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“As the narrative unfolds through the eyes of early convict colonists William and Sal Thornhill, the music focuses on this deeply personal story of two naturally decent people who strive to make a life for themselves and their young family in this new and alien land. As they fail to heed the advice of their neighbour Blackwood — that you can’t just take but that you also need to give a little — the inevitably tragic consequences unfold.” – Burkhard Dallwitz
Burkhard Dallwitz is one of Australia’s foremost screen composers, with a number of internationally acclaimed works to his name. In 2001 he won the APRA Award for Best Television Theme for the 2000 Sydney Olympics theme; and other highlights include the score for Peter Weir’s feature film The Way Back (starring Colin Farrell, Ed Harris and Jim Sturgess) and the 2014 Screen Music Award for Best Television Theme for Fat Tony &Co.
About The Secret River
Based on Kate Grenville’s multi-award-winning bestselling novel, the two part mini-series The Secret River tells the deeply personal story of Will and Sal Thornhill, early convict colonists in New South Wales. It stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Sarah Snook, Lachy Hulme and Tim Minchin.
The Secret River dramatises the British colonisation of Australia in microcosm, with the dispossession of Indigenous Australians made comprehensible and ultimately heart-breaking as Will Thornhill’s claim over a piece of land he titles “Thornhill’s Point” on the beautiful and remote Hawkesbury River, brings his family and neighbours into conflict with the traditional owners of the land.
Will Thornhill is driven by an oppressed, impoverished past and a desperate need to provide a safe home for his beloved family in a strange, foreboding land. The Secret River is an epic tragedy in which a good man is compelled by desperation, fear, ambition and love to participate in a terrible crime against humanity.
TRACKLISTING
1. Our Hawkesbury
2. Penal Colony – NSW – 1805
3. First Encounter
4. Working Life
5. The Promise
6. Easy Come Easy Go
7. Good Conduct
8. Staking A Claim
9. The Fever
10. Best Hidden River In The World
11. Kite Flying
12. Trouble Is Brewing
13. Go To Hell Smasher
14. My Place
15. Burning
16. The Pact
17. Massacre
18. I See You Dickie
19. He Can Spit A Mile
20. A Secret River (with Archie Roach and Shane Howard)
Burkhard Dallwitz composer, piano & virtual instruments
Erkki Veltheim violin & mandolin
Lizzy Welsh violin
Ceridwen Davies viola
Charlotte Jacke cello
Jon Heilbron double bass
Yinuo Mu harp
John Barrett flutes & whistles
Rebecca Simpson bodhran
David Herzog classical guitar
Strings performed by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Jan Chalupecký