Peyton Place: Suite (for chamber orchestra)

The film Peyton Place (20th Century Fox, 1957), based on the best-selling expose by Grace Metalious, is essentially the story of the coming-of-age not only of various characters, most of them high-school seniors, but also of a small New England town. Lana Turner, Diane Varsi, and Russ Tamblyn were the stars of the Jerry Wald/Mark Robson production, while Eleanor Parker, Carol Lynley, and Jeff Chandler headed the cast in the 1961 sequel, Return to Peyton Place. 

As the granddaddy of nightly soap operas, the thrice-weekly television series of the mid-1960s featured Dorothy Malone, Mia Farrow, and Ryan O’Neal in the cast. Two made-for-television movies were also produced in the 1970s and '80s. All of these Peyton Place properties have used Waxman’s best-known theme popularized as “The Wonderful Season of Love” and/or “For Those Who Are Young.” 

“In addition to the thematic material attached to certain characters in the ‘Leitmotiv’ manner,” wrote the composer, “there is another important theme which underlines every one of the many narrations in the picture. The theme also acts as a curtain-raiser on the Main Title.” As the music is playing, the audience sees – behind the screen credits – snow-covered fields, covered bridges, etc. Here is Waxman at his romantic best.