Mario Nascimbene – Barabbas Original Soundtrack (1962)

Composer: Mario Nascimbene

Tracklist

1. Main Theme 05:04
2. The Whipping Of Christ 02:23
3. Eclipse 03:18
4. The Tomb 02:47
5. Intermezzo 01:55
6. The Mines 04:11
7. Arrival In Rome 01:48
8. Rome Afire 03:31
9. The Death Of Barabbas 03:00
10. Musical Examples 06:16

Barabbas is a 1961 religious epic film expanding on the career of Barabbas,

from the Christian Passion narrative in the Gospel of Mark and other gospels.

The film stars Anthony Quinn as Barabbas, features Silvana Mangano, Katy Jurado, Arthur Kennedy, Harry Andrews,

Ernest Borgnine, Vittorio Gassman, and Jack Palance, and was distributed by Columbia Pictures.

It was conceived as a grand Roman epic, was based on Nobel Prize-winning Pär Lagerkvist's 1950 novel of the same title.
The film was directed by Richard Fleischer 

and shot in Verona and Rome under the supervision of producer Dino De Laurentiis.

It included many spectacular scenes, including a battle of gladiators in a Cinecittà film studio mock-up of the arena,

and a crucifixion shot that was filmed on 15 February 1961 during an actual total eclipse of the sun.
The music score by Mario Nascimbene, which was conducted by Franco Ferrara,

the noted conductor and lecturer on conducting at several famous international academies,

was noted for its unusual, stark experimental component, which included the introduction of electronic sounds

achieved by the manipulation of tape speeds, as "new sounds".
Mario Nascimbene (28 November 1913 – 6 January 2002)

was one of the best known Italian film soundtrack composers of the 20th century.

His career spanned six decades, during which time he earned awards for the innovative contents of his composing style.

During his career he composed soundtracks for more than 150 films.
Nascimbene studied composition and orchestral conducting at the "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory of Music in Milan

under the guidance of Ildebrando Pizzetti, Following graduation he wrote several pieces for chamber music and ballet.
He was commissioned to write the soundtrack for the film "L'amore Canta" (Love Song), directed in 1941

by Ferdinando Maria Poggioli, and the success of this film opened the doors of an entirely new career for him.

He was one of the few composers in Italy whose career was based on his work in the cinema.
He was particularly appreciated for the revolutionary innovation of incorporating the sounds

of non-orchestral instruments like that of a jaw harp or a harmonica, everyday noises

(like the tick-tock of a clock, the ring of a bicycle bell or the ticking sound of typewriters in Rome 11:00) in a musical score,

with the purpose to underline some particular film scenes.

Memory