Violin in Film Scores
I am searching for works for violin with or without piano that originate from or are included in film scores. I have a list of some, including John Williams' 'Devil's Dance' from The Witches of Eastwick and Schindler's List, Corigliano's The Red Violin, John Morris' Young Frankenstein, and others. Feel free to list movies that contain famous classical works, such as Heifetz performing in 'They Shall Have Music.' I even am interested in small, short solos such as the one from the barber scene in Danny Elfman's Edward Scissorhands. Does anybody know if music exists for the concerto being played at the beginning of the movie 'Wrongfully Accused'?...I know the score composer is Bill Conti, but I don't know if he wrote the piece or not. Anyway, any help would be great.
Replies (21)
There is an old move about the impressario, Sol Hurok (Hollywood biography style -- that is to say, total fiction). I think the actor was David Wayne. Anyway, Isaac Stern played the "part" of Eugene Ysaye (which is funny, since Ysaye was big and Stern was short). Anyway, Stern plays a couple of numbers, I think, but he definitely plays the last movement of Wieniewski's Second Concerto, and it is a wonderful performance. He certainly was not cast in the movie for his acting ability (I wish I could remember the name of the movie).
And I believe one or more of the old WWII "Hollywood Canteen" films had some classical artists, and I believe Menuhin was one of them.
Check out Perlman's CD which is all movie music with prominent violin parts.
In the movie about Sol Hurok, you can only see Sterns hands, I believe. The rest of the person is the real actor. They made some cuts.
Humoresque (1947) has awesome violinistic faking in it. In fact, the Waxman Carmen Fantasy was written for the film, I hear. Rhapsody, a really cheesy Liz Taylor movie from the 1950s, has some violin solos in it, although it's obvious that the actor isn't playing the instrument. Hilary and Jackie, one of the best modern films about classical music, doesn't have any violins in it, but the cello stuff that is in there is quite good.
Sarah: I saw the movie a long, long time ago. I do remember Stern had some lines of dialogue and was certainly on camera for his scene. I don't remember the visuals while he played, except that (I think) there may have been some camera shots of his face. I do remember the sound and the performance.
And, Emily: I believe the violin solos in Rhapsody were played by Michael Rabin.
That they were. And Isaac Stern played for Humoresque.
I'm pretty sure that the Korngold concerto incorporates some pretty gorgeous tunes from some of his film scores from the 30's.
In Humoresque, the actor's violin "performances" are actually played by two professional violinists standing on either side of him, one to bow and one to finger. The actual music was performed by Isaac Stern. This is the 1946 version.
Fiona yes you're absolutely right about Korngold and the violin concerto having some movie soundtrack motives. Some of the melodies in the violin concerto were taken from the Robin Hood film score by Korngold. Listen for Glenn Dicterow's solos in Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
I also liked Hilary Hahn's solos in 'The Village.'
Thank you for the assistance.
Hi - Try Joshua Bell's new film called Ladies in Lavender with new music (written by Nigel Hess). Very tuneful and virtuoso as well. There are some old music in the film like Sarasate's Introduction & Tarantella.
By the way, a gypsy tune sequence that John Corigliano used for the Red Violin is not original. That tune sequence can be heard on the Hubay Scenes Hyperion CD by Shaham (not Gil but Hagai Shaham).
How bout Fiddler on the Roof? I like the movie and it features awesome playing by Isaac Stern. I'm sure everyone knows this though.
I saw just a trailer for a new movie "Lady in the Water" from M. Night Shyamalan, and it had this gorgeous violin music in the background. I wonder if it was Hilary Hahn, since she did played on "The Village" but it didn't really sound like her. Anybody heard this?
I reccommend the Korngld Violin Concerto, it was taken from one of his movie themes when Korngold worked for Hollywood. The work is modern, but outstandingly lyrical and impossibly virtuosic.
i highly suggest learning it, if you have the skill. If not, Jascha Heifetz has done a wondeful recording, in fact he might have premiered it?? and i know the French violinist Renaud Capucon is touring it with much success.
The playing in The Village was done by Hilary Hahn- it's a very cool score, although I'm not sure if it's the kind of thing you could find in sheet music yet. Also, as a kind of fun thing to do, you could play the theme from Young Dr. Frankenstein- it's silly and short, but it's fun to have in your repertoire for thanksgiving dinners and family get-togethers (if you're family is into that kind of movie, they'll go nuts over it- trust me!)
Anyone watched Spring Symphony? Natasha Kinski played the role of Clara Schumann. In one of the opening scenes, Paganini (played by a younger Gidon Kremer) plays the Caprice No 17 Op. 1 astoundingly. The fingered octaves bit (in the middle section of the caprice) alone is worth buying the whole video-tape or DVD!!
Ruth -
I heard that too. I think it was Joshua Bell and Josh Groban.
Yeah, the vocalist did sound like Josh Groban. Is this from any CD you know of? It was beautiful.
You're in luck! I do know, it's from Josh Groban's CD "Closer."
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November 12, 2005 at 09:30 AM · Hilary Hahn's solos in The Village