> Listen to the second half of "I Don't Think Now is The Best
> Time" - the way so many separated themes are knitted together in
> brilliant symmetry. It's a storm of thematic transformations which I can't
> accept as simplistic.

You are easily impressed. The point is that the themes of the Pirates are so simple and are all supported by the same damn chords - I, V and VI mainly - that is a very easy task to join them wihout much trouble. Its basic counterpoint. 4 or 5 of the themes even begun with the same three notes - A, B, C. Any student of composition could write a four-part fugue based in two or more themes of the Pirates. Zimmer has no ability to do that. He states the themes again and again, sometimes he expands them rhythmically, sometimes he give us a more short version. Brilliant? I think not.

> The "heart" and the most memorable melody in the "Ode to
> Joy" - Beethoven 9th Symphony is very simple combination of few
> tones. So what?...

The point is that Beethoven doesn´t simply repeat it in the same form again and again. He writes a fugue based on the melody, he transforms it harmonically, melodically and rhythmically, he uses it motivically throughout the whole movement, he creates other themes based on parts of the melody, the whole coda is based on the melody... Is a far more sophisticated treatment.