Students bring classical score to life

JANE Austen’s Persuasion is being adapted into a podcast by Ballarat National Theatre, but the 13-episode production will feature artists beyond BNT’s voice actors.

In partnership with Ballarat Grammar’s music department, an original musical score of 24 classical pieces has been composed for the production.

Last week, 30 instrumental and sound production students played and recorded parts of the orchestral soundtrack live in the school studio.

Podcast creator, director and, composer Liana Emmerson has worked with BGS music educator Sarah Barlow, the lead composer and assistant director of sound design and music.

“We spent summer orchestrating it, I’ve been recording some piano on my own, and then we got the school in to make it more of an orchestral production,” Barlow said.

“I used it as a teaching tool to engage the sound production students. They did a lot of recording design and worked with our recording engineer, an old Grammarian.

“To hear the students playing made the music come to life. It was exciting.”

Emmerson said the score has a cinematic feel, with themes for characters, places, and emotions, much like Star Wars.

Its style has been inspired by Austen’s favourite piano composer Ignaz Pleyel, film composer Joe Hisaishi, known for Spirited Away, and folk songs arranged by Beethoven and Joseph Haydn.

“Some pieces have been recorded on an actual piano, others on digital piano,” Emmerson said.

“There’s a scene where characters go to a concert, which we recorded in the studio and set in that way, and we’ll add room sounds and clapping.

“Two characters might be having a conversation, but behind, there’s a strong orchestra playing and the audience around them. The detail is quite spectacular.”

Unique sound effects have also been recorded, including the movement of old books at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute.

Emmerson said BNT is all about projects led by the community for the community, and engaging the talent, interest, and resources of BGS’ music school is a “wonderful match.”

“It’s been really lovely to have something that has bloomed on both sides,” she said.