Title music to Ric Burns' New York documentary?

June 8, 2008 6:17 AM

Can anyone name the title music to Ric Burns' documentary New York?

I saw this documentary a few years ago when it was transmitted in Australia. I distinctly remember the opening credits, as the camera rolled in toward Manhattan, low over the water and presumably filmed from a helicopter. The music was some jazz sounding number that implied speed, urgency and industriousness. It got faster and faster as the titles ran.

It's been several years and it has always stayed with me. Would love to hear it again, and maybe even find the name of the track.

Many thanks in advance.

posted by Mephisto to media & arts (5 comments total)

Is it in this clip?
posted by the duck by the oboe at 6:36 AM on June 8, 2008

That's it!

If you listen carefully, you can hear the music in the first few minutes. I belive this is a trailer for the documentary and not the opening credits, but the tune is the same.

So, anyone know its title, and whether you can buy a copy of the track?



PS - How did you find this so quickly?!
posted by Mephisto at 6:54 AM on June 8, 2008

Music from the Soundtrack "New York": A Documentary Film.
posted by ericb at 6:58 AM on June 8, 2008

Sounds like Aquarela do Brasil.
posted by danb at 7:27 AM on June 8, 2008

Sounds like Aquarela do Brasil.

The first piece, which runs from about 00:53 to 1:50 or so, sounds like Michael Kamen's version of this from the movie "Brazil".

The piece which starts after that, at the 2:00 mark, is Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.

(Video found by searching youtube for Ric Burns New York.)

posted by the duck by the oboe at 7:40 AM on June 8, 2008