How To Train Your Dragon
(Music from the Motion Picture)
Composer: John Powell
Running Time: 70 min.
Released: 2010
The more I listen to John Powell’s work, the more I like it. And his score for this year’s spectacular Dreamworks film How To Train Your Dragon is no exception. Powell brings every ounce of his compositional creativity to bear, and the result is one of the most memorable scores to come along in some time. Alternating between a sense of heroism, lighthearted energy, and haunting beauty, the music is also imbued with Celtic flare that reflects the setting of the film.
This Is Berk starts off the album a bang, establishing the three primary themes that appear throughout the rest of the score, while the magnificent Test Drive coincides perfectly with one of the film’s many vertiginous flying sequences. The most beautiful number on this soundtrack is Forbidden Friendship, which begins quietly and slowly develops into an ingenious variation of the main theme. See You Tomorrow also stands out as a fast and furious Celtic reel, with sprightly penny whistles forefronting an impressive brass display.
Buy the MP3 album on Amazon.com or iTunes
THE INK SLINGER 
Great review, son! Ok…I’m off to look up vertiginous.