Composer

:

John Barry

Genre

:

Film

Style

:

Film Score

Compose Date

:

1964

Average_duration

:

29:32

'Zulu' is a soundtrack composed by John Barry for the 1964 British epic war film of the same name. The film was directed by Cy Endfield and starred Stanley Baker and Michael Caine. The soundtrack was released on LP by United Artists Records in 1964. The film is based on the Battle of Rorke's Drift, which took place in 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War. The soundtrack is a mix of traditional Zulu music and orchestral score. The opening track, "Main Title Theme (Isandhlwana 1879)", sets the tone for the film with its ominous and foreboding melody. The track features a choir singing in Zulu, which adds an authentic African feel to the music. The soundtrack is divided into two movements. The first movement, "Isandhlwana", focuses on the battle that took place at Isandhlwana, where the British suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Zulus. The music in this movement is dark and brooding, with heavy percussion and brass instruments. The second movement, "Rorke's Drift", focuses on the battle that took place at Rorke's Drift, where a small group of British soldiers held off a much larger Zulu force. The music in this movement is more upbeat and heroic, with a triumphant brass section. One of the most memorable tracks on the soundtrack is "Men of Harlech", a traditional Welsh song that is sung by the soldiers in the film. The song has become synonymous with the Battle of Rorke's Drift and has been used in many other films and TV shows. Overall, the 'Zulu' soundtrack is a masterful blend of traditional African music and orchestral score. John Barry's use of the choir singing in Zulu adds an authentic African feel to the music, while the orchestral score adds a sense of drama and tension to the film. The soundtrack perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of the film and is a testament to John Barry's talent as a composer.

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