I hated the omnipresent music

Not for the first time in the '80s -- back then I thought this film was almost perfect for its genre. (I also read the book and that was certainly richer, also gave the necessary background infos not present in the movie.) I especially liked Sutherland being not humorous for a change. Then I watched this again 20 years after and I really struggled to reach the end. OK, this is a score by an esteemed composer and really it is not bad in itself, but why had it be so loud and obtrusive, without a moment of silence?