A year and a half ago, 冈本视频 music professor Laura Klugherz received a letter from a film company interested in using a piece of her music for an upcoming documentary about World War II.
Klugherz didn鈥檛 think much about the request. In fact, she tucked the letter away in her files.
鈥淲hen you make recordings, one gets a letter from a film company every once in a while and you don鈥檛 take it seriously all the time because they鈥檙e considering other pieces of music from other artists as well,鈥 explains Klugherz.
Fast forward to September 2007.
With the release of Ken Burns鈥檚 The War drawing closer, Klugherz鈥檚 curiosity got the best of her. 鈥淚 started wondering about that request from Florentine Films, the company making the documentary,鈥 she said.
Sure enough, Florentine Films chose her work 鈥淟a Captive鈥 from Klugherz鈥檚 album Amy Beach: Music for Violin/Viola and Piano.
鈥淚 was surprised that they found this particular piece because it was recorded about ten years ago with my music partner Jill Timmons. However, I could see how it would fit in with the film because 鈥楲a Captive鈥 is very soulful, very pensive.鈥
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The cut of 鈥淟a Captive鈥 is played twice in episode two of The War, a critically acclaimed documentary airing on PBS. The music, paired with different poignant situations, is an essential element in evoking emotion and telling the story of heroism and heartbreak during World War II.
鈥淢usic brings emotions to a place that words can鈥檛 always go,鈥 said Klugherz, a celebrated violinist who has performed around the world.
Her recording is mixed in with the works of well-known artists such as Wynton Marsalis, who actually composed and performed a number of works specifically for the documentary.
The connection went beyond her music.
鈥淚 spent formative years of my life in Germany, so I was very much able to relate to the places. Also, to have my 鈥楲a Captive鈥 played at a place where I spent time and be able to relate to that history as I did when I was living in Germany as a student was very moving.鈥