id-this-movie-soundtrack-piece/189292/1 "2003-07-18T02:36:03Z")

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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.”](http://www.angelfire.com/music5/arcite/moviemusic.jpg)

Surely, some Doper must know this piece?

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**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-id-this-movie-soundtrack-piece/189292/2 "2003-07-18T04:52:45Z")

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According to [soundtrack.net](http://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”.

You can hear a sample in RealAudio format here: [Pure Moods on barnesandnoble.com](http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=&ean=724384218621)

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**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-id-this-movie-soundtrack-piece/189292/3 "2003-07-18T12:09:26Z")

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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.

Barry

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**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-id-this-movie-soundtrack-piece/189292/4 "2003-07-18T12:30:46Z")

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Thanks, guys. That’s it.