DESCRIPTION:
A short piece, the gravely noble prelude to the film "49th Parallel" was VW's first film score dating from 1940-41. "49th Parallel" was made by the British writer-director team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger in an attempt by the British Government in the Second World War to sway opinion in the then still neutral United States of America.

This piece pre-dates John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen" for the film: "Saving Private Ryan" by almost 60 years, yet there are striking similarities.

Only a few degrees South of the 49th parallel, I took these pics in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA, in 2005. They feature the Old Order Amish community there.

Conductor: Richard Hickox
Northern Sinfonia of England
An EMI Recording