The Unbearable Lightness of Being (soundtrack)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Original Soundtrack Recording
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	1988
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	53:50
Label	Fantasy

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Original Soundtrack Recording is the official soundtrack album for the 1988 film of the same name, an adaptation of the Milan Kundera novel. The soundtrack is composed of various classical pieces by Czech composer Leoš Janáček as well as a Czech language translation of the Beatles' song "Hey Jude", performed by Marta Kubišová, and the traditional Czechoslovakian folk song "Joj, Joj, Joj", performed by Jarmila Šuláková and Vojtěch Jochec.

Background

According to a liner essay by Grover Sales, the idea of utilising the music of Leoš Janáček was first suggested by Milan Kundera towards the beginning of the film's production. Kundera's father was a concert musician and a proponent of Janáček's music. The two non-classical pieces in the film, a Czech version of "Hey Jude" and the traditional Czechoslovakian song "Joj, Joj, Joj", were chosen to reflect the utilisation of rock and jazz music as tools of protest against the Soviet government during the period surrounding the Prague Spring.

Track listing

No.	Title	Music	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Fairy Tale, III. Allegro"	Leoš Janáček	Jerry Grossman, Diane Walsh	2:47
2.	"The Holy Virgin of Frydek (Grave)" (from "On the Overgrown Path", Set 1)	Janáček	Ivan Klánský	3:24
3.	"In the Mist, II. Molto adagio"	Janáček	Ivan Moravec	4:36
4.	"Hey Jude"	Lennon-McCartney	Marta Kubišová	5:37
5.	"Joj, Joj, Joj"	A traditional Czechoslovakian folksong	Jarmila Šuláková, Vojtěch Jochec	3:06
6.	"String Quartet No.2" ("Intimate Pages", IV. Allegro)	Janáček	The Smetana Quartet	6:44
7.	"Sonata for Violin and Piano, IV. Adagio"	Janáček	Sergiu Luca, Paul Schoenfield	4:37
8.	"The Bird of Ill Omen Lingers On (Andante)" (from "On the Overgrown Path", Set 1)	Janáček	Klánský	3:49
9.	"On the Overgrown Path, Set 2" (4th Movement, Allegro)	Janáček	Klánský	4:13
10.	"String Quartet No. 1" (Inspired by Tolstoy's "Kreutzer Sonata", III. Con Moto—Vivace—Andante)	Janáček	The Smetana Quartet	3:29
11.	"A Blown-Away Leaf: Andante" (from "On the Overgrown Path")	Janáček	Moravec	3:35
12.	"Goodnight" (from "On the Overgrown Path")	Janáček	Radoslav Kvapil	3:13
13.	"Idyll for String Orchestra, V. Adagio"	Janáček	The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra	3:28
Total length:				53:50

External links

• Discogs