Mission: Finding the Schirmann score!

I hope all Nosferatu fans read this.

We all know how important the right soundtrack is for a silent movie. When I was a kid in 1970 Nosferatu was shown in Swedish television, yes Im a Swede! It was the most creepiest film experience Ive ever had. Well, I was only 7 and my first horrorfilm, hehe. After that I forced my mom to let me watch anything that had to do with horror, terror or sci fi on TV.

Anyways, in 1988 I purchased a video in London, the THORN EMI version. It had the same soundtrack and I must say, after trying to experience Nosferatu with all kinds of scores from sleepy organs (suitable for Phantom of the Opera 1925, but not for Nosferatu) to pompous orchestras (doesnt work either! Nosferatu is a film for the subconscious!)and modern technocratic *beep* made by people who doesnt care for the film, but just want to show off.

The original score which has been lost forever, we thought, was found just a couple of years ago and sounds ok, but, for example, when Hutter approaches the vampires castle the music is jolly. There is no horror feeling or nightmarish qualities in it, as the composer had no idea what a horrorfilm was. It wasnt yet a genre.

My version, blows everything away! Peter Schirmann and his smallscale jazz orchestra was recorded in 1969 and has a small section of strings, flute and even an accordion for the ship sequense. No, its not jazz at all, but a carefully composed free music that underlines the emotions and action in the film with incredible dream quality. The vampire has its theme too, some disharmonies played on an electric organ which could give anyone the creeps.

If you love Nosferatu but feel that you rather would turn the volume down to zero to be able to enjoy it. Try to find this Schirmann version. It´s got to be available on dvd somewhere. If anybody of you know which dvd release that has this score, please tell me!