Limite

Music

Limite and its Musical Score

Idealized by Brutus Pedreira, the musical score of Limite is quite eclectic. It incorporates romantic composers (César Franck, Alexander Borodin), impressionists (Debussy), and moderns (Ravel, Stravinsky, Satie and Prokofiev).

The main theme is Gymnopédie no. 3, by Erik Satie, composed in 1888, performed by Debussy in 1897 with piano and orchestra. As one of Satie’s most famous works, the third Gymnopédie presents the dominant character of his music, the repetition and juxtaposition of musical ideas (cf. Gillmor, Alan M. Erik Satie. New York: W.W. Norton, 1992, p. 42). Claude Debussy is the composer of the music most used. Other than String Quartet in G minor, Brutus also included Children’s corner no. 6 – Golliwogg’s Cake-Walk, Prelude à l’apres-midi d’un faune, and the third Nocturne, for orchestra. The String Quartet no. 2 in D major, by Borodin, and the String Quartet in F Major, by Ravel, with Debussy create a very harmonious musical ambiance.

The music for the sequence of Raul’s and Mário’s encounter at the cemetery, Brutus chose the dramatic Chorale no. 3 em A minor, by César Franck. The orchestral exuberance of The “Firebird”, and Classical Symphony, of the Russian composers Stravinsky and Prokofiev gives a extraordinary and contemporary sound of the musical score of Limite.

By Lécio Augusto Ramos

Musical Score

1. Trois Gymnopédies – Erik Satie

N.º 3 – Lent et grave

Initial title until take 38 (framing the edge of the boat with the sea in the background)

2. String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 – Claude Debussy

I. Animé et très décidé

Take 37 (Olga behind the bars) until take 46 (trains wheel)

II. Assez vif et bien rythmé

Take 46 (trains wheel) until take 61 (fusion between scissors and the newspaper)

III. Andantino, doucement expressif

Take 62 (newspaper in “V”) until take 82 (fish in the sand)

II. Assez vif et bien rythmé

Take 82 (fish in the sand) until take 105 (Taciana and Brutus on the stairs)

3. String Quartet no. 2 in D major – Alexander Borodin

III. Notturno. Andante

Take 105 (Taciana and Brutus on the stairs) until take 141 (Brutus walking on a deserted road)

4. Trois Gymnopédies – Erik Satie

N.º 3 – Lent et grave

Take 141 (Brutus walking on a deserted road) until take 147 (cinema screen)

5. Children’s corner – Claude Debussy

N.º 6 – Golliwogg’s Cake-walk

Take 147 (cinema screen) until take 193 (door)

6. Trois Gymnopédies – Erik Satie

N.º 3 – Lent et grave

Take 193 (door) until take 207 (Raul’s hands holding the sticks)

7. Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune – Très modéré – Claude Debussy

Take 208 (take of beach from above) until take 230 (detail of grass)

8. String Quartet in F major – Maurice Ravel

I. Allegro moderato

Take 231 (sea with a panoramic until the boat) until take 239 (sand bank)

9. The Firebird – Suite – Igor Stravinsky

I. The Firebird and Her Dance

Take 239 (sand bank) until take 283 (big, bent tree)

II. Variation on The Firebird

Take 283 (big, bent tree) until take 287 (clouds)

10. Chorale no. 3 in A minor – César Franck

1st movement

Take 287 (clouds) until take 319 (Raul and Mário distance themselves)

11. Nocturnes – Claude Debussy

N.º 2 – Fêtes

Take 319 (sea with panoramic until the boat) until take 355 (Raul and Carmen)

12. The Firebird – Suite – Igor Stravinsky

IV. Infernal Dance of King Kastchei

Take 355 (Raul and Carmen) until take 359 (Carmen’s feet)

13. String Quartet in G minor, op. 10 – Claude Debussy

III. Andantino, doucement expressif

Take 360 (panoramic over foliage) until take 370 (two crosses from below)

14. The Firebird – Suite – Igor Stravinsky

III. Round Dance of the Princesses

Take 370 (two crosses from bottom) until take 384 (gasoline station)

IV. Infernal Dance of King Kastchei

Take 384 (gasoline station) until take 404 (Taciana holds Raul’s arm)

15. String Quartet in F major – Maurice Ravel

I. Allegro moderato

Take 404 (Taciana holds on to Raul’s arm) until take 422 (foamy waves)

16. Symphony no. 1 in D major, op. 25, Classical – Serguei Prokofiev

IV. Finale. Molto vivace

Take 422 (foamy waves) until take 509 (calm sea)

17. Trois Gymnopédies – Erik Satie

N.º 3 – Lent et grave

Take 509 (calm sea) until take 518 (vultures)