The Beyond is a 1980 Italian horror movie by Lucio Fulci. Originally released as L’aldilà in Italy. Fabio Frizzi composed and conducted the score. The two have collaborated on 6 movies spanning almost 20 years. This is probably the most noted work in both men’s carers.
This soundtrack is filled with deeply unsettling and forcefully moody themes. Frizzi utilized the piano, recorder, electric bass and human chanting to weave a rich tapestry of sonic textures that help drive the story through it’s bizarre turn of events and horrific deaths.
Many consider Frizzi’s solo recorder themes and distinct choruses to be iconic cinema scoring. His progressive use of electric instruments within classical structures were major achievements in the advancing the art form. His use of the recorder to simulate the solo flute was probably a decision of fiscal convenience. But like other innovative Italian composers these decisions, although based on practicality, became unique and progressive representations of cinema music.
Track List:
- Verso Lignoto
- Voci Dal Nulla
- Suono Aperto
- Sequenza Coro E Orchestra
- Oltre La Soglia
- Voci Dal Nulla
- Suono Aperto
- Voci Dal Nulla
- Giro Di Blues
- Verso Lignoto
- Sequenza Ritmica E Tempa
The score starts slow and quiet with just the piano playing the iconic 15 note melody. This melody is met with accompanying drums and bass in a slow and moody progressive rock moment that builds throughout the first couple tracks. Adding more synth sounds manifests the otherworldly nature of this particular score, as it begins to solidify into a fully realized cliche. A slow interlude with an oboe and isolated vocal chorus helps break the ethereal veil launching the soundtrack into a particularly bleak place. This is played out through piano and a lonely stringed instruments until a more contemporary sound returns.
The marching beat driving through his main themes in Verso Lignoto heighten a frenetic pace. The vocal chorus drives the melody into a crescendo. This is countered by more eerie pseudo sound effects and slow piano melodies accompanied by an even more dissonant vocal chorus. The recorder as a solo instrument brings a more intimate feeling to certain parts of the score. There’s even a bit of Creole flavour deeper in, accenting the movies location.
Beat Records Co. first released this soundtrack in 1981. Dagored would release it again in 2001. Grindhouse Releasing also included the CD as part of their Blu-ray release. The CD was also available in the Anchor Bay special edition DVD in 2000. The most recent version of this soundtrack was released by Death Waltz Records a division of Mondo Entertainment. This release comes with new original artwork, an insert with set pictures and an editorial on the movie and the man. The record itself also comes in various color ways. This album can also be found on most music streaming services these days.
