Overview
Introduction
"Cavatina" is a 1970 classical guitar piece by British composer Stanley Myers written for the film The Walking Stick(1970), and popularised as the themefrom The Deer Huntersome eight years later.
The piece had been recordedby classical guitarist John Williams, long before the film that made it famous. It had originally been written for piano, but at Williams' invitation Myers re-wrote it for guitar and expanded it. After this transformation, it was first used for the film The Walking Stick(1970). In 1973, Cleo Lainewrote lyrics and recorded the song as "He Was Beautiful", accompanied by Williams.
After the release of The Deer Hunterin 1978, Williams' instrumental version became a UK Top 20 hit. Two other versions also made the Top 20 in the same year: another instrumental recording by The Shadows, with an electric guitarplayed by Hank Marvin, released on their album String of Hitswith the name "Theme from The Deer Hunter" (number 9 in the UK singles charts and number 1 in The Netherlands); and a vocal version (using Cleo Laine's lyrics) by Iris Williams.
In 1982, guitarist Liona Boyd included it in her "Best Of" Collection, also with arrangement alongside Eric Robertson and Williams.
Norbert Kraftincluded a version of Cavatina on his 1996 Naxos Recordsrelease "Guitar Favourites".
The tune was also recorded by Paul Pottson his debut album, One Chance.
There is a gospel version set to "Cavatina" called "Beautiful"; the author is Billy Evmur and it appears in the Dove On A Distant Oak Treecollection. Another vocal version with different lyrics was recorded by Vince Hill(released on the compilation The Ember Records Story Vol. 2 - 1960–1979).
In 2009, the song was the tenth track of Camilla Kerslake's début album Camilla Kerslake.
In 2011, the song was recorded by singer Joe McElderryand guitarist Milos Karadaglicfor McElderry's second album, Classic.
In 2013, the song was recorded by Mark Vincentfor his album Songs from the Heart.
In 2016, the song was recorded and released by Japanese guitarist Kaori Murajion her Decca Recordsalbum Rhapsody Japan.
Other media
Williams played the piece for the Amnesty International benefit concert, film and soundtrack The Secret Policeman's Ballin 1979.
The piece is also played at the end of the Battlestar Galacticaepisode "Scar" after Kara "Starbuck" Thracetoasts the memory of pilots who had been tragically killed doing what they loved. See also Music of Battlestar Galactica (re-imagining).
"Cavatina" was also used to accompany "The Gallery" in the children's programme Take Hart, and its predecessor Vision On, during the 1970s. It was also used for some time in the 1970s as the close-down music when BBC radiowent to sleep at 2 a.m.
The song featured in the 2005 film Jarhead.
