On this special day, the birthday of Maestro Angelo Badalamenti, let us revisit his genius through one of his last contributions to the world of cinema, “Violet’s Theme.” The piece was released posthumously on the soundtrack of the 2023 fantasy movie -and the last film to feature the late Carrie Fisher- Wonderwell.
Wonderwell follows the story of Violet, a 12-year-old girl whose innocence and curiosity lead her on an extraordinary adventure, changing her perception of reality forever. This narrative framework provided Badalamenti with the perfect canvas to weave his musical magic, creating a theme that encapsulates the wonder, the fears, and the transformative journey of Violet.
The movie was scored by Emmy Award-winning composer William Rose who stated it was “a pleasure to get the chance to work with Angelo Badalamenti’s Violet’s Theme.” The piece serves as a recurring motif, weaving its way through various cues and enriching the film’s emotional landscape in tracks such as “Hazel’s Garden,” “Violet’s Journey,” “Hearing the Lyre,” “The Contract,” “The Red Dress,” “Sunrise Warning,” and “We Have To Save Her” are all infused with elements of the theme. Badalamenti’s thematic material reaches a crescendo in the film’s finale, starting from “Kiss and Rescue” and carrying through to the end, where it stands at the forefront of the musical narrative.
Angelo Badalamenti – Violet’s Theme (Demo Version)
Angelo Badalamenti – Violet’s Theme
The soundtrack features the version performed by The London Symphony Orchestra, but we are incredibly lucky that Strange Quark Films also chose to share Angelo Badalamenti’s original demo version. This release offers us an additional glimpse at the Maestro’s masterful ability to evoke profound feelings through music. As we celebrate Angelo Badalamenti’s life and legacy, let us remember him not only as a genius composer but as a storyteller who spoke in the universal language of melody and emotion.
Fire walk with 
