Wendy Carlos’s (1949-) Clockwork Orange (1971) is a soundtrack she created for Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film A Clockwork Orange. The music features electronic arrangements of classical music pieces by composers such as Beethoven and Purcell. While researching, it becomes apparent that Wendy Carlos has created an abridged rendition of a selected classical piece. One notable example is her adaptation of the fourth movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Comparing these works reveals several contrasts, including composition length, grandiosity, and instrumentation clarity. Wendy’s version is condensed compared to the original in terms of composition length. Additionally, both compositions exude grandeur, yet Wendy’s version achieves this effect by using electronic instruments to recreate the sounds of physical instruments. Despite this shift in instrumentation, the success of Wendy’s interpretation is remarkable. The main theme, derived from Purcell’s Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, showcases again a difference in length between the two works, as Wendy’s version focuses solely on the first part of Purcell’s composition. However, despite using electronic instruments, Wendy’s adaptation maintains the essence of the original. The compositional differences between the two are minimal, and the electronic instruments add a contemporary, futuristic sound and character to the piece. Overall, Wendy Carlos has preserved the original compositions’ character with success while infusing them with a current touch.
References:
BBC. 1989. Wendy Carlos Interview BBC2. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/Z3cab5IcCy8
Carlos, W. 1989. A Clockwork Orange. Equale Brass Ensemble. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/o40w2ph7rZM
Clark, I. 2023. Theme from A Clockwork Orange (Beethoviana). Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://soundcloud.com/ianjeremyclark/theme-from-a-clockwork-orange
Elkind, R. Wendy Carlos’ Complete score. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://www.wendycarlos.com/+wcco.html
Purcell, H. 1695. Music for the funeral of Queen Mary. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/AYELAu9hqdU
Orchestration and Arrangement 