Work
The Silent One
music for the film of the same name
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About
Originally released in 1984 the Original Soundtrack to The Silent One features music written and arranged by acclaimed New Zealand composer Jenny McLeod. The album, the 1984 Winner of New Zealand Soundtrack Of The Year, is a landmark in New Zealand's musical heritage with an exciting blend of Polynesian, classical and popular music music styles.
From a script prepared by Ian Mune from Joy Cowley's prize-winning novel, The Silent One tells the story of Jonasi, a uniquely gifted young man sent from the sea as a baby to grow up in a village. Separated by his special powers and his silence, Jonasi finds solace in the sea and the friendship of a huge sea turtle.
But both the young man and the turtle are seen as evil spirits by superstitious villagers. A series of natural disasters and a struggle for leadership sweep Jonasi towards his strange destiny and the revelation of his mystical powers.
The Silent One, shot on the coral atoll of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, is a story of the same conflicts found in every culture in history. It is about loyalty, love and fear, enlightenment and prejudice, corruption and lust for power, innocence and ambition, myth and mystique.
The Silent One won first prize at the 1984 International Children's Film Festival at Frankfurt and was runner-up at the prestigious 14th Giffoni Film Festival.
Notes taken from album The Silent One (Jayrem Records)
Contents note
- Ancient Voices
- Main Title Theme
- The Meeting
- Ka ta te puaka
- Night To Day
- Underwater Ballet
- Homecoming
- The Call
- Paui
- Te Kaikai
- Discovery
- Rude Awakening
- The Cry
- Trouble
- Peril
- The Turtle Hunt
- Shark
- Jonasi Weeps
- Confrontation
- The Return
- Jonasi's Theme
Performance history
Performed by the Wellington Regional Orchestra (now Vector Wellington Orchestra) conducted by William Southgate, Kevin Wooding (piano), Barry Johnson (bass), Bud Jones (drums), the Bach Choir conducted by Roy Tankersley with soloist Kathy Blennerhassett. Drums recorded on location in Aitutaki by The Aututaki Diggers.