Passion of the Christ Symphony Premieres in Rome

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Ben Mattison
06 Jul 2005

A new symphony by John Debney based on his score for the film * The Passion of the Christ* gets its world premiere from the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome tonight.

The symphony makes use of a standard orchestra and choir, and features vocal soloists as well as the duduk, an ancient Armenian wind instrument; bamboo flute; and Japanese taiko drums. It includes a prologue set in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was betrayed and arrested; seven movements corresponding to the seven Stations of the Cross; and a Resurrection Epilogue.

“My symphony expresses the Passion in an emotional and spiritually uplifting way,” Debney said in a statement. “It is intended as a work of deep faith for Christians as well as people of all faiths to help a turning back to God.”

After the premiere at Rome’s Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Columbia Artists Management will produce a worldwide tour . . .

playbillarts.com/news/article/2405.html
 
Wow! Sounds like a big Hollywood epic film score! I’m a hobbyist composer. I wrote couple film scores for fun! I love the sound of taiko drum beat, duduk, and choir. I love writing orchestral music with a mix of Hollywood style to it.
 
MugenOne…composing is the one intellectual activity I have no idea how anyone does. I’m not an astrophysicist but I can understand how they get where they go. Composers? Haven’t a clue.

Never heard of the duduk. Can you describe the sound? Used to import odd instruments from Asia. Those ten and twelve foot long Tibetan copper horns are cool. Buddhist monks don’t vary the tone much, just a low OMMMMMMMM. At a show a HS kid came up and played the “calvary charge” on a twelve footer though. I wanted him to hang around all day and play so I could sell more but he was too embaressed (exhausted after the first “charge” too…takes a lot of lung power to get any sound from a Basa).

Haven’t seen the Passion or heard the sound track. Do you think this symphony will attract audiences?
 
Paul David,

Here are examples of duduk sound in big Hollywood orchestral style. The composer of this piece said that he’s influenced by the Passion of the Christ. He recommends people to buy the soundtrack. I think I will get that soundtrack. I saw the film, but didn’t pay attention to the score. The song is called “on this day.” It has taiko drum, ethnic vocal, choir, and duduk. This is a very nice piece. Enjoy!

valandilmod.com/tpub/onthisday.mp3

The second song is called “Sphinx.” It’s written by a composer who wrote LOTR: Two Towers score. This song has duduk in it. This piece is very passionate and Hollywoodish.

soundsonline.com/cd_mp3_demos/172693.mp3

Personally, I think if people like classical music, they’ll go and listen to this symphony regardless it’s a religious inspired piece or not. Classical music is fulled of religious theme by the way. True classical fans might get turned off with this symphony if it sounds too Hollywoodish like the two song above. To me, I like Hollywood style orchestration. The Europeans may hate Hollywood for destroying their art, but music evolves. I love to listen and write music. It helps you think.

Enjoy!

MugenOne
 
Thank you!

John Debney hopes his symphony becomes an Easter custom.

I can’t wait to read Frank Rich’s review of his work 🙂
 
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