Wojciech Kilar: Bram StokerÕs Dracula (Full Score)

In 1992, Columbia Pictures released director Francis Ford Coppola's sumptuous vision of the Dracula myth, based on Bram Stoker's story. It was a massive success for the studio, earning $215.9 million, five times the budget. Based on a script penned by James V. Hart, critics praised the film's grand, gorgeous, and gothic production design. Gary Oldman turned in an iconic and nuanced performance as the titular character. Coppola tasked Polish composer, Wojciech Kilar, to write the music for the Eastern European setting. His score reflects both sides of Dracula: the menacing and the sensuous.

Kilar chose to utilize traditional leitmotifs. There are four primary themes, each of which must balance between elements of horror, romance, vengeance, and redemption. Dracula's music captures the character's tortured psyche; a forlorn soul tom between vengeance and unrequited love. The love theme offers the score's most brilliant and sublime moments. It is Barry-esque in its sensibilities, featuring alto- and bass-flute solos, harp adornments, and lush string harmonies. Kilar adds a full chorus for mystery and might who supply disquieting whispers and glorious religious chants. For the first time ever, musicians, music students, conductors – any music lover – can study Dracula in this durable, high-quality edition, carefully reproduced and edited from the original handwritten manuscript.