The Passion of Joan of Arc - Music

Music

Music for the film was played live in the theatre and there is no evidence that Dreyer ever selected a definitive score for his film. Numerous composers have attempted to contribute scores for this film.

• In 1988 the Dutch composer Jon van den Booren wrote a modern score for symphony orchestra.
• In 1994 composer Richard Einhorn wrote an oratorio based on the film, entitled "Voices of Light". This piece is now available as an optional accompaniment on the Criterion Collection's DVD release of the film.
• On 27 August 1995 Nick Cave and the Dirty Three played a live soundtrack to the film at the National Film Theatre in London.
• In 1999, American singer/songwriter Cat Power provided musical accompaniment at several screenings of the film in the U.S.
• In 2003, American ambient guitarist Rob Byrd performed a live to score to the film at the Burning Man Festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. Subsequent live score performances took place May 2004 at the Red Tail Loft in Boston, April 2008 at Monkeytown in Brooklyn, and November 2010 at the Lyndsay Chapel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• In 2003, Norwegian electronic music act Ugress released a limited edition CD entitled "La Passion De Jeanne D'Arc: Soundtrack to a silent movie.
• On 16 April 2008, neo-classical/martial electronica group In The Nursery premiered a new sound track for the film at Sheffield Cathedral.
• Danish composer Jesper Kyd was commissioned by Danish Film Festival founders Christian Ditlev Bruun and Lene Pels Jorgensen to provide a new score for the Danish Film Festival: Los Angeles.
• In 2009 the Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits wrote a score for small orchestra (for L´Ensemble De Basse-Normandie 2009/10 concert season) for this film.
• In 2009 the Lithuanian composer Bronius Kutavičius wrote a score for chamber orchestra (for St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra), which was performed in Scanorama – European film forum in Vilnius.
• In 2010, American electronic/chamber composer/arranger George Sarah provided an original score along with a string quartet and choir featuring members of the LA Master Chorale at a screening of the film in Los Angeles.
• In 2010, Canadian composer Stefan Smulovitz wrote a score for string quartet, brass, percussion, pipe organ, & solo voice, which premiered at the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in Vancouver, BC.
• On 7 May 2010, a score by Adrian Utley and Will Gregory premièred at the Colston Hall in Bristol. It was created as a collaboration between Utley, Gregory, the Colston Hall and the Watershed Media Centre.
• On 14 April 2011, indie rock outfit Joan of Arc accompanied this film at Chicago International Movies & Music Fest (CIMM Fest).