Trapeze - Muir Mathieson

 

Lola's Theme

Trapeze

Released through United Artists

Orchestra under the direction of Muir Mathieson

Columbia Records CL 870

1956

From the back cover: One of the most exciting motion pictures of 1956, Trapeze offered not only the built-in thrills of the circus, bug a high-voltage team of stars, Burt Lancaster, Gina Lollobrigida and Tony Curtis, along with direction by Carol Reed and a lavish production. One of the most interesting aspects of the movie was its use of music, composed and assembled by Malcolm Arnold, to underline the atmosphere of the Parisian circus and the drama crackling among the principal players. Some of the high spots of the score have been collected in this recording taken from the soundtrack, demonstrating not only Mr. Arnold's skill and craftsmanship, but the building suspense of the film as well.

Mr. Arnold, one of Britain's foremost young composers, is well-known for his many film scores, as well as for symphonic works in many forms. For the Diamond Jubilee of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra in 1953, he was commissioned to write a symphony, his second, which in the words of Malcolm MacDonald is "gay and uninhibited... a frolic resolutely refusing to carry the world's sorrows on its shoulders." Similarly gay and uninhibited is Mr. Arnold's music for Trapeze, as indeed music for such a film should be. Here, then, are moments reflecting some of the moods of Trapeze, exhilarating, romantic, brooding, exciting, a mirror, in fact of the kaleidoscopic circus life so vividly presented in a fascinating film.

Prelude

Lola's Theme

Fanfare And Elephants' Waltz

Mike And Lola's Love Theme

Trapeze

Washington Post March

Entry Of The Gladiators

Juke Bo

Tino's Arrival In Paris

Blue Danube

Above The Ring

Stars And Stripes Forever