The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of Life (1983)

• *The Crimson Permanent Assurance score (1983) John Du Prez [perf. Philharmonia Orchestra] (‘The Crimson Permanent Assurance’)
• *Accountancy Shanty (1983) John Du Prez, Eric Idle [perf. Eric Idle, Fred Tomlinson Singers et al.] (Accountancy Shanty)
• *Accountancy Shanty (instrumental) (1983) John Du Prez, Eric Idle (‘The Crimson Permanent Assurance’ end credits)
• ? [*John Du Prez?] (Universal logo)
• Black Velvet (1967) Keith Papworth [perf. London Studio Group cond. Keith Papworth, 1967 album “Silk Organdie” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3024)] (“Howard’s being eaten.”)
• *The Meaning of Life (1983) Eric Idle, John Du Prez, lyr. Eric Idle [perf. Eric Idle et al.] (Opening titles)
• Salute to Greatness (1967) Earl Ward [perf. International Studio Orchestra cond. Jack Trombey, 1967 album “March Trident” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3053)] (Medical theme)
• †Peasant Flute (Version 1) (1983) John Leach [1984 album “National Themes” (Ready Music LPDG 110)] (The Miracle of Birth Part II: The Third World)
• *Every Sperm Is Sacred (instrumental) (1983) André Jacquemin, Dave Howman (Yorkshire)
• *Every Sperm Is Sacred (1983) André Jacquemin, Dave Howman, lyr. Michael Palin, Terry Jones [perf. Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Andrew MacLachlan, Jennifer Franks et al.] (Every Sperm Is Sacred)
• *Every Sperm Is Sacred (reprise) (1983) André Jacquemin, Dave Howman, lyr. Michael Palin, Terry Jones (Children leave the house)
• *O Lord Please Don’t Burn Us (1983) Eric Idle, John Du Prez, lyr. John Cleese, Graham Chapman [perf. Michael Palin et al.] (O Lord Please Don’t Burn Us)
• Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (early 18th C.) Johann Sebastian Bach [perf. Andrew Fenner, 1966 album “Organ Moods” (De Wolfe DW/LP 2917)] (Rugby match)
• ? (Elgarian march, “We will eat the cake. . .”)
• Wonderment Chord (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (Hand of God)
• Congo March (1973) Y. Ngani [1973 album “Africa” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3267)] (“Democracy and humanitarianism have always been trademarks of the British Army. . .”)
• Tom-Tom Rhythms (1973) Sy M’Boko [1973 album “Africa” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3267)] (1st Zulu War 1879)
• POSSIBLY: Brass Fanfare (year unknown) Paul Geoffrey Reade [attributed by GEMA to CRML/Warner Chappell Production Music] (Bugle call 1, 1st Zulu War 1879)
• Apollo (1969) Ronald Waterworth, Kenneth Gamble [perf. International Studio Orchestra, 1969 album “Flashing Blade” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3129)] (Ainsworth shaves)
• Tom-Tom Rhythms (1973) Sy M’Boko [1973 album “Africa” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3267)] (Ainsworth walks to the tent)
• ? (Bugle call 2, officers walk through carnage)
• Dark Forest (1975) Jack Trombey [1975 album “Spinechiller” (De Wolfe DWS/LP 3300)] (Suspenseful jungle music)
• Giants of Sport (1967) John Reids [perf. International Studio Orchestra cond. Jack Trombey, 1967 album “March Trident” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3053)] (The Middle of the Film)
• King and Country (1969) Paul Lewis [perf. International Studio Orchestra cond. Jack Trombey, 1969 album “Plan for Power” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3105)] (Find the Fish)
• Black Velvet (1967) Keith Papworth [perf. London Studio Group cond. Keith Papworth, 1967 album “Silk Organdie” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3024)] (Super Inn lobby music)
• Island Greeting 2 (1970) Keith Papworth; arr. from ‘Aloha ‘Oe’ (1878) Queen Liliʻuokalani [perf. Hawaiian Beach Boys, 1970 album “Happy Hula” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3159)] (Dungeon restaurant)
• Hava Nagila (1918) Abraham Zevi Idelsohn and/or Moshe Nathanson; arr. (1969) Janos Lehar (John Leach) [perf. International Studio Orchestra, 1969 album “In Other Lands No. 5” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3148)] (The Meaning of Life Part V: Live Organ Transplants)
• *Galaxy Song (1983) Eric Idle, John Du Prez, lyr. Eric Idle [perf. Eric Idle et al.] (The Galaxy Song)
• ? [*John Du Prez?] (The Very Big Corporation of America)
• ? (“Matter is energy. . .”)
• *The Crimson Permanent Assurance score (1983) John Du Prez [perf. Philharmonia Orchestra] (C.P.A. invade the feature film)
• Grey Morning (1981) Harold East [perf. Unit Six, 1981 album “Sitting Pretty” (De Wolfe DWS/LP 3458)] (The Meaning of Life Part VI: The Autumn Years)
• *Penis Song (The Not Noël Coward Song) (1983) Eric Idle [perf. Eric Idle] (Penis Song)
• Spinecharge (1974) Paul Lewis [1974 album “Dark Mystery” (De Wolfe DWS/LP 3292)] (Mr. Creosote)
• Feeling Sad (1981) Harold East [perf. Unit Six, 1981 album “Sitting Pretty” (De Wolfe DWS/LP 3458)] (The Meaning of Life Part VI B: The Meaning of Life)
• Lullaby (1981) Harold East [perf. Unit Six, 1981 album “Sitting Pretty” (De Wolfe DWS/LP 3458)] (Gaston’s childhood home)
• ? (Bell tolling, The Meaning of Life Part VII: Death)
• Nocturnal No. 3 (from ‘Witchfinder General’) (1968) Paul Ferris [perf. London Studio Orchestra cond. Paul Ferris, 1970 album “Strange Location” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3150)] (Arthur Jarrett’s funeral)
• Calling All Cars (c.1950s-66) Henry Murgatroyd Farrar [perf. International Studio Orchestra, 1979 album “Agents Anonymous” (Hudson HMC/LP 522)] (“This man is about to die. . .”)
• The Flying Messenger (c.1955) Oliver Armstrong (Graham Whettam) [perf. De Wolfe Symphony Orchestra cond. Meyer de Wolfe, 1973 album “Creeps” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3269)] (Nude women chase Jarrett)
• ? [*John Du Prez?] (Slow motion, Jarrett dies)
• ? (Five bell tolls, The Grim Reaper)
• Weird Dream (1974) Stuart Hondes [1974 album “Chicken Wire and Hen’s Nest” (Hudson HMCS/LP 510)] (Grim Reaper turns to the house)
• Nocturnal No. 3 (from ‘Witchfinder General’) (1968) Paul Ferris [perf. London Studio Orchestra cond. Paul Ferris, 1970 album “Strange Location” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3150)] (Grim Reaper enters the house)
• Dracula Chord (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (“This is Mr. Death.”; “I am not of this world.”)
• Harsh Discord 2 (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (“The salmon mousse!”)
• ? [*John Du Prez?] (People die and follow the Grim Reaper into heaven)
• Wonderment Chord (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (Arrival at Heaven)
• Black Velvet (1967) Keith Papworth [perf. London Studio Group cond. Keith Papworth, 1967 album “Silk Organdie” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3024)] (Heaven lobby music)
• ? (People enter Heaven lobby)
• *Christmas in Heaven (1983) Eric Idle, André Jacquemin, Dave Howman, lyr. Terry Jones [perf. Graham Chapman et al.] (Christmas in Heaven)
• The Liberty Bell (1893) John Philip Sousa; arr. (1968) A.W. Sherriff (James H. Howe) [perf. Regimental Band of the Scots Guards cond. James H. Howe, 1968 album “The Band of the Scots Guards” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3085)] (Theme music)
• Black Star (1981) John Saunders [1981 album “Sound Waves Part 2” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3457)] (Transition from ‘Liberty Bell’ to ‘Galaxy Song’)
• *Galaxy Song (1983) Eric Idle, John Du Prez, lyr. Eric Idle [perf. Eric Idle et al.] (End credits)
• Also listed by GEMA: Mausolee (1969) Olivier Bernard [1972 album “Chateaux” (Sylvester SMC/LP 519)]; Organ Introit (c.late 1970s-83) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez)
  

Deleted scenes:

• Winged Fury (c.1955) Oliver Armstrong (Graham Whettam) [perf. Celebrity Symphony Orchestra, c.1955 album (De Wolfe DW 2542)] (‘The Adventures of Martin Luther’)
• Courtly Love (A) (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (Germany in the grip of the 16th Century)
• Courtly Love (B) (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (“Oh, Martin Luther!”)
• Courtly Love (A) (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (Luther enters Meyer house)
• Hallelujah! (from ‘Messiah’) (1741) George Frideric Handel [unidentified recording] (“Yes, another convert for the Protestants. . .”)
• Apollo (1969) Ronald Waterworth, Kenneth Gamble [perf. International Studio Orchestra, 1969 album “Flashing Blade” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3129)] (War speech)
• Nocturnal No. 3 (from ‘Witchfinder General’) (1968) Paul Ferris [perf. London Studio Orchestra, 1970 album “Strange Location” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3150)] (Hendys go through cave)
• Wonderment Chord (1979) Trevor Jones (John Du Prez) [1979 album “Horror, Dramatic, Romantic, Fanfares, Chords and Historical” (Ready Music LPBL 104)] (Hendys reach hotel room)
• Black Velvet (1967) Keith Papworth [perf. London Studio Group cond. Keith Papworth, 1967 album “Silk Organdie” (De Wolfe DW/LP 3024)] (Mrs. Hendy looks through her handbag; dungeon restaurant)
• *Fat Song (1983) Terry Gilliam, André Jacquemin, Dave Howman (Mr. Creosote walks to the restaurant)

†This piece was officially released after the film. However, it is not surprising that the Pythons had early access to it due to the involvement of Jacquemin, Du Prez, and Howman with Ready Music.