'Brokeback' wins Oscar for best score

LOS ANGELES, March 5 (UPI) -- In a moving segment at Sunday night's Oscars telecast, Israeli violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman played excerpts from the nominated film scores.

Sitting at center stage of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre and backed by Bill Conti's orchestra, Perlman played music from "Brokeback Mountain," "The Constant Gardener," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Munich" and "Pride & Prejudice."

Argentinean composer Gustavo Santaolalla took the Oscar for his score for "Brokeback Mountain" -- the first award of the evening for heavy best picture favorite, "Brokeback Mountain."

In his acceptance speech, the first-time Oscar nominee expressed his gratitude for being able to contribute to "a movie that shows us that love is what makes us similar."