The Man from Snowy River: In Concert with Bruce Rowland Event Summary

Event Summary: The Man from Snowy River: In Concert with Bruce Rowland

Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024

Location: Online via Zoom
Hosted by: ASMAC & Music Arrangers Guild of Australia
ASMAC members can re-watch the nearly 3-hour event video.

The online event brought together a panel of industry experts, including composer Bruce Rowland, orchestrator Jessica Wells, long-time scoring engineer partner David Cheshire, and host Greg Flood. The session focused on the creation of the iconic score for The Man from Snowy River (1982) and its later performances with a live orchestra. Rowland shared insights into his original orchestration, while Wells discussed expanding the score for live concerts. The discussion also covered the challenges of synchronizing music with film and the techniques used in orchestral performances. Greg Flood, President of the Music Arrangers Guild of Australia and long-time collaborator of Bruce Rowland, also provided additional context about his long-standing relationship with Rowland, including their work on the original soundtrack, as well as other major projects like Phar Lap (1983) and All the Rivers Run (1983–1990).

The Film and Its Composer

The Man from Snowy River is a classic 1982 Australian drama set in the rugged Snowy Mountains. It was directed by George T. Miller and is based on the Banjo Paterson poem The Man from Snowy River. The film tells the story of a young man, Jim Craig (played by Tom Burlinson), and his journey through personal and emotional challenges. One of the film’s most remarkable aspects is its unique orchestral score, composed by Bruce Rowland, which plays a pivotal role in evoking the film’s themes of adventure, romance, and triumph.

Bruce Rowland is an acclaimed Australian composer best known for his iconic soundtrack to The Man from Snowy River (1982), as well as its sequel The Man from Snowy River II (1988). Rowland learnt his craft from a renowned orchestrator, John Hawker, whose expertise in film scoring greatly influenced Rowland’s own musical career, which began in television. He worked as a musical director for shows like The Go!! Show, Fredd Bear’s Breakfast-A-Go-Go, Adventure Island and Magic Circle Club. Over time, he became one of Australia’s most successful film composers, creating memorable scores for films such as Phar Lap (1983), Bushfire Moon (1987), Andre (1994), All the Rivers Run (1983) and the Oscar-nominated The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005). Bruce Rowland’s extensive career also includes composing 2,597 songs for television programs. His work was highly influential in children’s television. Rowland’s versatile talents span both television and film, leaving a lasting impact on the music world today.

Rowland’s breakthrough came when he composed the unforgettable Jessica’s Theme for The Man from Snowy River, an unique orchestral arrangement with a beautiful melody of a piano. His compositions are known for their emotional depth, vivid melodies, and ability to evoke powerful imagery and emotions. A skilled pianist and lover of orchestral music, Rowland has also worked on large-scale live events. His ability to capture the essence of the Australian landscape through music is what makes his score so unique and memorable. His music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, from film and television to live performances.

Key Moments in the Webinar

The webinar offered a deep dive into the music of The Man from Snowy River, featuring live demonstrations of some of its most iconic cues. One standout moment was the discussion of Jessica’s Theme, a piano-led piece that became the heart of the score. In a pivotal scene, the theme, initially heard as background music, is performed diegetically by the character Jessica Harrison (played by Sigrid Thornton), making it an integral part of the narrative.

Jessica Wells, the orchestrator behind the expanded arrangements, was also discussing how she reworked the original orchestral arrangements for live performances. Bruce Rowland provided insight into the challenges of synchronizing the music to the film, explaining how the tempo changes required a flexible approach—especially since the use of click tracks was not always possible due to the dynamic nature of the score. The score’s integration with the film was discussed, including the use of “streamers” and “punches” to match the action on screen.

A key focus of the webinar was the live-to-picture performance of The Man from Snowy River score, which took place with a full orchestra at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Australia. In this performance, an 85-piece orchestra played live, with the film projected on a screen, immersing the audience in both the music and visuals simultaneously. While the original orchestra for the film consisted of only 55 musicians, the score for the live performance needed to be reorchestrated. Jessica Wells shared her experiences of expanding the original orchestrations for a full orchestra, which involved additional textures and nuances to enhance the live performance. She also explained the process of working with Bruce Rowland to ensure the music synchronized with the film during the live concert. More live shows are also scheduled for the next year, and The Man from Snowy River: In Concert will be performed at the Sydney Opera House on 26–27 April 2025.

The Legacy of Bruce Rowland

Throughout the session, Rowland’s influence on Australian film music was highlighted with several clips of iconic cues such as Opening Title (103M3), Mountain Theme (135M31), Gathering of the Cracks (144M41), The Flare Goes Up (146M50), The River (147M51), The Big Leap (149M57), Jim’s Ride, Jim Brings in the Mob (151M43) shown alongside their original scores. Attendees were also treated to stories of Rowland’s collaborations with musicians, including trumpet player Geoffrey Payne, who contributed to the film.

The webinar concluded with a tribute to Jessica Wells, who was also nominated for an Australian Academy Award in February 2024 (and subsequently won) for her work on the music for the documentary Mozart’s Sister. Her music was presented as the closing piece of the event.

The webinar provided an opportunity with links to purchase the composer’s music, including:

• Bruce Rowland’s music
• The Man from Snowy River, Piano Solo songbook
• Jessica’s Theme in the Piano for Leisure Series 1, Grade 4 as part of the AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board)

Overall, The Man from Snowy River session provided an engaging and educational exploration of the film’s music, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Bruce Rowland’s iconic score was created and brought to life. The discussion of orchestration, live performance, and the film’s lasting legacy was an inspiring experience for attendees, enriching their knowledge of both the artistry of Rowland and the emotional power of film music.

—Barbara Król