My Life

There are few composers who can successfully carry this kind of emotional film well, but if anyone can then John Barry is the man. It is perhaps more of an intimate tail than his usual fayre and lacks the epic element that suited him so well in scores such as Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves. The main theme is a typically outstanding Barry theme that is even more lilting and whimsical than usual. It is of course used in many guises throughout the remainder, and one of these variations strips it of the lilting element to turn it into the serene love theme. One performance of which features the bass line prominently and has a striking resemblance to a piece of Bach rather famously used in some cigar adverts.
As well as the more touching sentiment, there are some childlike passages that feature a bouncing woodwind synth figure that is introduced in A Childhood Wish. This raises the mood and the pace of the score, most notably in cues such as the The Old Neighbourhood and Child's Play, the latter of which has increased syncopation and gives it even more bouyancy than before. The Love Theme, as mentioned is simply a variation on the main theme, but is given some mileage from being performed on piano and then re-interpolated with the main theme. The biggest divergance from the central ideas is the second half of Child's Play which introduces some breezy and jazzy piano riffs which are a nice touch and balance out the gentlity of the rest.

The Roller Coaster has a touch of Vaughn-Williams about it, but the occasional hint of Barry harmony firmly grounds in back into context. The final moment interprets a bright horn rendition of the love theme with the childlike theme to great effect. This is then followed by the main theme to bring things to a satisfying conclusion. Not perhaps a forgotton classic, but certainly a score that is unfamiliar to fans who know of Barry's work from Bond to the more recent, broader works. It does have a tendancy toward being a fraction repetitive at times, but there are enough variations on the different ideas to warrant repeated listenings.