Deixa-me rir...

"Caros audiophiles, I must commemorate my favourite film music composer, the great John Barry, the Man With The Midas Touch (to paraphrase one of the Bond film titles), who died this week.

Instantly recognisable for his signature orchestrations - romantic soaring strings with punchy brass and jazzy rhythms - he composed some of the most evocative instrumental and song melodies to compliment some of the most memorable and captivating moving images to grace the big screen.

His triumphs are many. The popular James Bond themes: my favourite You Only Live Twice with its gorgeous intertwining melodies; the dramatic brassy Goldfinger and syncopated sassy Diamonds Are Forever, and the exciting opening instrumental skiing sequence of OHMSS; the romantic From Russia With Love, and the love song We Have All The Time In The World (from OHMSS) sung by Louis Armstrong.

Then there is the beautiful haunting Somewhere In Time; the sexy seductive sultry sweaty Body Heat; the melancholic but hopeful harmonica theme of Midnight Cowboy.

And three films which shared huge open panoramic landscapes - the wild desolate North American prairies in Dances With Wolves; and the stunning majestic African plains in Out Of Africa and Born Free, the inspirational true story of Elsa the lion - perfect canvases on which to paint his rich impressionistic palette of musical colours.

So let's remember just a few of his best moments...

A compilation mix

Out Of Africa

Midnight Cowboy

We Have All The Time In The World (OHMSS) - sung by Louis Armstrong

Born Free - sung by Matt Monro

Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart

Live free, and beauty surrounds you
The world still astounds you
Each time you look at a star

Stay free, where no walls divide you
You're free as a roaring tide
So there's no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
Cause you're born free.

A proxima.

PO