Dances with Wolves (soundtrack)


Dances with Wolves is the original soundtrack of the 1990 Academy Award and Golden Globe winning film Dances with Wolves produced, directed, and starring Kevin Costner. The original score and songs were composed and conducted by John Barry.
Basil Poledouris was originally signed on as composer, based on his work for Lonesome Dove, but left to compose Flight of the Intruder with regular collaborator John Milius. Barry was brought in to replace him; it was his first score in two years since taking a break due to rupturing his esophagus. The score has what he considered his interpretation of what Indian themes would be like. He prepared by listening to American Indian music, but didn't incorporate it into score, believing it should be seen through the protagonist's eyes. Barry and Costner both envisioned a large and romantic score due to the "feeling of space" in the film.
John Barry won the 1991 Academy Award for Best Original Score, and the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television. Barry was also nominated for the 1991 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and the 1992 BAFTA Award for Best Film Music.

Track listing

1990 original release

  1. "Main Title – Looks Like a Suicide" – 3:59
  2. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 2:16 b
  3. "Journey to Fort Sedgewick" – 3:25
  4. "Ride to Fort Hays" – 2:00
  5. "The Death of Timmons" – 2:24
  6. "Two Socks – The Wolf Theme" – 1:30
  7. "Pawnee Attack" – 3:49
  8. "Kicking Bird's Gift" – 2:10
  9. "Journey to the Buffalo Killing Ground" – 3:43
  10. "The Buffalo Hunt" – 2:42
  11. "Stands with a Fist Remembers" – 2:09
  12. "The Love Theme" – 3:46
  13. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 2:04
  14. "Two Socks at Play" – 1:59
  15. "The Death of Cisco" – 2:14
  16. "Rescue of Dances with Wolves" – 2:09
  17. "The Loss of the Journal and the Return to Winter Camp" – 2:09
  18. "Farewell and End Title" – 8:50

    1995 Release (bonus tracks)

  19. "Main Title – Looks Like a Suicide" – 3:57
  20. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 2:15
  21. "Journey to Fort Sedgewick" – 3:22
  22. "Ride to Fort Hays" – 2:00
  23. "The Death of Timmons" – 2:25
  24. "Two Socks – The Wolf Theme" – 1:28
  25. "Pawnee Attack" – 3:45
  26. "Kicking Bird's Gift" – 2:08
  27. "Journey to the Buffalo Killing Ground" – 3:39
  28. "The Buffalo Hunt" – 2:41
  29. "Fire Dance" – 1:41
  30. "Stands with a Fist Remembers" –2:07
  31. "The Love Theme" – 3:52
  32. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 2:05
  33. "Two Socks at Play" – 1:57
  34. "The Death of Cisco" – 2:12
  35. "Rescue of Dances with Wolves" – 2:07
  36. "The Loss of the Journal and the Return to Winter Camp" – 2:07
  37. "Farewell and End Title" – 8:40
  38. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 3:41
  39. "Dances with Wolves" – 5:15

    2004 expanded version

  40. "Main Title/Looks Like a Suicide " – 7:35
  41. "Ride to Fort Hays" – 2:03
  42. "Journey to Fort Sedgewick/Shooting Star/John Dunbar Theme/Arrival at Fort Sedgewick" – 4:55
  43. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 2:19
  44. "The Death of Timmons" – 2:25
  45. "Two Socks/The Wolf Theme" – 1:32
  46. "Stands with a Fist Remembers" – 2:12
  47. "The Buffalo Robe" – 2:12
  48. "Journey to the Buffalo Killing Ground" – 3:30
  49. "Spotting the Herd" – 1:49
  50. "The Buffalo Hunt " – 4:33
  51. "Fire Dance" – 1:41
  52. "Two Socks at Play" – 2:00
  53. "Falling in Love" – 3:05
  54. "Love Theme" – 3:46
  55. "The John Dunbar Theme" – 2:06
  56. "Pawnees/Pawnee Attack/Stone Calf Dies/Toughest Dies" – 6:15
  57. "Victory" – 1:03
  58. "The Death of Cisco" – 2:14
  59. "Rescue of Dances with Wolves" – 2:08
  60. "The Loss of the Journal/The Return to Winter Camp" – 2:09
  61. "Farewell / End Title" – 8:51
  62. "The Buffalo Hunt " – 2:45
  63. "The John Dunbar Theme " – 2:21

    Certifications