Night Digger

Music by Bernard Herrmann

 

 

 

 

 

Contrasting suspense motivs and emotional passages, Night Digger (1971) is a recycling work on Bernard Herrmann's career. The title Scenario Macabre For Orchestra already reveals much of the material that makes up the soundtrack.

Night Digger, in this recorded edition, is divided into seven symphonic scenes. Basically composed for string orchestra, the music reminds immediately (and inevitably) of Psycho and Vertigo, in language, genre and musical result. But here Herrmann adds a curious intimate touch of harmonica solos – instrument played by the killer, protagonist of the film. The work also features the viola d'amore wich gives a melancholic touch to the set. From the intense and urgent opening, the score develops intimacy and economic suspenseful passages, and eccentricities as circular “out of tune” sounds of the strings that seem to simulate a "wave generator" in the background in Scene Four. A brief add of romance is heard in the viola d'amore solo in Scene Six. A curious alternative to the thriller genre for its emotional atmosphere, Night Digger is an average soundtrack on Herrmann´s work, but deserves attention for it is a rarity in a time when orchestral tracks for the thriller genre were out of date.