Lawrence of Arabia – Jan Berry – Authentic Sheet Music

Jan Berry’s original music score, used by Wrecking Crew studio musicians to record the original track in 1963.

Transcribed by Mark A. Moore from Jan Berry’s music archive, in association with his estate. Moore is the author of Dead Man’s Curve: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Life of Jan Berry (McFarland 2021) and The Jan & Dan Record (McFarland 2016).

“Lawrence of Arabia” was written by Academy Award-winning French composer Maurice Jarre and served as the instrumental title track for the 1962 film of the same name, starring Peter O’Toole, Sir Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, and others. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures, which is how the theme song came into Jan Berry’s orbit.

As part of his contractual obligations to Screen Gems-Columbia Music, Jan arranged and produced a version of the song for Colpix Records. It was recorded in July 1963 in the same session with “Quasimoto” (which was later issued as “‘B’ Gas Rickshaw” on Jan & Dean’s Liberty album Dead Man’s Curve/The New Girl in School). “Lawrence” remained unreleased, and it is unclear which artist in the Screen Gems family Jan’s production was intended for.

The theme from Lawrence of Arabia is well known and has been interpreted by various arrangers over the years, but Jan’s version came just seven months after the film’s release.

This beautiful arrangement is another stellar example of Jan Berry’s orchestral approach to Pop and Rock music, two years before his Pop Symphony project. There were no horns this time. The emphasis was “Only Strings & Guitar,” as Jan wrote on his music score for “Lawrence.”

Perfect for college, state, or local ensembles, or any combo interested in tackling this unreleased gem from 1963.

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Fiji Printing #21. Distributed by ArrangeMe and the Hal Leonard Corporation.

Available From:

Sheet Music Direct
Sheet Music Plus

Level: Advanced.

Perfect for advanced college, state, or local ensembles, or any combo interested in tackling this unreleased gem from 1963.

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Studio Instrumentation (1963):

STRINGS: Violin, Viola, Cello; Contrabass (Bass 1, Arco & Pizzicato).

RHYTHM: Guitar 1 (Lead), Guitar 2 (Chords), Guitar 3 (Danelectro 6-String Bass); Bass 2 (Upright); Percussion (Vibraphone, Timpani); Drums; Piano.

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Publication Includes:

(1) Illustrated cover page; (2) Introductory text with commentary on the music and the musicians who performed on it; (3) Song chronology with recording session details; (4) Full music score; (5) Individual charts for each part in the music score; and (6) Illustrations, including images from Jan Berry’s music archive.

24 distinct chords.
40 Pages.

10″ x 14

Note: This arrangement is classified as “Orchestra” because it is the closest category offered on the ArrangeMe platform that matches the song’s instrumentation.

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