Cavatina is a classical guitar piece by Stanley Myers and is most famous for its role as the theme from The Deer Hunter.
The piece had been recorded by John Williams, long before the film that made it famous. It had originally been written for piano but at Williams' invitation, Myers re-wrote it for guitar and expanded it. After this transformation, it was first used for the film, The Walking Stick (1970). In 1973, Cleo Laine wrote lyrics and recorded the song "He Was Beautiful" accompanied by John Williams. A year later, it was a Top Five single in the UK for Iris Williams (no relation).
It is also known as a staple of buskers, despite its high technical requirements.
This piece of music is also played at the end of the Battlestar Galactica (2003) episode 'Scar' where Starbuck toasts the memory of dead pilots.