Battle of Neretva

• Composer: Bernard Herrmann
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

Herrmann was asked to score the English-language versions of Veljko Bulajic's film about the struggles of the Yugoslav partisans commanded by Marshal Tito against the occupying forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. It was one of the largest-scale films of the early 1970s, filmed in large part where it actually happened and employing around 10,000 soldiers of the Yugoslav Army.

Herrmann's score contrasts strong marching themes, tender love scenes, and exceptionally brutal music for the battle scenes. Herrmann was at his best in portraying inner psychological states, scenes of fantasy, and visions of forces of nature in turmoil. That means that he was not able to lead with his strongest suite in this film; massive epics generally required a more sweeping, romantic sound that his usual music. Even so, he did a creditable job in this picture, which did not in any case make much of an impression on the audience.

The main theme is a good, solid, Slavic-sounding marching tune. There is also an effective dirge for a retreat of the defeated partisans early in the film, and some fine love music. The pivotal Battle of Neretva itself is exceptionally brutal music. Here Herrmann turned to the film score that Alfred Hitchcock rejected for the movie "Torn Curtain," employing the "murder" music with its obsessive five-note pattern in a more complex texture. There is extremely loud usage of brass and percussion, particularly in the version Hermann recorded himself in 1975. ~ Joseph Stevenson, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Battle of Neretva	1987

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title	Date
The Inquirer	1992

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