Wedding music from 'Eternity And A Day'

[Adam Blake]

The music to this scene is fantastic (it starts around 0:34). Does anyone know anything about it? The film was scored by Eleni Karaindrou but it doesn't sound like the work of a classically trained composer. It sounds traditional to me. I am assuming it's Greek but it sounds more Bulgarian or maybe Armenian. I can hear Terry Riley in it, and English church bells - particularly the old ones that have gone a bit out of tune. This music is not out of tune, of course, it is just not equally tempered, that's part of its magic.

If anyone can shed a bit of light on it, that would be nice. But it's OK to just wonder at it (as I do!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thp0DndhJH4

[Chris P]

good find Adam!

[Rob Hall]

That's a lovely scene Adam. The camera work is wonderful. Could the music be Albanian? It appears that the film is a journey from Greece to Albania. IMDB lists 3 titles for the soundtrack - two by Mikis Theodorakis - but as they all have credits for lyrics, I'm guessing that none of them is the piece in this scene.

[Chris P]

I am assuming it's Greek but it sounds more Bulgarian or maybe Armenian

could be Bulgarian, unlikely to be Armenian, but maybe Albanian - esp. as it appears the film involves Albania as well as Greece

edit: I see Rob had similar ideas while I was writing this!

[NormanD]

I just watched this through twice. The music, yes, it's good, but the cinematography is tremendous. It's shot in one unedited take, and the kids rushing to view the dancing through the railings add another layer of spectacle. And the way the clip ends - what's next?? - leaves me on an edge.

Funny how you (Adam) were struck with the music, and me with the visible story.

[Rob Hall]

I liked the tag on the wall as the bride walks past, just before the people hanging out of the windows are revealed. And the way that some of the spikes at the top of the railings, on which the kids at the end were climbing, were bent. Wonderful stuff.

[Adam Blake]

Well, it's what I believe is called an "art house classic". I watched it expecting to love it but got a bit irritated with it after awhile. Too many long shots, too many poignant pauses, too slow. Still, I might just have been not in the right mood.

Thank you for your comments on the music. Albanian makes sense, I guess. It's just so...astringent.

The main theme is gorgeous too - although that is very much a pastiche of 19th century European Romanticism:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0ovSeh4Vvw

[Philellinas]

You may well have cherry-picked the best sequence in this Angelopoulos film, Adam. I would imagine the tune is a traditional one played at Greek weddings, but I do not recognise it. This scene was shot (if I am not mistaken) in the port area of Thessaloniki where I once spent a day with an injured flamingo waiting for a storm to abate before leaving for Paros, but that's another story. I too find Angelopoulos's films frustrating with too many lingering,
brooding shots but Eleni Karaindrou's soundtracks are generally superior to the films if that is not damning with faint praise. There also tends to be little dialogue in Angelopoulos's films so there is not much linguistic compensation for the soporific content.

[john poole]

I saw the film in the late 90s - can't remember all that much about it now, but I did enjoy it I think (but perhaps I'm not averse to long brooding shots). The main character did set out to Albania, but turned round at the border and returned to Thessaloniki. There was a soundtrack album and the music would seem to be a traditional 'Wedding Dance' performed by Kostas Sahinidis (accordian) & Kostas Siamidis (lyra viol)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternity_a ... Soundtrack)
(the above wikipedia page does exist, but the link doesn't work for some reason)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eternity-Day-So ... B00001IVNC

This is Kostas Siamidis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFxlMUvMr0

[Adam Blake]

Oh, I am not averse to long brooding shots if they are not trying to overtly manipulate my emotions.

Thanks for the light shed on this, John.

[NormanD]

I think I'll stick to the four minutes above, then. And work my way through that Laurel & Hardy box set instead.

Still a great long shot, though, manipulative or not. Anyway, the little kid in the opening seconds was asleep in the car's front seat without a seat belt on. Disgraceful.



Although it might have been a plot essential. Don't care now - The Music Box awaits.

[john poole]

Theo Angelopoulos R.I.P.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jan ... gelopoulos

[uiwangmike]

Tonino Guerra, who wrote the script for that film, and for many many others, has just passed away too.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/mar ... ino-guerra