Witchfinder General theme by Roberto Mann Orchestra

The beautiful love theme from the great 1968 film 'Witchfinder General'. The music was written by Paul Ferris, who appeared in the film (under his acting name of Morris Jarr); he can be seen in the slideshow, just after the witch-burning scene.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Loved the film and the music, fantastic blend of horror, beauty and romance.

[@brist75]

what a beautiful composition, loved the film, but the music is something else!

[@inka51]

no other music could be played to this brilliant film! it fits perfectly.paul ferris got it so right!

[@leahrockstar]

Love this tune, got a copy played by London philharmonic orchestra nothing beats the original so I watch the movie when I can for the music mostly. I fell for this first time I saw the movie when first shown on TV in the mid-seventies.

[@Juliehemmings411]

I keep playing this over and over, I love it !

[@johnfeury961]

Haunting soundtrack...Great movie.

[@richwicz]

I just recently bought the Blu-ray of Witchfinder General, it looks amazing!

[@cartimand]

Wow. Thanks for posting. Beautiful music to one of the best British movies of all time!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

I have just watched the film again and saw it for the first time a couple of years ago although I was aware of it for a long time. Although a horror film, I was struck by it's beauty, that amazing countryside, the ambiance enhanced by that great film score.

[@OnafetsEnovap]

I just realised, upon rewatching this gem of a film, that Ian Ogilvy (who plays our hero, Captain Richard Marshall) is now the only surviving actor as of 2024.

[@roberttownsend9223]

I loved this theme the first time I heard it when the movie came out all those years ago. I was of the opinion that it was a traditional English tune and there is some truth in this. The composer Paul Ferris said that he wanted to write a theme in the manner of greensleves and there s similarity to both tunes.

[@josephclift3662]

Robert - thank you so much for this information. Everything the composer said is everything I've always felt and thought about this theme. Thank you again

[@josephclift3662]

Further, I agree with all of your thoughts, too

[@MrKeeft1]

I used to play this on piano at home.. the theme isnt complete in the film, but seems i got the middle right after all.. wonderful, gory film yes but its of its time,,,,wonderful.

[@rimmerd9908]

I've been trying to learn this on the piano but i'm no pianist. My father was an actor in this movie and I (and he) always loved this tune. The composer of the tune is the guy by the bomb fire. Dad, no longer here, would have been proud that anyone would have bothered to post this beautiful tune, accompanied with a lovely slideshow that summarised the movie very well... Thanks for posting this!!

[@g4nked]

what a beautiful comment

[@richwicz]

Witchfinder General is a classic of the horror genre and your father was an actor in it, you must be very proud. Witchfinder often makes the top 10 of the greatest horror movies ever made alongside other classics like The Exorcist, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wicker Man, etc. The movie's music is also fantastic.

[@rimmerd9908]

I am proud of him. I've watched this movie tons of times since a young boy. The British one was slightly censored. I think I have a copy of the original one somewhere and it's more brutal than this. The tune makes the film really. Beautiful and sad.

[@inka51]

you are so lucky your dad was in the film;the best film ever made as far as i am concerned,Paul Ferris got the music so right,fits the movie perfectly.just love it.

[@gerrywoody4301]

You must be proud of your dad. lovely music did you know it was also used in the movie "how sleep the brave"

[@pilates68]

To anyone interested, The Witchfinder General soundtrack can be obtained on the CD "Great Movie Themes In Dolby Surround: Horror! - Monsters, Witches & Vampires" , which I just purchased from Amazon. Fantastic to hear this lush beautiful score in digital sound for the first time! It's frankly out of place on this compilation, which is basically monster movie music. Having waited decades to hear it, I'll take it on any CD I can get. This score has been in my head since I saw the movie in 1984.

[@Juliehemmings411]

It's such wonderful music, I have been to Lavenham where it was filmed a beautiful old Tudor Village caught in a time warp, It was'nt a film set, but a real Tudor Villiage, if you ever get the chance to go there please do amazing place !

[@Juliehemmings411]

Have been to Lavenham, Suffolk, not a film set but real where it was filmed an old Tudor village one of the best in England !

[@richwicz]

Julie Hemmings Me too. It's a beautiful place! I've also been to Kentwell Hall, which was also used in Witchfinder General during the scenes where they try to drown that poor old priest just before they hang him. I'd like to go to Orford Castle too, where the final torture chamber scenes were filmed.

[@bwlboy123]

Classic movie theme for a under-appreciated classic.

[@davidchamberlain5425]

Hilary Dwyer...may 6th 1945---------march 30th 2020......R.I.P......my sweet..xxx.amen

[@TheGrumpyGuide]

💐🕊️❤️

[@zooeyhall]

This haunting melody is actually much better than the over-hyped "A Time for Us" from Romeo and Juliet, which came out the same year as Witchfinder General. However that song had some big guns behind it (Henry Mancini) and a big Hollywood production, so it got much more attention and exposure than Ferris's beautiful theme.

[@stflaw]

I agree. This theme has stuck with me since I first heard it as a teenager. It's really quite beautiful.

[@frankiemyers8184]

Both songs are beautiful.

[@Madcath100]

I agree totally, paul ferris's music is so much better, haunting and beautiful and should be re published

[@davidchamberlain5425]

This edges it👍👍👍👍

[@cymart1]

Paul Ferris played the husband of the girl whow as burned alive in Lavenham in the film and died not long after the film was made,as did the director......this film also made a very strong impression on me when I saw in in 1968,aged 15.Although it has beautiful scenery and music,there is also an air of menace and decay which perveates it in a way which is quite uncanny and frightening.....my geography teacher said that the music theme reminded him of Greensleeves?

[@davidchamberlain5425]

Paul ferris composer ..may 2nd 1941-------october 10th 1995.................Michael Reeves director..October 17th 1943--------february 11th 1969......r.i.p.both men amen.......

[@josephclift3662]

It always reminded me of Greensleaves, too. Beautiful peace of music, unforgettable

[@davidchamberlain5425]

Oscar winning score...I.M.O......👍👍👍

[@josephclift3662]

I agree. It's on a par with Greensleaves, captures the feeling of old England magnificently. Truly inspired music

[@drstevie]

Fantastic 7" single !!

[@james63853]

Rest in peace Hilary Dwyer, my princess

[@josephclift3662]

I had no idea... She was so lovely... One of the most beautiful couples ever on film...

[@kensawbem]

Why wasn't this released as a single, it would have flown......... Wonderful.

[@darrenburnfan]

It WAS released on a single on Deram 200 in July, 1968, and got nowhere chartwise, although I did buy it at the time and still have it 48 years later in its original Deram sleeve. The original soundtrack recording, now released on CD, is a much better recording than this one by Roberto Mann, which is somewhat over produced and a bit distorted. But it's all we've had until the present soundtrack CD was released.

[@MrKeeft1]

@@darrenburnfan I WONDER if I bought it too...I was working behind a record counter at that time...had access...KNEW I`d heard it full length somewhere

[@JohnShelley]

My uncle had this as a single and often played it when we visited. Brings back the memories!

[@chrisblackburn1852]

It was...

[@chrisblackburn1852]

It was also released on Decca in the 80s...

[@nogbad123]

Music also used in a 70's Vietnam war film, "How Sleep The Brave"

[@bullerboy22]

Knew I had heard that tune before ---good spot !!!!!!

[@SemadarXDelilah]

Wonderful!!

[@richwicz]

@nogbad123 Music from Witchfinder General was also used in the first ever episode of Minder with Dennis Waterman & George Cole.Vincent Price is superb in Witchfinder, he's never played a more evil & sadistic character.

[@darrenburnfan]

Ahhh, that's much better, Pam. You will be pleased to know that Paul Ferris's original soundtrack score from Witchfinder General will at long last be released in the UK on December 12th, 2012, on both CD and vinyl LP format. I have pre-ordered my LP copy, as I prefer LP to CD format if given the choice. I can't paste in the link here, but I will send it to you in a private message shortly.

[@lycanthropunk]

Amazing theme- thanks for uploading this.

[@Juliehemmings411]

@nogbad123 Glad to here us brit's were used in one of their war film's

[@mart572194]

thanks for posting this :)

[@athenasword1]

I was only 15 (crept in the back way!!! ) this tune Always reminds me of greensleeves!

[@richardcurant454]

At last. Just bought the original soundtrack music De Wolfe Music ‎- DWCR 005 Lovely

[@ClearLight1967]

I have this on 45.

[@grathapilot]

rest in peace Hillary...

[@darrenburnfan]

I went to see the film when I was 21 in 1968 and was so impressed by the love theme that I bought the Roberto Mann single on Deram DM 200 the following week and I still have it in my record collection over 44 years later. A pity your upload of the 1.85:1 image has turned out to be 1.33:1, making the image vertically stretched and making the actors look squeezed. However, I understand a lot of people have trouble uploading 16 x 9 anamorphically enhanced DVDs onto KZbin in their right format..

[@100trustworthyguy2]

avgn sent me here

[@darrenburnfan]

Unfortunately, the December 12th, 2012, release of the CD and LP was cancelled.

[@judyhopps9380]

aww shame. Was looking for the OST for my dad. Still, I can rip this audio at least.

[@MrKeeft1]

Breaking news now...seems Hillary has died...sniff...yes this is the full length version...I learned to play, the film version cut in the middle as he raced cross country on his horse...so sad now.

[@Warrendoe]

Keith Geddes yes I came here because of her death too....I remember when I saw this film in my teens I was absolutely gripped by the main melody as her rode across the screen. Don’t write them or make them with this power any more.

[@delavalmilker]

Does anyone know of sheet music for piano for this lovely song?

[@davidrayner182]

I see the images are squeezed in again, Pamfino2. You corrected them once from 4 x 3 to 6 x 3, now they're back to 4 x 3 again.

[@hablerz]

All the great horror films had Patrick Wymark in them , lol.

[@indieshack4476]

Great music - the original orchestration (used in the movie) conducted by Paul Ferris was much better in my opinion.