The Edge
This music was written for an IMAX film about the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. The film concerns itself with the environment, the ancient Aboriginal presence and the recently discovered prehistoric Wollemi Pines.
Michael Askill percussion
Elliott Gyger conductor (choir)
Sydney Contemporary Singers choir
David Hudson didgeridoo
Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra orchestra
Carl Vine conductor (orchestra)
The music also addresses these spatial issues and is composed by one of Australia's most sought-after film composers.
Westlake's score answers the film's sandstone escarpments and remnant rainforest. It includes an arrangement of Purcell and a didgeridoo piece by David Hudson.
Reviews
An absolutely brilliant soundtrack for a wonderful film. This soundtrack is mindblowing. Westlake's brilliance in suiting to perfection each and every sound to the images on screen for the large-screen documentary film THE EDGE (not to be confused with the feature film) is stunning. But seeing the film is not necessary to appreciate the quality and talent of Westlake. His own compositions on this CD, and his arrangement of Purcell's work, are simply beautiful. They touch at a spiritual part of the listener, evoking the ancient landscape and moving one closer to the spirit which permeates the Australian landscape – the spirit which suffers due to humanity's destruction of nature. An outstanding CD, accompanied by a small booklet which contains representative shots of the landscape which is the focus of Westlake's careful, skilled attention.
Artists
Emma Lysons
Emma Lysons is an English-born Australian lyric coloratura soprano. On Tall Poppies she is heard as soprano on the IMAX soundtrack The Edge.
Nigel Westlake
Westlake has played in fusion bands and soundtrack sessions, with Australia’s leading instrumental groups, and as a soloist with orchestras and classical ensembles in Australia and in major cities worldwide, from London and Paris to Tokyo, Beijing and New York.
David Hudson
David Hudson plays didgeridoo on Nigel Westlake’s score for the IMAX film The Edge, and contributes his own short piece Gandangara Spirit. The playing answers sandstone escarpments, remnant forest and an older Aboriginal presence in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.
Tracks
- The Blue Labyrinth Nigel Westlake 5:03
- The Edge Nigel Westlake 4:30
- Kanangra Nigel Westlake 3:33
- Wilderness Is a Spell Nigel Westlake 3:46
- Jurassic Survivors Nigel Westlake 1:25
- When I Am Laid [Purcell/Westlake] Nigel Westlake Henry Purcell 3:56
- Creatures of the Plateau Nigel Westlake 2:59
- Gandangara Spirit (David Hudson) David Hudson 2:02
- Forest of Ferns Nigel Westlake 1:37
- Remnants of the Wild Young Earth Nigel Westlake 5:50
Performers
- Emma Lysons · soprano
- Michael Askill · percussion
- Elliott Gyger · conductor (choir)
- Sydney Contemporary Singers · choir
- David Hudson · didgeridoo · track 8
- Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra · orchestra
- Carl Vine · conductor (orchestra)
Composer
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell (c. 1659–1695) was an English organist and composer of the middle Baroque. His sacred music, theatre songs, instrumental works and the opera Dido and Aeneas shaped a distinctly English Baroque style.
Where to listen
The Edge is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
The Edge is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP085
- Total playing time
- 34 minutes 41 seconds
- Producer
- Nigel Westlake
- Recording Engineer
- Christo Curtis
- Mastering Engineer
- Don Bartley
- Co-Producer
- Jan Loquet Westlake
- Release date
- 26 May 1996
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 1996 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1996 Tall Poppies Records
- Category
- Australian Classics
- Genres
- Stage & Screen, Contemporary Classical
- Barcode
- EAN 9399011108524
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