The ''Storm Clouds Cantata'' (or'' Storm Cloud Cantata'') is a

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The meaning o ...

by the Australian composer

Arthur Benjamin Arthur Leslie Benjamin (18 September 1893, in Sydney – 10 April 1960, in London) was an Australian composer, pianist, conductor and teacher. He is best known as the composer of '' Jamaican Rumba'' (1938) and of the '' Storm Clouds Cantata'' ...

This cantata was written for the assassination scene in the

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

1934 film, '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'', in the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

. In the film version of 1934, the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

was directed by H. Wynn Reeves. In the 1956 version, however, the London Symphony Orchestra was conducted by

Bernard Herrmann Bernard Herrmann (born Maximillian Herman; June 29, 1911December 24, 1975) was an American composer and conductor best known for his work in composing for films. As a conductor, he championed the music of lesser-known composers. He is widely r ...

, the composer of new music for the remake, and the chorus is the

Covent Garden Opera The Royal Opera is a British opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Cov ...

Chorus with soloist Barbara Howitt. The Cantata is 177 measures and runs 8-9 minutes. It starts with a ''

Lento Lento may refer to: * ''Lento'' (skipper), a genus of skippers in the family Hesperiidae * Lento, Haute-Corse, a French commune located on the island of Corsica * Lento speech, a relatively slow manner of speaking Music * Lento (band), an Italia ...

'' in three-quarter time in

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and ...

. The first half of the cantata is ''

'', at 108 beats per minute. Then begins the '' Allegro agitato'', characterized by rhythmic strokes of the

timpani Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionall ...

. The conclusion is '' Presto''.

Orchestra

* Piccolo * Flute * Oboe * Clarinet * Bass Clarinet * Bassoon * Contrabassoon * Horn * Trumpet * Tenor Trombone * Bass Trombone * Tuba * Timpani * Snare drum * Cymbals * Bass drum * Harp * Organ * 1st/2nd violins * Viola * Cello * Contrabasses * Mezzo-soprano solo * Chorus SATB

Text

D. B. Wyndham-Lewis, screenplay ''The Man who Knew Too Much''. This appears to be his only actual contribution to the screenplay although he is credited as co-author. Soloist: There came a whispered terror on the breeze. And the dark forest shook Chorus: And on the trembling trees came nameless fear. And panic overtook each flying creature of the wild :Original: ''...flying creature of the wind'' And when they all had fled Soloist: All save the child — all save the child. Around whose head screaming, The night-birds wheeled and shot away. Chorus: Finding release from that which drove them onward like their prey. Finding release the storm-clouds broke. And drowned the dying moon. The storm-clouds broke — the storm clouds broke. Finding release!

Addition for the 1956 remake

Yet stood the trees — yet stood the trees Around whose heads screaming The singers perform in an alternation between male and female: Finding release; Finding release from that which drove them onward like their prey. This last part is part of the ''poco crescendo'' played by the

Tympani Timpani (; ) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionall ...

to culminate in the '' Maestoso'' in the finale which ends with the

cymbal A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...

crash in which the assassin shoots.

Publication

The full score of the ''Storm Clouds Cantata'' has never been published. A piano arrangement of the latter half of the work was published in 2014 in the collection ''Music From the Hitchcock Films''.''Music from the Hitchcock Films'', arrangements by Christopher Hussey, Jeremy Birchall, and Jane Watkins, edited by Jenni Norey, London: Wise Publications, 2014.

Recording

A recording of the complete 1954 version .e. with Herrmann's embellishmentsis included on the CD ''

Elmer Bernstein Elmer Bernstein ( '; April 4, 1922August 18, 2004) was an American composer and conductor. In a career that spanned over five decades, he composed "some of the most recognizable and memorable themes in Hollywood history", including over 150 origi ...

conducts the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...

Film Scores - from

Citizen Kane ''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture was Welles' first feature film. ''Citizen Kane'' is frequently cited ...

Taxi Driver ''Taxi Driver'' is a 1976 American film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader, and starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. Set in a decaying ...

'' (1992).

References