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I own dozens of soundtracks, and this is one of my absolute favorites. Trevor Jones' compositions (which comprise tracks 1-9) are some of the best music ever composed for film, and Randy Edelman's (tracks 10-15) are very good too, even if they never quite reach the heights that Jones' do. The last track, 16, is a shortened version of the beautiful song "I Will Find You" by Clannad (more on that later.)
The reason that there are two composers is that co-writer/director Michael Mann originally tasked Jones (one of my favorite film/TV composers) with composing and performing an electronic score, then realized late in the production process that an orchestral score would work better for a historical epic such as The Last of the Mohicans. Rushed to compose a new score, Jones didn't have time to finish scoring the movie, so Edelman was brought in to compose a handful of pieces. Mann ended up having it both ways, as Jones provided an orchestral score and Edelman a mostly electronic one. This could seem jarring to some, but it really doesn't bother me, as I enjoy both types of music. I think the biggest issue is that Jones got to score most of the big, epic scenes, whereas Edelman's contributions are mostly for the smaller, quiet scenes, so his music seems more "background," while Jones' is front and center in every scene. That's definitely not a criticism of Jones' score, because like I said, it's remarkably breathtaking, but I think it's one of the reasons his pieces are far more memorable than Edelman's.
I like that the album is split into the two composers' scores, track-wise, as it allows you to glory in the majesty of Jones' compositions without being interrupted by Edelman's comparatively weaker contributions, and then to appreciate what is, after all, quite a lovely score by the latter without it being overshadowed every other track by Jones' music. I do find it odd, however, that even when divided between the two composers, the tracks are presented out of order to their corresponding scenes in the film. That's not a criticism, as it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the album, but it is a bit strange, and I'm curious what the rationale was behind that decision.
I do have two major complaints, though, the lesser of which is that we don't get the full version of the aforementioned Clannad song "I Will Find You," the full-length version of which is over five minutes long; instead we get the short, 1:50 minute version used in the film. While it's still a gorgeous song, I really would've preferred the full version. My biggest complaint is with this version of "Promontory," one of the most stirring and perfect pieces of music ever composed, adapted from Dougie MacLean's "The Gael." The 6:15 minute version on this album, while, again, still gorgeous, is not the version used in the movie, which is about eight minutes long and has a slightly different arrangement. The album version even fades out at about the 4:20 minute mark and transitions into another variation on the main theme for the rest of the track. Why? Why did they have to mess with one of the spectacular pieces of music ever? Like I said, it's still a beautiful track, I just wish they had gone with the movie version.
Anyway, those two criticisms aside, this is pretty much a perfect soundtrack album for a fantastic movie. I highly recommend it.
The standout tracks, for me, are:
1. Main Title*
Love, love, LOVE this theme. I've seen some complaints that it's overused throughout Jones' portion of the score, but I disagree. For one thing, it's one of the most epic movie themes ever composed, in my opinion, so why use it just once? For another, it's woven so skillfully throughout the other tracks it's used in that it doesn't feel like it's just on loop; it's tweaked depending on the mood of the scene. Chills every time.
2. Elk Hunt*
Propulsive and guaranteed to get the blood pumping.
3. The Kiss*
I love that it starts out with the "Promontory" theme and then, slowly, the main theme is incorporated in. One of my favorite love themes from a movie.
5. Fort Battle*
Bombastic and everything that battle music should be.
6. Promontory*
Even with my criticisms of this version, it's still achingly beautiful, and probably the piece of music from this movie people remember most.
8. Massacre/Canoes*
Another excellent battle piece.
9. Top of the World*
The final variation on the soaring main theme, given a bittersweet flavor to appropriately end this beautiful film.
10. The Courier**
This is the one Randy Edelman track that I feel stands (nearly) head and shoulders with the Trevor Jones tracks.
16. I Will Find You***
Even if it's the short version, it's still lovely and a fitting sendoff to this wonderful album.
*by Trevor Jones
**by Randy Edelman
***by Clannad
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Reviews with images
Love this soundtrack
I drive Uber and have had more people recognize where this music is from and how much they like it.
Top reviews from other countries
Asian O The Time Outlaw
Fantastic score, great pressing
Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2022
Asian O The Time Outlaw
Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2022
Images in this review
Martin Slater
A timeless sound track
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2023
Günter Stüdemann
Filmmusik zu: Der letzte Mohikaner
Reviewed in Germany on March 16, 2021