Alien - Howard Hanson excerpt

@Mrkeeft1 exactly this music haunted ne leaving the theater in,1979. no mention of it anywhere. i heard it 29+ years later on a classical station. now own thia artist music.

1:20 - 1:40 Alien cutie wants a hug

Absolutely Beautiful

This piece of music is beautiful. It perfectly fit the end of the film. After the first time I saw this movie, all of the suspense and emotion that I had watching the film, this piece perfectly captures the release of all of that tension. She made it out--she made it out!!

Magnificent. Serene and triumphant. A perfect score.

very well said!

If what you say is true, where did you get this information from and why, if you listen to the symphony itself, are the last two minutes of the first movenent EXACTLY the same as this piece? An answer would be appreciated.

Hey "Burt", The 1st movement of Howard Hanson's 2nd symphony picks the motive up at around 4:40 and it play until about 6:15 when the trumpets take it over to a different ending. Most of this excerpt is there but not all of it. I actually figured this out for myself as I am a Trombonist and have performed this symphony before. You do have to be careful what version you listen to. Try to find a professional recording if you can. Thanks, Scott-

I stand corrected! Thank you for taking the time to respond.

What's that thing sitting in the chair and what does it do?

This simply gives me the chills, relaxes me, excites me, makes happy and sad...

I totally agree...seeing (or not seeing) the carnage of the crew being picked off one by one, with Ash being the "informer" was extremely well edited for maximum chills. This ending theme was a sheer delight...and a relief. I finally felt myself exhaling. What else has Mr. Hanson done?

Prefer this as the credits music. Goldsmith's music, while beautiful, seemed too triumphant. The ending wasn't a triumph. All of the crew is dead and there is a good possibility that Ripley will drift through space, alone, forever. The ending is really just a stress relief from all of the high intensity of the film. Now that it's over, Ripley's just going to sleep. This music is pure relaxation, releasing the stress that had been built up without making the ending triumphant and happy.

thanks from France ! I ve watched Alien a lot of times. always, I stay till the end to listen this beautiful music. it s so amazing, the quiet after the nightmare, I imagine alone in space !

this is Ripley last survivor of the Nostromo signing off

I also saw it many times at my local theater, and stayed to the last note, just like Koln. Looney1023, you're spot ot! It was a much needed stress reliever. I haven't heard it in a long time, and it brought tears to my eyes, as I relived that time in my life.

The music of dreams

I remember hearing this melody and thought it suited Alien so well! It's funny how I've taken my VCR version of Alien for granted. >_> With the DVDs and Blueray releases, I'm finding more and more movies replace the beloved soundtracks I grew up listening to with something else. Tragic. :(

exactly

beautiful

I agree with the assessment that this Hanson piece for the end of Alien is more perfect than Goldsmith's. It is uplifting. Ripley's free! The humans won against the alien! When you listen to Goldsmith's ending, it's deflated, anti-climactic and less emotionally satisfying.

The best of the best

i wonder the same thing, how a completely British production crew decided on this magnum opus of a notable, but not universally-known American symphonist

uber gorgeous. who could dislike?!

Alien as we know it would not exist without H.R.Giger. RIP.

Thanks for the upload. I don't exactly know why, but I really like listening to it, even though it makes me feel kind of sad...

Even though it's not Jerry Goldsmith I'm still glad they used it.  It really fits the mood of the end of the movie, especially after such a tense ending.  Listening to this beautiful piece I get the calm feeling of now Ripley is safe and everything is going to be okay. :)

This music fit the ending of Alien perfectly. It makes you feel comfort and sadness. Sad that the entire crew was dead, but comfort knowing Ripley and Jonsey were safe.  Scott was wise to use this piece. 

SINFONA 2, HANSON, GREAT MUSIC!

ste5f , Alien - Howard Hanson excerpt brings to mind Elgar's "Pomp & Circumstance"(4: 30 - 5: 20 in the entire piece[26: 56]) A graduation Without Flying Colors, learning the hard way.

Is there any way I can just download the excerpt just like from in the film? Which recording on iTunes or amazon is the exact piece as this one here...I want to download the song excerpt or full if I can

It's the no2 symphony romantic by Howard Hansen. I'm sure you can get it on I tunes. Romantic has 3 pieces about 10 mins or so long. This excerpt is the last 3 mins of the first piece. Hope you find it. The other 2 pieces are good too.

STILL one of the best decisions ever made to use as exit music.

fantastic song,  fantastic movie

Excellent!

I always thought this musical piece was like a lullabye for adults.  In this case, Ripley in her peaceful hypersleep.  It does have a slight hint of unrest at the end, which reminds us that adults can never fully sleep peacefully.

it's the same song but slightly different version. The original is on your right titled For Ripley

Thank You for sharing this Brother ;)

Oh Interlochen, how I miss you...

It's hard to find Symphony #2 but recently the Classical station on Sirius has played it at least twice.

The rest of the symphony is very exciting. It wouldn't put you to sleep.

This is a beautiful piece of music it has been with me for so long , it plays with your emotions at will. Sadness, hope and joy bravo Mr Hanson.

Never ever realized this. Now my favorite movie is that much better, thanks.

The music brings such a sense of relief for what has just transpired, absolutely perfect exit music for Alien.

As I understand it, the studio didn't tell Howard Hanson that they had used his music.
Oops. Naughty, naughty.

It was a great decision, this is so haunting and makes the survival that much more special after everything she had to go through.

STILL IS GREAT TO LISTEN TO!!