Der Golem
Published:
COMPOSERS: Ernst Sasse
LABELS: Capriccio
PERFORMER: Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Peter Keuschnig
CATALOGUE NO: 10 467 V048
The symphonic school of film composition now runs along such smoothly-oiled lines that it often acts as a narcotic. It’s nice to find it employed in less obvious ways, as with Karl-Ernst Sasse’s score for Paul Wegener’s Twenties classic – and Frankenstein precursor – The Golem.
The original score was lost: in 1977 Sasse composed a new one. It’s very evocative, and an interesting homage to the power of the film. But it’s not a work to listen to in isolation.