Storm Clouds Cantata

The Storm Clouds Cantana is short chorale written by the Australian composer Arthur Benjamin for Alfred Hitchcock's 1934 film The Man Who Knew Too Much and used again in the 1956 remake.

The original cantata lasted for around 9 minutes and was used for the assassination scene at the Royal Albert Hall. For the 1956 film, Bernard Herrmann felt that he couldn't improve on Benjamin's composition and orchestrated it for a large orchestra and add a number of repeats in order to extend the length.

Writer D.B. Wyndham-Lewis provided the choral text, which was again extended for the remake.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)

The cantata was recorded at the Royal Albert Hall by H. Wynn Reeves conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and chorus. Parts of the performance were filmed in front of an audience of extras for editing into the final film.

Choral Text

Soloist:
    There came a whispered terror on the breeze.
    And the dark forest shook
Chorus:
    And on the trembling trees came nameless fear.
    And panic overtook each flying creature of the wind
    And when they all had fled
Soloist:
    All save the child — all save the child.
    Around whose head screaming,
    The night-birds wheeled and shoot away.
Chorus:
    Finding release from that which drove them onward like their prey.
    Finding release the storm-clouds broke.
    And drowned the dying moon.
    The storm-clouds broke — the storm clouds broke.
    Finding release!

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

In the remake, the London Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Bernard Herrmann, with the Covent Garden Chorus and soloist Barbara Howitt.

Choral Text

Soloist:
    There came a whispered terror on the breeze.
    And the dark forest shook
Chorus:
    And on the trembling trees came nameless fear.
    And panic overtook each flying creature of the wild
    And when they all had fled
Soloist:
    All save the child — all save the child.
    Around whose head screaming,
    The night-birds wheeled and shoot away.
Chorus:
    Finding release from that which drove them onward like their prey.
    Finding release the storm-clouds broke.
    And drowned the dying moon.
    The storm-clouds broke — the storm clouds broke.
    Finding release!
    Yet stood the trees — yet stood the trees
    Around whose heads screaming
    Finding release
    Finding release from that which drove them onward like their prey.