Composer

:

Virgil Thomson

Genre

:

Film

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1936

Average_duration

:

25:42

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

"The Plow That Broke the Plains" is a documentary film directed by Pare Lorentz, released in 1936. The film was commissioned by the United States government to raise awareness about the devastating effects of soil erosion and the Dust Bowl on the Great Plains during the 1930s. The film is divided into five movements, each depicting a different aspect of life on the Great Plains. The film premiered on May 10, 1936, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It was an immediate success and was widely praised for its innovative use of music and sound effects. The film's soundtrack was composed by Virgil Thomson, a prominent American composer known for his experimental approach to music. Thomson's score for "The Plow That Broke the Plains" is a masterpiece of modernist music. It is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies, unconventional rhythms, and a wide range of instruments, including brass, woodwinds, percussion, and strings. The music is often described as "angular" and "jagged," reflecting the harshness of life on the Great Plains. The first movement of the film, titled "The Great Plains," features a slow, mournful theme played by the strings and woodwinds. This theme is repeated throughout the film, serving as a musical motif that ties the different movements together. The second movement, "The Grass," is more upbeat and features a lively, syncopated rhythm played by the brass and percussion. The third movement, "The Plow," is the most dramatic and intense of the film. It features a driving, relentless rhythm played by the percussion and brass, representing the destructive power of the plow. The fourth movement, "The Dust," is the most dissonant and chaotic, featuring a cacophony of sounds that reflect the chaos and devastation of the Dust Bowl. The final movement, "The New Earth," is the most hopeful and optimistic. It features a triumphant theme played by the brass and strings, representing the resilience of the people of the Great Plains and their ability to rebuild their lives after the devastation of the Dust Bowl. Overall, Thomson's score for "The Plow That Broke the Plains" is a masterpiece of modernist music that perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of the film. It is a testament to the power of music to enhance and elevate the emotional impact of a film.

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