Music from Picnic at Hanging Rock

On this site you can find music from the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Music in Picnic at Hanging Rock

Music plays an important role in Picnic at Hanging Rock. It is used to set the mood and atmosphere of the film, and to create a sense of foreboding and unease. The majority of the music heard in Picnic at Hanging Rock is diegetic, meaning that it comes from within the world of the film. This includes the music played on recorders by the schoolgirls, as well as the piano music heard coming from the house.

However, there are also several instances of non-diegetic music, which is music that is not intended to be coming from within the world of the film. This includes the ominous, drone-like sound that accompanies Miranda’s disappearance, as well as the plaintive strings that play during other key scenes. The use of non-diegetic music serves to heighten the emotion and suspense of these scenes, and to create a more eerie and otherworldly atmosphere.

The history of the music in Picnic at Hanging Rock

The music in Picnic at Hanging Rock is a critical part of the film, and has been praised for its atmospheric qualities. The film’s music was composed by Bruce Smeaton, and conducted by Yorkshire-born Carl Davis. It was recorded in England with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Smeaton was originally hired to provide an incidental score for the film, but ended up creating a more complex and interesting work. He used a number of traditional Australian instruments in the score, including the didgeridoo, to create a unique soundscape. The score won him an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Original Music Score.

The music has been released on CD, and is available as a digital download.

The different types of music in Picnic at Hanging Rock

There are four types of music in Picnic at Hanging Rock. They are:

1) The music that is heard coming from the rock itself. This is a strange, otherworldly music that seems to be emanating from the very heart of the rock. It is this music that first attracts the attention of the girls from the school, and it is this music that eventually leads them to their doom.

2) The music that is played by the band at the school picnic. This is more traditional, earthly music, and it provides a contrast to the otherworldly music of the rock.

3) The music that is played by the orchestra at the school dance. This too is more traditional, earthly music, but it has a more romantic and dreamlike quality to it than the band music did.

4) The sound of silence. This is perhaps the most important type of music in the film, as it represents both the mystery of the rock and the ominous feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

The music of Picnic at Hanging Rock in popular culture

The music of Picnic at Hanging Rock has been used in a number of film and television productions. Most notably, the theme tune “Do You Know My Name?” was used in the 1976 film Picnic at Hanging Rock, directed by Peter Weir. The theme tune was also used in the 1981 television series based on the book, Picnic at Hanging Rock.

The other main musical theme from the book, “Journey to the Centre of the Earth”, has been used in a number of productions, including the 1997 television series Journey to the Center of the Earth, and the 2008 film Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The influence of Picnic at Hanging Rock on music

Picnic at Hanging Rock is an Australian novel by Joan Lindsay, first published in 1967. The book tells the story of a group of schoolgirls who vanish while on a Valentine’s Day outing in 1900, and the ensuing search for them. Although it is ostensibly a work of fiction, the book was inspired by a true event: the disappearance of James Corbyn and three other girls from Campion College, near Bingara, New South Wales, on Easter Sunday, March 19, 1950.

The novel was adapted into a film in 1975, directed by Peter Weir. The film’s score was composed by Bruce Smeaton and became one of the most iconic and influential works in Australian cinema. The film’s legacy has been particularly strong in the realm of music, with many artists citing it as an inspiration for their work.

The legacy of Picnic at Hanging Rock

As part of the Australian Bicentennial in 1988, the film Picnic at Hanging Rock was added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s Registry of Cultural Property. The film, based on the 1967 novel by Joan Lindsay, is significant for its evocative exploration of Australia’s colonial history and its unique take on the mystery genre.

Director Peter Weir chose to set the film in 1900, a time when Australia was on the cusp of nationhood. The story revolves around the disappearance of several schoolgirls and their teacher during a picnic at Hanging Rock, a fictional location based on real-life Mount Macedon.

The film is notable for its ethereal atmosphere and Weir’s use of long takes and wide shots to capture the vastness of the Australian landscape. The soundtrack, composed by Bruce Smeaton, features traditional instruments such as didgeridoos and digeridus as well as European classical music.

Picnic at Hanging Rock was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and has since become one of Australia’s most iconic films. In 2007, it was inducted into the Australian Film Institute’s Hall of Fame.

The future of the music in Picnic at Hanging Rock

While the future of the music in Picnic at Hanging Rock is uncertain, it seems likely that the film’s composer, Peter Weir, will continue to work on the project. It is also possible that other composers will be brought in to work on the project, as was the case with the television series.

The music of Picnic at Hanging Rock in relation to other music

The music of Picnic at Hanging Rock is often compared to other music of the time period, such as the music of Debussy and Ravel. However, there are some significant differences between the two styles of music. For one, the music of Picnic at Hanging Rock is much more minimalist in approach, with fewer instruments and simpler melodies. Additionally, the music of Picnic at Hanging Rock has a more dreamlike quality to it, which is likely due to its use of non-traditional harmonic progressions.

The place of Picnic at Hanging Rock in music history

Although it is now considered one of the most important films in Australian history, Picnic at Hanging Rock was not originally well-received by the public. In fact, it was only after the film started gaining recognition overseas that it began to be appreciated by Australians.

One of the main reasons for its initial lack of popularity was its music. The film’s score, composed by Bruce Smeaton, was very different from anything that had been heard in an Australian film before. Smeaton decided to use a mixture of electronic and traditional instruments, which created a very strange and otherworldly sound. This was in stark contrast to the more conventional orchestral scores that were popular at the time.

However, Picnic at Hanging Rock’s unique score is now seen as one of its greatest strengths. The film’s music has been praised for its ability to create a sense of unease and mystery, which perfectly matches the atmosphere of the film. It is now considered to be one of the most important works of Australian cinema, and its place in music history is secure.

The significance of Picnic at Hanging Rock for music

Picnic at Hanging Rock is an Australian film that was released in 1975. The film, which was directed by Peter Weir, is based on the novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay. The novel tells the story of a group of schoolgirls who disappeared while on a picnic at Hanging Rock in Victoria, Australia in 1900.

The film’s score was composed by Bruce Smeaton and it is considered to be one of the most significant works of Australian film music. The music has been described as “haunting” and “evocative”. It has been used in a number of films and television programs, including The X-Files and Sherlock.