Composing Greatness: #1.The Musical or Comedy Scores - "Pocahontas" (1995)

Scene from Pocahontas

Welcome to Composing Greatness: a column dedicated to exploring the work of film composers. This will specifically focus on the films that earned them Oscar nominations while exploring what makes it so special. This will be broken down into a look at the overall style, interesting moments within the composition, and what made the score worth nominating in the first place. This will also include various subcategories where I will rank the themes of each film along with any time that the composer actually wins. This is a column meant to explore a side of film that doesn't get enough credit while hopefully introducing audiences to an enriched view of more prolific composers' work. This will only cover scores/songs that are compiled in an easily accessible format (so no extended scores will be considered). Join me every Sunday as I cover these talents that if you don't know by name, you recognize by sound.

Series Composer: Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz

Entry: Pocahontas (1995)

Collaborators (If Available): N/A

Nomination: Best Original Score

Did They Win: Yes

Other Nominees:
-The American President (Marc Shaiman)
-Sabrina (John Williams)
-Toy Story (Randy Newman)
-Unstrung Heroes (Thomas Newman)

Additional Information

This is to help provide perspective of where each composer is in their Oscar-nominated life as it related to the current entry.

Oscar Nomination: 13 (Alan Menken), 2 (Stephen Schwartz)

Oscar Wins: 8 (Alan Menken), 2 (Stephen Schwartz)

Track List

1. "The Virginia Company" 
2. "Steady as the Beating Drum (Main Title)"
3. "Pocahontas"
4. "Father Knows Best"
5. "Steady as the Beating Drum (Reprise)"
6. "Just Around the Riverbend"
7. "Grandmother Willow"
8. "Listen With Your Heart I"
9. "Ratcliffe's Cabin"
10. "Going Ashore"
11. "Pocahontas Watches/Meeko"
12. "Council Meeting"
13. "Percy's Bath"
14. "Mine, Mine, Mine"
15. "Cat 'N' Mouse"
16. "They Meet At the River's Edge"
17. "Skirmish"
18. "Unusual Name"
19. "Colors of the Wind"
20. "Something Wrong, John?"
21. "Into the Glade"
22. "Listen With Your Heart II"
23. "Warriors Arrive"
24. "Smith Returns"
25. "Sneaking Out"
26. "The Fight"
27. "Aftermath"
28. "I'll Never See Him Again"
29. "If I Never Knew You"
30. "Thomas Reports"
31. "Savages"
32. "Execution"
33. "Now's Our Chance"
34. "Farewell"
35. "If I Never Knew You (Love Theme)"
36. "Colors of the Wind (End Title)"
37. "Epiphany/Savages (Part 2)"

Note: Listen to here.

Exploring the Music

The area of the column where I will explore the music in as much detail as I see fit for each entry.

Theme Exploration:

"Pocahontas"

Following a prologue that focuses on The Virginia Company, the score lets loose on the orchestration of what we can expect from the Native American characters. It's more melodic, more swirling with the harmonies rising and falling in these ways that grab the listener. It's full of mystery and this peacefulness, making you feel like a closer look will be rewarding. As far as an introduction to Pocahontas, this is one that sets the bar high. Alan Menken continues to be a pivotal composer in Disney's library, and this is no exception. He makes it immediately memorable, making you care before the story really kicks off. 

Interesting Standout:
"Cat 'N' Mouse"

This is one of the first times that the motifs clash, finding the peaceful Pocahontas melodies clashing with The Virginia Company's more aggressive tones. It's a bit comical, reflecting worlds finally meeting each other. The melody that poached in the bushes slowly comes out, filling the listener with an intensity that pops. It all builds to a revelation that quiets down, finding these two worlds finally in each other's view. It works at capturing a moment that is small and ineffectual, but so rich with personality in supporting characters that definitely deserve a little flavor now and then. 

Best Moment:
"Execution"

To put it simply, this is the most melodramatic track on the entire soundtrack for a reason. With John Smith reaching his potential death, everything is working at double speed. The strings swell louder, the motifs culminate in satisfying ways that have been building throughout the entire score. It's all a perfect piece of subliminally playing your emotions, making you feel the weight of the moment that's about to come. As it builds to it, you find yourself in awe of what's to come, finding a significant breakthrough as the melodies reach their peak. In a score full of great moments, it makes sense that they're punctuated with a moment as rich and exciting as this.

Did This Deserve an Oscar Nomination?:
Yes

Not counting the music, this continues the Disney Renaissance's track record of making movie scores that is exceptional. Family films rarely have been allowed to be this rich, capable of making you feel the energy and weight of every note. If anything, it makes children more likely to be fans of classical music, of wanting to understand how these notes overwhelm you and make you care. Alan Menken knows how to make you care, and it's a significant reason that he hasn't really gone away in the years since. It's a mystical journey that perfectly builds atmosphere and creates something substantial. It's unfair to say that Menken deserved to be nominated AGAIN (this would be his 12 and 13th), but then again he just keeps producing quality work that deserves to be recognized.

Did This Deserve to Win?:

No

Had Alan Menken been more of a no-name composer, I'd be more willing to change my vote. As I mentioned, he's been nominated 13 times. This is one of TWO wins for him with Pocahontas. In fact, he's likely why they created the Best Original Musical or Comedy category if just to give other people a chance to win Best Original Score (check the books, he's continually won two Oscars almost every year). Compared to those, this is a fine score that continues his run of excellence, but I want to say give other people a chance. I won't say which one of these scores jump immediately to mind, but I still think that Disney's chokehold on these categories is a bit unfair when there's so much other quality out there. 

Up Next: Best Original Musical or Comedy Score - Marc Shaiman, The American President (1995)

Best Theme

A ranking of all themes composed by The Best Original Musical or Comedy Score nominees.

1. Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz: "Pocahontas" - Pocahontas (1995)

Best Winner

A ranking of all themes composed by The Best Original Musical or Comedy Score winners.

1. Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz: "Pocahontas" - Pocahontas (1995)