"The Killing Fields" soundtrack

It's one of my favourite films and I've always been haunted by the music that plays over the closing credits. On the soundtrack album it's called "Étude" and I've always assumed it was by Mike Oldfield since there's no credit or even mention of anyone else.

So, I was most surprised when listening today to a CD I've had for ages but never listened to :shame: :
"The World of Spanish Guitar" - a DECCA compilation I was given as a present.

Track 16 is a piece called "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" (Memories of Alhambra) by Spanish composer Tárrega and it is the exact same piece! How the hell did Mike Oldfield get away with using it completely uncredited???

On a Mike Oldfield fan site (http://tubular.net/discography/TheKillingFields.shtml) it says:

'based on' my arse - it's a direct copy!

Anyway - a beautiful piece of music all the same. I'm not ashamed to admit that hearing it usually brings a tear to my eyes

Michael.

 

Michael,

I've long been a fan of Oldfield's stuff - I've got most of his albums. An interesting fact - that's the first I knew of Étude not being written by him. He's recorded several other tracks not by him and included things based on traditional arrangements. Tracks of note are Arrival, Sailors Hornpipe and Variations on a Theme.

Still good stuff though - the Killing Fields remains one of my all-time favourite soundtracks too.

 

Thinking about it, I'm sure it might be based on 'Romance' by Lennon and McCartney. In fact, I'm the track is on John Williams' (the guitarist, not composer) Bridges LP. I'll give it a spin tonight and report back if I notice any similarities.

 

The thing is Tárrega wrote "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" in the 19th century (or very early 20th century) - which is a bit before Lennon & McCartney's time

EDIT: here's an MP3 of the original (Tárrega) piece:

http://www.guitarsound.net/elixir/mp3/alhambra.mp3

Michael.

 

Thanks for the MP3 link, Michael. The track does sound familar - I've definately heard it played in a similar style before.

The John Williams version I was on about is called Romanza and is a variation of this, arranged by Stanley Myers, not Lennon and McCartney. I was getting confused with 'Because', that is also on the same LP. It is a more upbeat version, but there are similarities.

Link to CD sleeve notes (it is on his Bridges LP), but the CD was close to hand: http://www.unionsquaremusic.co.uk/title.php?ALBUM_ID=37&LABEL_ID=3