It's not really a lift unless you say the same for both. The melody is a quote of the medieval Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) Latin modal chant/hymn. It's been used in music pretty much nonstop since that time.
Including as the linchpin to Hugo Friedhofer's excellent BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL (FSM):
Question 1: If "Midnight, the stars & you" is played when Jack bumps into Grady and at the end, and "It's all forgotten now" & "Home" is played during the bathroom scene with Grady, where is "Masquerade" played?
Question 2: Who composed/sings "Masquerade"? Thanks."
'Masquerade' is the faint music Jack hears right after he leaves Wendy in their loft, he knocks over the cans and kitchen utensils and slowly walks down the hallway. He then hear faintly the music from the ballroom and walks towards it. The disc I have of it says it's by Jack Hylton & Orchestra.
As far as the VERSION of Polymorpiha, I think the several of penderecki's recordings of his work used in the movie (including De Natura Sonoris #1 & 2, + Polymorphia) were recorded in the 70s conducted by Henryk Cycz. I heard an old classical LP at a college music library years ago and Cycz's recording of Polymorphia is definitely the one used in the film. The recordings of De Natura #1 & 2 by penderecki on the shining LP albums are NOT the same used in the movie. Again, I assume the Cycz recordings of them might also be the ones Kubrick used.
Read that interview (posted above) with the music editor. It answers at least one of your questions as to why the Penderecki sounds different.
That IS interesting reading, but it doesn't acknowledge why the strings sound different. I'm certain it is a different recording than the one on the LP (in addition to having different pieces mixed on top of it).
Neelyre , thanks for the info. You're the first person I've ever heard acknowledge that the LP is a different recording. Do you know if Cycz's performance has ever been released on CD?
Cycz recording of Polymorphia is at the end of a 2cd of St. Luke's Passion. Assuming his recordings of De Natura are the film versions, I don't think they've made their way to CD. There is an LP recording of polymorphia and the first De Natura. The link to it is here -
Read that interview (posted above) with the music editor. It answers at least one of your questions as to why the Penderecki sounds different.
That IS interesting reading, but it doesn't acknowledge why the strings sound different. I'm certain it is a different recording than the one on the LP (in addition to having different pieces mixed on top of it).
There's the bit in there about having to layer it 4x over or something. I thought that was your answer, but I guess not!
So it sounds like it would be possible, albeit a bit pricey, to assemble a soundtrack album of "The Shining" using the two Walter Carlos discs, the classical pieces, and the three 1920s ballroom pieces.
Anyone ever attempt this, and what was the final price tag?
Is there a lot of music that even made the movie? I know of the Carlos' cues a lof was unused. To me "The Shining" soundtrack would be similar to "The Exorcist" soundtrack, in that you'd be listening to music that didn't make the cut.
That said, the Carlos material is downright creepy and I wouldn't mind seeing it re-released along with the other music.
P.S. Just saw this posted on George Takei's facebook feed
Does anyone know where to find the FILM recording of Polymorphia? The LP is clearly a different recording. Listen to where Jack is chasing Danny through the hedge maze. I've never heard a recording that has the intensity of the strings heard in the film. Same goes for the "Here's Johnny!" scene. The snarling brass is different on the LP .
But Lontano and the Bartok piece are film versions on the LP.
As far as the VERSION of Polymorpiha, I think the several of penderecki's recordings of his work used in the movie (including De Natura Sonoris #1 & 2, + Polymorphia) were recorded in the 70s conducted by Henryk Cycz. I heard an old classical LP at a college music library years ago and Cycz's recording of Polymorphia is definitely the one used in the film. The recordings of De Natura #1 & 2 by penderecki on the shining LP albums are NOT the same used in the movie. Again, I assume the Cycz recordings of them might also be the ones Kubrick used.
I disagree with both of you.
I have listened to the version of Polymorphia conducted by Penderecki and the one conducted by Cycz (that you mentioned). I have concluded that the version as appears in the film is indeed the one conducted by Penderecki, NOT the one you mentioned (Cycz).
The same goes for De Natura Sonoris I & II. The ones conducted by Penderecki were the ones used in the film mix, not the ones conducted by Cycz.
I have a couple of theories as to why you believed differently:
The first being that the final film mix was in Mono, which was then re-mastered to 5.1. When creating these film mixes of the sound track, the sound can take a slightly different tone (meaning it/the percussion may sound slightly different). The same when an audio recording is heard on vinyl (which is the least reliable in my opinion) or CD (but quality-wise, vinyl is the way to go, but CD offers the correct speed/pitch/tone of an audio recording). Second, the Penderecki recordings have been released in original and remastered options, both sounding slightly different from each other, despite being the same recording.
So if any of you are compiling the soundtrack, I suggest you go with the soundtrack for The Exorcist (2007 Japan remaster) for "Polymoprhia", conducted by Penderecki himself. Although the one in the film is edited and overlayed a bit. And for De Natura Sonoris I & II, I suggest you use Matrix 5 by Penderecki (remastered).
Those are the ones used in the film, but they were slightly cut to fit the editing choices (some parts of the music were brought closer by cutting soft parts), and in other instances different sections of the music were overlayed (as well as other parts of music from the same composer, as is the case with the "Utrenja: Ewangelia" and "Kanon Paschy").
Additionally, De Natura Sonoris II has the exact same "boom boom boom" strings as heard during the 'Jack wakes up from nightmare' scene, as well as the same "whines".
I hope this helps!
The only thing that I'm having trouble finding now is a lossless source for all sung songs but "Midnight the stars and you".
I forgot to add that the version of "Awakening of Jacob" is also the one in Matrix 5, but it was mixed with atomospheric elements so that it has a brassier tone for the final mix.
The one used in the film for the "shining" sequences (elevators) is ultimately the one on the soundtrack LP (which appears to be lifted from the sound track, along with the two Wendy Carlos tracks). Although sections of the Matrix 5 version (such as for the "Jack wakes up" scene) are as they are in the film.
Sorry I'm just re-reading this post from a few years back.
You make a lot of sense in regards to the mixing and the particular sound systems used. I work in media and am aware of how things like that can affect the acoustics.
However I'm VERY confident that Cycz's recording of Polymorphia is what's in the film. I recently heard it again on youtube and the scene in the movie. You can hear the recording here-
Admittedly, I'm assuming that Cycz's recordings of De Natura #1 and #2 were used since I'm certain 'polymorphia' was, but I could be wrong. But I'm also extremely confident Penderecki's version of De Natura I & II from is Matrix 5 CD are not the ones in the film. Compare the music from 0:05 to 1:25 in the Cd recording (link)
Sorry I'm just re-reading this post from a few years back.
You make a lot of sense in regards to the mixing and the particular sound systems used. I work in media and am aware of how things like that can affect the acoustics.
However I'm VERY confident that Cycz's recording of Polymorphia is what's in the film. I recently heard it again on youtube and the scene in the movie. You can hear the recording here-
Admittedly, I'm assuming that Cycz's recordings of De Natura #1 and #2 were used since I'm certain 'polymorphia' was, but I could be wrong. But I'm also extremely confident Penderecki's version of De Natura I & II from is Matrix 5 CD are not the ones in the film. Compare the music from 0:05 to 1:25 in the Cd recording (link)
quick update a few years later (actually, EXACTLY 3 years later
I've discovered the actual recording of 'De Natura Sonoris No.2' used in the movie is actually a performance by the Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic, Warsaw and conducted by Andrzej Markowski. It is the same conductor/Orchestra whose recorded performance of Utrenja is used in the film.
You can hear the full recording of both works at links below--
I've been wanting these recordings for decades. I knew I wasn't going crazy and that the LP performances were different. So great to hear these away from the film.
a little off topic, but thought fans for the music to ‘the shining’ might like this brief deconstruction of how they made the soundtrack work in two scenes!
a little off topic, but thought fans for the music to ‘the shining’ might like this brief deconstruction of how they made the soundtrack work in two scenes!
Very interesting analysis and example of the power of film music as it can dictate editing, not the usual way around.
a little off topic, but thought fans for the music to ‘the shining’ might like this brief deconstruction of how they made the soundtrack work in two scenes!
Wow - thanks for that very much: a wonderfully done video!
a little off topic, but thought fans for the music to ‘the shining’ might like this brief deconstruction of how they made the soundtrack work in two scenes!
I truly wonder if Kubrick was somehow influenced by Fantasia.
