a different tune

“The Silence” is a new orchestral work by Iain Grandage : a narrated story with libretto by Humphrey Bower. Its designed specifically as an introduction to the orchestra for children in upper primary / lower secondary school.

The story tells of a boy who wakes up to find that he is the only person left in the world. The theme obviously allows for the exploration of a range of emotions and situations.

I was immediately reminded of two things. The first was Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf”, the classic childrens orchestral story that I remember from my own childhood. The second was “The Quiet Earth”, a strange and beautiful film in which a man wakes up to find himself alone in the world. Its a powerful theme, and makes us question how much our own identity depends on those around us.

Heard recently on Into the Music. The audio may be there for a few weeks. Its great to hear some of the kids reactions to the piece. I hope we see this performed in Perth soon.