Olympia | Soundtrack Suite (Herbert Windt)

[@SoundtrackFred]

When the Olympic Games of 1936 were held in Berlin, the olympic committee commissioned Leni Riefenstahl to produce a cinematic document of the historic occasion. Little did they could have foreseen what the director would come up with. The results (two movies) entitled “Festival Of The Nations” and “Festival Of Beauty” were packed full of cinematic novelties and excitement that don’t fail to fascinate to this date. Riefenstahl painstakingly worked out countless ideas on how to encapsulate the masterful athletic achievements the best. From the camera-angles, slow motion to beautiful underwater shots. One of the ideas (ultimately dropped) was to catapult herself with a camera, to give the audience a glimpse of how pole vaulting must feel. Many of the groundbreaking techniques are very common and used to this date, almost 100 years later. Unfortunately, as about almost everything of that time coming from Germany, some voices call the movies out for being nothing more than propaganda material. Once watched, you will confirm that we get to see historic relevant figures indeed, foremost at the opening of the games (as it's still common to this day) but the focus solely lies on the event and the appreciation of sports. Nothing more, nothing less. To musically support the imagery, Riefenstahl worked together with composer Herbert Windt (who lost an eye during WWI and was a scholar of Franz Schreker), a known (film) composer of that time. They both had been collaborating before and seemed to come along quite well. The first movie opens with the main thematic material of the movies, followed by the “ancient times”-motif (heard at 0:40), which reminds a lot of Miklós Rózsa’s compositions for his roman epics. After that we get to see an almost 15 minute long beautiful impressionistic sequence of old Athens and the journey of the olympic spirit to the present - wonderfully underlined by Windt’s almost ballet-like music. The movies both end with (almost sacral) hymn "Olympia", composed by Richard Strauss. This video contains musical highlights of both movies. Enjoy!

[@BSilva1984]

When the olympic games arrive were held in Berlin, I thought it would've been way back in the 1930's. Great soundtrack. Thank you for the upload.

[@BSilva1984]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@miltonabbiati7598]

Grazie Fred❤👏🏻 Important progenitor work of the entire sports documentary genre. Much controversy because it glorified Nazi propaganda. In any case, due to the beauty of the filming and editing and the techniques employed, many of which were for the first time, “Olympia” is considered one of the most innovative films in the history of cinema. In 2005, Time magazine listed “Olympia” among the 100 greatest films of the last 80 years. Director Leni Riefenstahl, after the war and the defeat of the Nazis, to redeem herself, directed works on traditional African cultures and marine biology.

[@ericthered760]

I'd be curious to know if Brian Easdale (composer, The Red Shoes) was influenced by Windt. There appear to be some similarities in their music.

[@RichardEKranz]

Beautiful. I wish was the 1930's all over again, this time we know better.

[@TheStockwell]

5:08 This isn't by Windt. It's Richard Strauss. Best wishes from Vermont ❄️

[@SoundtrackFred]

Thanks for noticing. Totally forgot to add it to the "Playlist"!

[@TheStockwell]

@@SoundtrackFred It's an amazing film - although the historic context is depressing Windy's score is perfect. Riefenstahl's film are in need of a thorough restoration, but the restoration of them would require a strong stomach - and emotional detoxing, afterwards. 😬

[@willwillgill7076]

Yes, it is by Windt. Strauss only wrote the "Olympic Hymn" after the Olympic Flame is lit in "Fest der Völker"