Triumph of the Spirit
Cliff Eidelman
" The world is introduced to Eidelman, frankly they should introduce us again "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Shot on location in Auschwitz, this true story centers around Jewish Greek boxer Salamo Arouch who had to fight other inmates for the entertainment of the Nazi's during the Holocaust. Starring Willem Dafoe, Edward James Olmos and Robert Loggia, the movie was the second project young composer Cliff Eidelman worked on in 1989, showing another remarkable gifted emotional score that again (like Magdalene) sounded remarkably strong on paper yet poorly recorded in the end. If ever, it are scores like these who deserve a re recording as we don't feel enough the emotion that is truly flowing through the notes of Eidelman's music.
Because the way it opens says everything for me. "Main Title" not only unleashes the main theme but also the simply tantalizing choral encore that sends out emotional goosebumps once strings are flowing through it. It already delivers my favorite moment of the score, no matter what will come after it. One of the other strengths of this score is the authenticity. As they were already used in the opening track, Eidelman keeps using guitars, mandolins and tamboras to add eastern authentic sounds to the story of Salamo and his family, giving you moments of spiritual emotion in cues such as "Love in Wedlock", "Answer Us" and many cues after that.
One of the strongest moments is when the main theme begins to rise in "There Was a Memory" like hope and determination in a boxing match. And when you feel the final punch has been handed out, there's an encore coming from the choir and solo vocal to tell (for now) he has saved not only his life, but also that of his beloved ones. Truly inspirational stuff. The theme for Elena or perhaps even their love theme receives multiple versions throughout the score as well, whether soft or strong. But the real star of the score is the choir. And this aids the authenticity perhaps even the most. They sing in the language which was used at the time, adding emotional weight on scenes such as "Dark Tunnel to Auschwitz", "Answer Us" or the truly harrowing "The Slaughter" and "Death March". The powerful emotional "Mercy On to Us" and "Salamo Desperately Finds Allegra" are even some of the best cues of the disc. Luckily the final track is rather uplifting, offering calm but beautiful emotional music that might end the suffering of the main characters for now.
Triumph of the Spirit oozes authenticity. Whether through the use of instrumentation or through the language sung by the choir, it aids and amplifies the horror and the emotion surrounding Triumph of the Spirit. It furthermore enhances the fact Eidelman was simply a great composer, one we just miss so much these days. I know filmmusic has evolved, but the basic fact of the matter remains that it relies on themes, well structured music and intelligence. And let that be the strength of this emotional powerful score, bad recording quality not withstanding.
Favorite Moment - Main Title (1.45 - 2.24)
I love the combination of strings over the choir simply so much
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.24) Excellent track
2. Love in Wedlock (0.49)
3. Dark Tunnel to Auschwitz (1.51)
4. There Was a Time (1.45)
5. Answer Us (3.51)
6. Mi Dyo Mi (0.49)
7. Avram Refuses to Work (2.20)
8. Longing for Home (1.47)
9. A Hard Felt Rest (1.26)
10. Hell Realization (0.32)
11. Elena's False Dreams (1.58)
12. There Was a Memory (4.23) Excellent track
13. Begging for Bread (1.04)
14. The Mourning (2.13)
15. The Slaughter (2.14)
16. It Was A Month Before we Left (1.29)
17. Hunger (1.18)
18. Mercy On to Us (1.27) Excellent track
19. Salamo Desperately Finds Allegra (3.24) Excellent track
20. Allegra's Punishment (1.36)
21. A New Assignment (1.42)
22. Death March (5.34)
23. Epilogue / End Credits (6.53) Excellent track
Total Length: 53.30
Because the way it opens says everything for me. "Main Title" not only unleashes the main theme but also the simply tantalizing choral encore that sends out emotional goosebumps once strings are flowing through it. It already delivers my favorite moment of the score, no matter what will come after it. One of the other strengths of this score is the authenticity. As they were already used in the opening track, Eidelman keeps using guitars, mandolins and tamboras to add eastern authentic sounds to the story of Salamo and his family, giving you moments of spiritual emotion in cues such as "Love in Wedlock", "Answer Us" and many cues after that.
One of the strongest moments is when the main theme begins to rise in "There Was a Memory" like hope and determination in a boxing match. And when you feel the final punch has been handed out, there's an encore coming from the choir and solo vocal to tell (for now) he has saved not only his life, but also that of his beloved ones. Truly inspirational stuff. The theme for Elena or perhaps even their love theme receives multiple versions throughout the score as well, whether soft or strong. But the real star of the score is the choir. And this aids the authenticity perhaps even the most. They sing in the language which was used at the time, adding emotional weight on scenes such as "Dark Tunnel to Auschwitz", "Answer Us" or the truly harrowing "The Slaughter" and "Death March". The powerful emotional "Mercy On to Us" and "Salamo Desperately Finds Allegra" are even some of the best cues of the disc. Luckily the final track is rather uplifting, offering calm but beautiful emotional music that might end the suffering of the main characters for now.
Triumph of the Spirit oozes authenticity. Whether through the use of instrumentation or through the language sung by the choir, it aids and amplifies the horror and the emotion surrounding Triumph of the Spirit. It furthermore enhances the fact Eidelman was simply a great composer, one we just miss so much these days. I know filmmusic has evolved, but the basic fact of the matter remains that it relies on themes, well structured music and intelligence. And let that be the strength of this emotional powerful score, bad recording quality not withstanding.
Favorite Moment - Main Title (1.45 - 2.24)
I love the combination of strings over the choir simply so much
Track Listing
1. Main Title (2.24) Excellent track
2. Love in Wedlock (0.49)
3. Dark Tunnel to Auschwitz (1.51)
4. There Was a Time (1.45)
5. Answer Us (3.51)
6. Mi Dyo Mi (0.49)
7. Avram Refuses to Work (2.20)
8. Longing for Home (1.47)
9. A Hard Felt Rest (1.26)
10. Hell Realization (0.32)
11. Elena's False Dreams (1.58)
12. There Was a Memory (4.23) Excellent track
13. Begging for Bread (1.04)
14. The Mourning (2.13)
15. The Slaughter (2.14)
16. It Was A Month Before we Left (1.29)
17. Hunger (1.18)
18. Mercy On to Us (1.27) Excellent track
19. Salamo Desperately Finds Allegra (3.24) Excellent track
20. Allegra's Punishment (1.36)
21. A New Assignment (1.42)
22. Death March (5.34)
23. Epilogue / End Credits (6.53) Excellent track
Total Length: 53.30