Music for Performance
TARAS BULBA
1962
Movements
Suite 19:14
1. Overture 3:31
2. Torchlight Parade 2:22
3. Pastorale 2:31
4. The Black Plague 3:56
5. Finale: The Ride of the Cossacks 5:00
Suite (Concert Band) 18:00
Arranged by J. Durwood Morsch
1. Overture 3:31
2. Torchlight Parade 2:22
3. Pastorale 2:31
4. The Black Plague 3:56
5. Finale: The Ride of the Cossacks 5:36
Program Notes
Nikolai Gogol’s drama of the Cossacks’ fight for freedom in sixteenth-century Russia is the background for J. Lee Thompson and Harold Hecht’s production of Taras Bulba (United Artists, 1962).
Franz Waxman received his twelfth Best Score of Year Academy Award nomination, for this epic. He wrote for the soundtrack liner notes:
To compose the music for Taras Bulba was an unusually challenging assignment. Not only from the standpoint of composition, but also as far as orchestration and rhythmical invention is concerned. Here was a subject that demanded the flavor of the proud and unconquerable spirit of Ukrainian Cossacks of the sixteenth century combined with the harmonic and rhythmical palette of contemporary music. Fortunately, just before writing the Taras Bulba music, I was invited by the Soviet government to conduct the major orchestras of the U.S.S.R. in 6 symphony concerts. This took me to Kiev, one of the oldest Russian cities situated in the heart of the Ukraine. This gave me added opportunity to study the folk music of the Ukrainian people…
He went on to describe “The Ride of the Cossacks”:
Taras (Yul Brynner) and his sons leave their farm to meet with other Cossack tribes on their way to Dubno. As more and more Cossack brothers join the hard riding Taras, the music increases in volume and orchestral effects.
The music has been recorded by Erich Kunzel with the Cincinnati Pops on the “Vintage Hollywood” CD on Telarc. The first CD recording, recently rereleased, is by Charles Gerhardt and the National Philharmonic on RCA/SONY/BMG, as part of a compact disc Sunset Boulevard: The Classic Film Scores by Franz Waxman.
Instr.
Complete Suite
2(II=picc) picc 2(I=obdamore) EH 2 bcl(eflcl) 2 dbn – 4 4 3 1 – timp perc(3): sus cym, cyms, xyl, vib, glsp, SD, Field D, BD, tambo, sleigh bells – harp – pft(cel) – str
Overture
2 picc 2 EH 2 bcl 2 dbn – 4 4 3 1 – timp perc(3): sus cym, cyms, xyl, SD, BD, tambo, sleigh bells – harp – pft(cel) – str
Torchlight Parade
2 picc 2 EH 2 bcl 2 dbn – 4 4 3 1 – timp perc(3?): SD, BD, cyms, Field D, sus cym – pft – cel – str
Pastorale
1 1(obdamore) EH 2 1 – 0 0 0 0 – perc(1): vib – harp – cel – str
The Black Plague
2(II=picc) 2 (II=EH) EH 2 bcl 2 dbn – 4 4 3 1 – timp perc(4): 2 SD, BD, sus cym – pft – str
Finale:The Ride of the Cossacks
2(II=picc) picc 2 EH 2 bcl(eflcl) 2 dbn – 4 4 3 1 – timp perc(3): SD, BD, sus cym, cyms, xyl, glsp, tambo – pft(cel) – str
Suite (Concert Band)
2.picc.2.3.eflcl.bcl.2 asx.(I,II=ssx).tsx.barsx.2
4.3(I,II,III=fglhn).3.bari.2
timp.perc(?): sistrum,bells,sleigh bells,xyl,mar,med tgl,SD,BD,sus cym,cyms
harp
Additional Details
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Taras Bulba
Suite
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Oscar nominated film score. Restored by Charles Gerhardt.
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“The Ride to Dubno” available for Concert Band 5:00
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“The Wishing Star” arranged for Guitar by Greg Nestor is also available.