"It began in the 1840s, spurred on by financial panic in the East, by outbreaks of cholera and malaria and by the ceaseless American hankering to move west..........but of all the stories to come out of the West, none has cut more deeply into the imagination of the American people than the tale of the Donner Party, high in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846."
One hell of a story...."at last we were all in the wagons,.. the drivers cracked their whips,..the oxen moved slowly forward.... and the long journey had begun "(Virginia Reed).
it's the main theme in Ric Burns' documentary "The Donner Party". I had to look it up after watching. It gives such an eerie feeling to the whole thing, which is about one of the worst human tragedies ever recorded. EDIT: looking at the comments, it seems most of them came here after watching the doc as well..
This is the theme song used in the "American Experience: The Donner Party". It's robably the best "tragic" documentary I've ever watched. One of the best docs ever made. Watch it if you like this song.
I watched this whole documentary based on your comment. Very dark and very interesting. Thank you for introducing me to another story of American pioneers!
OMG, Thank you!!! I remember watching that Donner Party documentary when I was in middle school and the way the film opens - the eerie silence of the ticking of the grandfather clock as the narrator reads the letter, then cue “Dark Spanish Symphony” juxtaposed with the sprawling landscape of the American Frontier - has haunted me ever since
Most people seem to be here from the PBS Documentary about the Donner Party. This music made it so haunting and really fit the tone of the Donner Party tragedy.
Just gorgeous to the ears. To those unfamiliar with the photo of the young couple in the convertible ... it's from David Lynch's 1990 film "Wild at Heart" which is a dreamy and nightmarish piece of work (not for the faint of heart), something of a lovers-on-the-lamb road trip gone wrong. Lynch was, at the time, establishing himself as an exciting and unique filmmaker. This particular piece of music is hauntingly lovely, and just for fun it should be compared to its companion piece from the movie soundtrack, the version that sounds like something from a 1950's diner jukebox: ruclips.net/video/7D57yX4SeFg/видео.html Man, I want to thank David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti for conjuring up all the marvelous musical magic over the decades. Their movie and TV tunes run the gamut from bliss to dread to melancholy. I'm much obliged.
I have always considered "The Donner Party" to be the the ultimate thing to watch during my horrorfest of filmography the week before Halloween. "Chernobyl" has changed that. As has its score.
I don't understand why this version of A Badalamenti's song isn't available anywhere on the web. Doesn't he want to make money on this masterpiece? The only place I've heard it is right here and in the David Lynch's movie 'Wild at Heart'.
Try perhaps 2 years. The documentary came out in 1992. And I actually borrowed the DVD of Wild at Heart from the library to see how this music was used - but why I can like David Lynch at times (even a lot) I just found I couldn't watch this, so I skimmed through it to try to find the music and all I heard was Richard Strauss ( which is a profoundly beautiful piece of music as well). If it's used in the movie it's really camouflaged. The use in the documentary is way superior and perfect for the tragedy of the story. There's a reason that the documentary is referenced in these comments a lot more than the movie.
Anybody know where I can find another piece of music from The Donner Party soundtrack? It's the Hastings Theme by Brian Keane. www.briankeanemusic.com/audio/sampler.html Wish there was a way to rip it off the site. If there is...I dont know how.
Nothing to be confused about- it was powerfully used in Ric Burns 1992 PBS documentary on the Donner Party. I, for one, well up with emotion when I hear it based on experiencing it in that documentary.
@@concerned1 You should then check out how it is used in the Donner Party documentary that everyone is talking about in this post. That's where I discovered it and it's very powerful and moving.
Remember...never take no cutoffs...and hurry along as fast as you can...
"It began in the 1840s, spurred on by financial panic in the East, by outbreaks of cholera and malaria and by the ceaseless American hankering to move west..........but of all the stories to come out of the West, none has cut more deeply into the imagination of the American people than the tale of the Donner Party, high in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846."
YESSS!!! The most haunting use of a musical piece ever used in a documentary #americanexperience #donnerparty
Best documentary I’ve ever seen.
One hell of a story...."at last we were all in the wagons,.. the drivers cracked their whips,..the oxen moved slowly forward.... and the long journey had begun "(Virginia Reed).
Yes. That’s what brought me here 🤓
"And remember... Never take no cut-offs, and hurry along as fast as you can." - Virginia Reed
Excellent! I wrote Mr. Badalementi at the time The Donner Part doc came out to let him know how much I loved this piece of music.
This is one of the most moving pieces I've ever heard.
it's the main theme in Ric Burns' documentary "The Donner Party". I had to look it up after watching. It gives such an eerie feeling to the whole thing, which is about one of the worst human tragedies ever recorded.
EDIT: looking at the comments, it seems most of them came here after watching the doc as well..
Mr. Badalamenti sure knows how to turn out seriously crushing tunes.
He was a true MAESTRO
THIS REMINDS ME OF THE WINTER OF 1846
That’s what brought me here too...As if the documentary wasn’t powerful enough.
This is the theme song used in the "American Experience: The Donner Party". It's robably the best "tragic" documentary I've ever watched. One of the best docs ever made. Watch it if you like this song.
I watched this whole documentary based on your comment. Very dark and very interesting. Thank you for introducing me to another story of American pioneers!
Thanks for the reference, never heard of it. It is a great chapter of the american experience and a tragic jouney.
that documentary s a fucking masterpiece. a true work of art. It used to be available in several versions but i guess they got deleted.
OMG, Thank you!!! I remember watching that Donner Party documentary when I was in middle school and the way the film opens - the eerie silence of the ticking of the grandfather clock as the narrator reads the letter, then cue “Dark Spanish Symphony” juxtaposed with the sprawling landscape of the American Frontier - has haunted me ever since
@@RealRobGarrison my thoughts exactly. Definitely in my top 10 documentaries of all time. I'll never forget that opening. its a true work of art. :)
Most people seem to be here from the PBS Documentary about the Donner Party. This music made it so haunting and really fit the tone of the Donner Party tragedy.
Just remember...never take no cutoffs...and hurry along as fast as you can...
Un grand compositeur. De la noirceur, de la dramaturgie. Mais mon Dieu que c'est beau.
Fantastic film. Fantastic composer. Fantastic director. = Epic cinema of all time. Amen.
Did I ever tell ya that this here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality, and my belief in personal freedom?
......this snake skin jacket......
This piece of music is so amazing
Just gorgeous to the ears.
To those unfamiliar with the photo of the young couple in the convertible ... it's from David Lynch's 1990 film "Wild at Heart" which is a dreamy and nightmarish piece of work (not for the faint of heart), something of a lovers-on-the-lamb road trip gone wrong. Lynch was, at the time, establishing himself as an exciting and unique filmmaker.
This particular piece of music is hauntingly lovely, and just for fun it should be compared to its companion piece from the movie soundtrack, the version that sounds like something from a 1950's diner jukebox:
ruclips.net/video/7D57yX4SeFg/видео.html
Man, I want to thank David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti for conjuring up all the marvelous musical magic over the decades. Their movie and TV tunes run the gamut from bliss to dread to melancholy. I'm much obliged.
Love this music
I have always considered "The Donner Party" to be the the ultimate thing to watch during my horrorfest of filmography the week before Halloween.
"Chernobyl" has changed that. As has its score.
3.6 roentgen. Not great, not terrible.
Shades of Questions in a World of Blue and Audrey's Prayer from Fire Walk With Me and TP season 2 respectively!
I listened to this after Aranjuez. I can feel the elements 😮
so much love!!!
I don't understand why this version of A Badalamenti's song isn't available anywhere on the web. Doesn't he want to make money on this masterpiece? The only place I've heard it is right here and in the David Lynch's movie 'Wild at Heart'.
It’s also in the classic PBS Donner Party documentary. That’s where many people have heard it from too.
I can't imagine this being the soundtrack of a film about people eating donner kebabs at a party
Bravo bravo
Wild at Heart - David Lynch of course
no podia ser d otra formaa!!!!!!! master piece!!!!!!!
great movie, great soundtrack
Badalamenti, quoi de mieux ? je cherche encore
The image for this video should be of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
⛈❤⛈beautifull!!!
R.I.P.
This song was introduced to The Donner Party, the "Movie"
This song was part of the soundtrack to 'Wild at Heart' 10 years before it was used again in the Donner Party.
Try perhaps 2 years. The documentary came out in 1992. And I actually borrowed the DVD of Wild at Heart from the library to see how this music was used - but why I can like David Lynch at times (even a lot) I just found I couldn't watch this, so I skimmed through it to try to find the music and all I heard was Richard Strauss ( which is a profoundly beautiful piece of music as well). If it's used in the movie it's really camouflaged. The use in the documentary is way superior and perfect for the tragedy of the story. There's a reason that the documentary is referenced in these comments a lot more than the movie.
Wild at Heart - David Lynch
It reminds me of cannibalism.
+andy mcghee thats funny cause my history class just watched a documentary on the donner party and this song was in it
Anybody know where I can find another piece of music from The Donner Party soundtrack? It's the Hastings Theme by Brian Keane.
www.briankeanemusic.com/audio/sampler.html
Wish there was a way to rip it off the site. If there is...I dont know how.
and Eli Wallach's gravelly voice
you watched thev donner party doc didn't you?
"Well Ma, if you never see me again do the best that you can"
From which movie is this from=?
Red Rock West with Cage and Dennis Hopper is good stuff.
Well ma, if you never see me again, do the best that you can.
Sailor Ripley's Snakeskin Leather Jacket.
Who else is confused by all this Donner party stuff? Wtf this song is from Wild at Heart…
Nothing to be confused about- it was powerfully used in Ric Burns 1992 PBS documentary on the Donner Party. I, for one, well up with emotion when I hear it based on experiencing it in that documentary.
2022)))
***** Agreed
Definitely!
excellent movie,dont make them like this anymore
This score deserved so much better.
Don't understand. What do you mean?
@@loge10 I meant that the music was better than the movie.
@@concerned1 You should then check out how it is used in the Donner Party documentary that everyone is talking about in this post. That's where I discovered it and it's very powerful and moving.
@@loge10 ok I did. That was depressing. Thanks. 👍🏼