Jeremiah Johnson. Main Theme, Jack's Letter etc.. littered don't hesitate! Wicker Man. Landlord's Daughter, Hobby Horse, Search 1 & 2. House II. End Titles.
Waiting for the Dep to come back to us on this, but I'm wondering if he's asking about scores which feature the "fiddle" as in what old men play at hoe-downs, or the "violin" as in what classical musicians play at concerts.
I know that it's a question of terminology and that they're basically the same instrument, but through time we've hung those connotations on the terms. Would we say that the fiddle solo in SCHINDLER'S LIST is beautiful? Would we ask Old Man Walton to play us something round the campfire on his violin?
Deputy - Fiddle, violin, or both coz they're the same?
Exactly, Graham. While the terms may be used interchangeably in colloquial speech, they are really different types of instruments within the same family. I assume DeputyRiley would have written 'violin' if he meant 'violin'.
So, the topic, a lot of westerns feature the fiddle, obviously. But I'm thinking more about the Norwegian versions, like the Hardanger fiddle, used in scores such as LORD OF THE RINGS and FARGO.
Hi all! Sorry for dropping off. Thank you all so much for suggestions! Great stuff indeed.
I was mainly referring to the fiddle and not the violin, but I realize they are exceedingly similar. I'm looking for less classical sound and more regional sound (not sure what region though!), for example Appalachia or something...but definitely not limited to that or any other one region.
So I do wonder where the fiddle (or is it violin?) work from The Village would fit in here...
Isn't there fiddle in some Horner work? Spitfire Grill or something like that?
Things like The Red Violin are great suggestions though in and of themselves, and I am definitely going to look into that one. Maybe I should make a separate "classical violin" type of recommendation thread, where something like Horner's Iris would also be right at home.
For now, any more fiddle suggestions that might bring to mind Americana - or, as Thor mentioned, an equivalent of Americana to another country? Norwegicana? Norwana? Great suggestion re: the Hardanger fiddle, Thor.
Can anyone recommend film scores that prominently feature the fiddle?
Elfman's BEETLEJUICE features a fiddle motif prominently throughout the score in association with the titular character when he's scheming. I think it first appears in the track "Obituaries", which introduces the character. This theme is extended as a cadenza at the end of the "End Credits" suite.
There's a brief but memorable fiddle solo in Elfman's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. It appear twice to accompany Edward's wild cutting technique, most prominently as a bridge in the track "Edwardo the Barber". Sandy Cameron extends this section and plays the hell out of it when she appears in those live Elfman/Burton concerts:
Last but not least (but because I can't remember how it was used in the final film, which butchered Elfman's score), Elfman's WOLFMAN opens with a fiddle-esque viola part that's pretty groovy.
Elfman has said that when he left home in his late teens to tour Europe and Africa, he picked up the violin and even played briefly with the Parisian street theatre troupe Le Grand Magic Circus. He notes that he was terrible at formal lessons, couldn't read music, and had to learn everything by ear. I think in that context it makes sense that he would be so drawn to the more wild, Eastern European folk side of the instrument.
Great suggestion re: the Hardanger fiddle, Thor. 
