MR. SKEFFINGTON

Music for Performance

MR. SKEFFINGTON

1944

Movements

Suite 5:11
1. Forsaken & Finale
2. A Lament for Orchestra

Program Notes

The first section of the Suite from Mr. Skeffington (Warner Bros., 1944), “Forsaken” in the film, is a scene where a former beauty (Bette Davis) really sees herself in the mirror for the first time; diphtheria has left her disfigured. The piece concludes with the bitter-sweet “finale” from the film when she turns back to her now blind husband (Claude Rains). Both actors were nominated for Oscars for their tour de force performances. In musical terms, Waxman saw the character of Fanny Trellis (Davis) like the Marschallin in the Richard Strauss opera Der Rosenkavalier. His score ends as a tribute to a composer whose music he admired.

Vincent Sherman’s film also features Walter Abel, Marjorie Riordon and Delores Gray.

Instr.

Forsaken & Finale
2.afl.1.EH.3.bcl(asx).
2(II=dbn) 

4.3.3.1 
timp.perc(2): mar,vib,gong,SD,BD 
2 harps 
pft 
novachord 
elec vln solo 
str

A Lament for Orchestra
3(III=afl).1.EH.3.bcl.
1.dbn 

4.3.3.1 
timp.perc(3): vib,mar,gong,SD,
BD,cyms 

2 harps 
pft 
str