Rutabagas and Parsnips

markrichardson:

The opening sequence from Herzog’s Heart of Glass. Started watching this last night but couldn’t finish it. In this film Herzog famously had most of the cast perform their scenes under hypnosis. One of those things where you hear it and think “Is that really true?” and also wonder what that means, exactly. I can report that the cast members often looked like they were half asleep and were remarkably still. Which did give the movie a strange quality. But we turned it off after a little while b/c it was frankly really boring. I like Herzog very much, but sometimes, his films bore me. I think they might not be right for watching on a television. The temptation to do something else can eventually become too strong. Not sure. The films of his that have most moved me have generally been documentaries. 

Regardless, this is one of the most beautiful sequences of film I’ve ever seen. And I really want to find out what this piece of music is. And it’s a very strange thing in 2012 to want to know something like that and not be able to figure it out. But that is where I am now.

It’s not Popol Vuh (though the soundtrack they did for this film is excellent). So I think that leaves Studio der Fruehen Musik, also mentioned in the credits. A group that recorded “early music” in the 1960s and 70s, led by a guy named Thomas Binkley. And it looks like there is one (1) album of the many dozens they recorded currently for sale digitally. A pity. But I’ve no idea where to find this specific piece of music. Maybe you can help?

Just from poking around, I believe this piece of music was written in the 11th or 12th centuries. Which, can you imagine it’s the year 1150 and you are a blacksmith or something and you go into a cathedral and hear something like this????? How could you not believe in god. You’d be an idiot not to.

If you can tell me what this is, the first three drinks next time I see you are on me.

I hope this is found out. I’d love to have this song myself.