Music for Metropolis

for amplified violin and double bass with tape and electronics

In 2004, Moving on Music commissioned a new score for the 1927 Fritz Lang film, Metropolis, from four Belfast-based composers. A special edition of the film, approximately eighty minutes in duration, was made for the project. This was divided into four sections and one section was given to each composer. This is the score for the third section.

The Characters

John Frederson - ruler of Metropolis.

Maria - spiritual leader of the workers of Metropolis.

Freder Frederson - son of John Frederson.

Rotwang - the mad scientist.

The Robot - a robot made by Rotwang in the likeness of Maria.

Joseph - a recently dismissed servant of John Frederson and a loyal friend to Freder.

The City

Metropolis functions on three levels: on the lowest, the workers' city where the workers return each day after toiling in10-hour shifts in the Machine Rooms above. The rulers of the city have their office blocks and homes on the surface, above the Machine Rooms.

The action so far

Freder, while investigating the lives of the workers, has seen and fallen in love with Maria, while listening to her preach to the workers in the catacombs beneath the workers' city. John Frederson has also heard her preach and has ordered Rotwang to make the Robot in her likeness to incite the workers to violence. This would give him an excuse to turn the violence against them and ultimately replace them with a robot workforce. Rotwang has kidnapped Maria and carried out John Frederson's orders. Freder sees what he believes to be Maria in his father's arms and has collapsed.

Synopsis of this section

Scene 1
Freder, in his sickbed, dreams of a grand reception held by Rotwang, where the Robot is tested by dancing provocatively to an audience of men.

Scene 2
Rotwang tells the captive Maria of John Frederson's plans.

Scene 3
The Robot preaches violence to the workers. Joseph fetches Freder who, realising that something is amiss, tries to intervene. He is overcome by the workers who, led by the Robot, storm the Machine room in order to destroy the machines.

Scene 4
Maria escapes and returns to the Workers' City where she witnesses the beginning of the flood, started by the destruction of the machines. She tries to rescue the workers' children and finally, with the help of Freder and Joseph, leads them to safety. John Frederson, realising that the destruction has gone too far, is overcome with grief, believing his son to have been caught up in the destruction.

Scene 5
The workers dance in triumph until they are reminded that with their destruction of the machines they have flooded their homes and, they believe, killed their children.