This blazing orchestral score has frequently been used as theme music and dramatic underscoring. Not surprising, for Rozsa is one of the undisputed masters of film scoring. This and other examples of his symphonic writing show that he did not have to alter his style significantly to write for movies. He was a members of the first generation of young composers to follow after Bartok and, especially, his teacher Kodaly, absorbing from both their new awareness of the true Hungarian folk music idiom. The theme here is an original theme of strikingly Hungarian musical character, which receives several imaginative treatments alternating between dance-like (in a generally fierce mood) and martial. Most memorable is one with fiery whirling strings over stamping, irregularly accented brass. The finale gathers everything that came before and sums it up with utmost logic and drama. A fine composition which deserves frequent hearing.

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