Suspiria is a 1977 Italian horror film by Dario Argento. The progressive Italian rock band Goblin provided the musical score for the movie. Many horror film fans know Goblin as the group that scored Zombi, the Italian release of George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. The band also worked with Argento on a number of other films starting with Profound Rosso aka Deep Red in 1975.
Suspiria was Goblin and Argento’s second collaboration together. And the original members would only work with him one more time on Romero’s Zombi before disbanding. Some of the original members would go on to produce music for many other films, including more of Argento’s later works. Suspiria is probably their best know work to date.
Track List:
- Suspiria
- Opening to the Sighs
- Sighs
- Markos
- Black Forest
- Blind Concert
- Death Valzer
The main title sequence Suspiria begins with the iconic melody played on the Celesta. This main melody is reprised in different iterations through out the album. The use of specific ethnic instruments such as the tabla and bouzouki gave the score a unique and experimental sound. They also made use of the Mellotron one of the earliest sampling devices. The Mellotron was an electric organ that had tape reels attached to the keys which would play back recorded music when pressed. Eerie vocals helped keep a ‘sonic’ sense of the witches and their nefarious plot. Heavy breathing and whispers of witches are heard throughout the score. Black Forest and Blind Concert are additional tracks not featured in the film.
Goblin’s work with early electronic instruments like modular Moog synthesizers and sequencers were groundbreaking. Claudio Simmonetti has said that it was Keith Emerson’s work with Emerson, Lake and Palmer that influenced him to experiment with the new synths and sequencers. Emerson would also go on to score a number of films including Argento’s Inferno in 1980. The band brought in Felice Fugazza to help the them learn the new musical instrument. Fugazza was an accomplished user of the Moog system. He previously released a popular LP using it and other electric instruments. He received credit as Music Consultant on the album.
Cinevox first released the album in 1977. Cinevox and AMS have re-released the record several times since then. Anchor Bay also included as a CD in their 2001 DVD release.
Goblin found a resurgence in the beginning of the 21st century and has been touring for the past few years with the addition of some new members. The themes from their Argento scores are still their most popular.
