Elegia
Encyclopedia
"Elegia" is a song by the British electro/rock band, New Order
. Unusually for New Order, it is an instrumental
and a waltz
. It can be found on their third studio album, Low-Life
(1985).
According to drummer Stephen Morris in an interview with Select magazine in 1993, the album version of the song was a 5-minute highlight of a recording 17 and a half minutes long. As the internet became widely available, a poor-quality mp3
, allegedly of this recording, surfaced in the mid-90's. However, it was not until the release of the compilation boxset, Retro
, in 2002 that the full recording officially saw the light of day. The song was used as the conclusion to the bonus fifth disc included with early releases of the set. The mp3 that found its way onto the internet did appear to be the same as the song later released. This version was also released on the 2008 Collector's Edition of Low-Life.
Elegia is Latin for elegy
. The band have stated that the song was written in memory of the late Ian Curtis
, lead singer of the band's former incarnation, Joy Division
.
The album version of the song was featured in the Academy Award
-nominated short film More
by Mark Osborne
, the film Pretty In Pink
, the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
episode "Compulsion" and the movie Top Gun
during the scene in which Goose's plane goes down. It was also used in an American Masters
documentary on writer Truman Capote
and in "Rust" – a black-and-white music video by Nenko Genov.
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
. Unusually for New Order, it is an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
and a waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
. It can be found on their third studio album, Low-Life
Low-Life
Low-Life is the third studio album by English rock band New Order. Released in May 1985 by Qwest Records, Low-Life is considered to be among New Order's strongest work, displaying the moment in which the band completed its transformation from post-punk hold-overs to dance rock pioneers...
(1985).
According to drummer Stephen Morris in an interview with Select magazine in 1993, the album version of the song was a 5-minute highlight of a recording 17 and a half minutes long. As the internet became widely available, a poor-quality mp3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
, allegedly of this recording, surfaced in the mid-90's. However, it was not until the release of the compilation boxset, Retro
Retro (New Order album)
Retro is a 2002 box set of music by the English band New Order. It comprises four themed CDs. In the UK, initial quantities came with a fifth disc which featured rare tracks.-History:The box set was released as a compromise...
, in 2002 that the full recording officially saw the light of day. The song was used as the conclusion to the bonus fifth disc included with early releases of the set. The mp3 that found its way onto the internet did appear to be the same as the song later released. This version was also released on the 2008 Collector's Edition of Low-Life.
Elegia is Latin for elegy
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
. The band have stated that the song was written in memory of the late Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
, lead singer of the band's former incarnation, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
.
The album version of the song was featured in the Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
-nominated short film More
More (short)
More is a 1998 short film created by Mark Osborne using stop motion animation. More has won several awards, and was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Animated Short Film in 1998.- Plot :...
by Mark Osborne
Mark Osborne (filmmaker)
Mark Randolph Osborne is an American film director, writer, producer, animator and Guggenheim Fellow .-Biography:He got his start by studying Foundation Art at Pratt Institute in New York before receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Experimental Animation from the California Institute of...
, the film Pretty In Pink
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes films starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film...
, the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
episode "Compulsion" and the movie Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
during the scene in which Goose's plane goes down. It was also used in an American Masters
American Masters
American Masters is a PBS television show which produces biographies on the artists, actors and writers of the United States who have left a profound impact on the nation's popular culture. It is produced by WNET in New York City...
documentary on writer Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
and in "Rust" – a black-and-white music video by Nenko Genov.