Search - Stephen Endelman :: O Jerusalem

Based on the classic book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, O Jerusalem tells the spellbinding events of the birth of Israel in 1948. A brilliant tapestry of shattered hopes, fierce pride, and breathtaking daringness occurs as Arabs, Jews, and British collide in their fight for control of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem meticulously recreates this historic struggle.

Composer Stephen Endelman describes his introduction and involvement with the film: I had read the book when I was in my teens. It was a book that everybody read. When [director Elie Chouraqui] sent me the script, I immediately loved it and felt compelled to write the score I jumped on it. Next, Elie called me and asked if I d be interested. He came to my studio in the U.S. and showed me the film. There was no music at all and the film was only a rough cut. He asked me what I thought, we discussed it for a couple days and then I went off and began writing the music.

He continues, There are no heroes in this story, so musically speaking, I wanted to be sure there was no one group that got a more rousing theme than any others it s no one-person s music, but rather each scene is a combination of a variety of eclectic things. In one scene, I combine monks chanting, and electric cello and an orchestra. There is a lot going on in a variety of situations.