Since movies first flickered on screen fanfares have played a part in the scores of fantasy films.
The first one I recall was the coming home melody from The Vikings starring chiseled heart-throb Kirk Douglas in 1958.
Its a suitably uplifting melody blasted out of the Danes' huge Alpenhorn and you can hear it, as with all the horns to come, courtesy of You Tube. The real brass section is at 2.17.
The next cornets of note were those mammoth trumpets of the Tournament Parade in Disney's Robin Hood! A classic elefanfare! ha ha. I'm amazed its as late as 1973 this film. I thought it was from the Sixties!
Next up is perhaps my favourite musical pageant, the majestic and towering notes from the Star Trek episode Who Mourns Adonais but I always think of it simply as the one where the God Apollo grows massively tall!
There is a beautiful and godly six note horn motif that plays when Apollo appears now and then but I can't find a clip of it. You can hear a version of it at the start of this segment. Its what trumpets were made for!
No list of heraldic blowing would be complete without A Fanfare for the Common Man, Emerson Lake and Palmer's grand 1977 opus and a masterclass in rock pageantry, the kind of thing Punk Rockers detested I imagine! Rock excess, yes!
To finish I will end with a modern flourish, the dizzying melody as the Fellowship of the Ring pass the Argonath, the gigantic stone sentinels guarding the sea.
Not so much a fanfare I admit but it is an epic haunting elegy soldiered by roiling kettle drums. Awe-inspiring.
Here's a bit of fun. Here's the names of 16 old toys and brands to work out. They're all synonyms - other words for the same thing - except 11, which is part synonym and part clue. So for instance, Enchanted Carousel would be Magic Roundabout. Maybe do TWO per reader to spread the joy! Answers in the comments please. Enjoy!
William Launch
Heated Tyres
Clandestine Samuel
Verdent Wasp
Sun Journey
Jimmy Stick
Rulers of the Cosmos
Miniscule Explorers
Sun Battles
Puff Soccer
An area where you party like its ...
Escapade Folk
Entrails
Nobles of Risk
Scheme Cutlass
Diminutive Troops
Ideas for a new round would be welcomed! Email is at the bottom of the page. moonbasecentral......
Here's a gold Rough Rider 4 x 4 Jeep Golden Eagle by LJN - top pic. The motor doesn't work but it still lights up.
I also found this yellow R/C Jeep with inflatable tires. Its steering doesn't work but it still drives forward and reverse. I have just realised it could serve as a "cuckoo" for 3 or 4 inch action figures. I wonder why I didn't think of this when I was a kid!
These are some toys that I always included in my Microverse.
Enjoy!
Brian, NJ.
(1) above, I know you are familiar with Zee toys Metal Man, so here's a group shot.
2) above, a pair of Henshin Cyborgs, I think they are 1990's remakes. All I know is they are translucent and look like foot tall Micronauts
(3) above, this yellow figure with his transforming 5 wheel vehicle is from a Japanese show that I forget the name of. It definitely looks good with Micronauts
(4) Mattel Shogun Warriors are based on Japanese manga characters. This 4 inch Mazinga and ....
(5) this enormous Raideen,which has 2 right hands,are both welcome additions to my Micronaut Metropolis
