Score Sample
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Digital Audio Album
New Gold Mountain : Original Soundtrack / Caitlin Yeo and Cat Stratton.
Score
New Gold Mountain : suite for orchestra / music by Caitlin Yeo ; orchestrated by Jessica Wells.
Version: This product features the Full orchestra version of this work
Library shelf no. 784.2/YEO 1 [Available for loan]
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Work Overview
My approach for scoring New Gold Mountain was to find a sound world that explored the clash of cultures amidst the gold rush in the town of Ballarat in 1857 from a Chinese perspective. The music needed to imbue an off-kilter twist to this revisionist western whilst adding a sense of mystery to the show. I used Chinese instruments such as Dizi, Pipa and Guqin for the western characters, and western colonial instruments such as steel string guitars, low Irish whistles, and fiddles for the Chinese. The other key sound for the music of the series is a gold pan! Shortly after reading the scripts, I realised that there is one unifying drive for all the characters in the show: their search for gold. So, I nervously asked Kylie du Fresne (producer) to bring me back a gold pan from the set to see if there were any sounds that it could bring to the series. As it happened, it became a key element for the percussion in the series, a real gold mine of timbres and tones!
Whilst scoring New Gold Mountain, I discovered a deep personal connection to the story, the characters, their world, and their experiences. Being mixed Australian/Singaporean-Chinese, the process of working on the show was profoundly moving and transformational, as I found myself continuously reflecting on my own experiences as a Asian growing up in Australia. Working on this show taught me more about myself and my heritage, and gave me the permission to embrace and accept the Chinese part of who I am.
To ensure this symphonic orchestral suite was suitable for a standard orchestra, I had to remove all the traditional Chinese instruments, guitars, whistles, accordions, and gold pan from score. To retain the ethnic origins of the work (both eastern and western), I transferred these parts to various sections of the orchestra, and included an electronic keyboard (that triggers sampled sounds) and a larger, active percussion section. This is a fun and bold work for an orchestra to perform as it requires a modern performance approach to imbue it with swagger, grit and drama.
This score has been one of my most successful to date and received the following accolades.
2021 AACTA Award - Best Original Score in Television
2022 APRA AGSC Screen Music Award - Best Music for a Miniseries.
2022 APRA AGSC Screen Music Award - Best Television Theme
Work Details
Year: 2021
Duration: 56 min.
Contents note: I. New Gold Mountain theme -- II. Annie -- III. They're here -- IV. Belle -- V. I'll be back in an hour -- VI. The Surveyor -- VII. Patrick -- VIII. Providence -- IX. Eighteen plus One -- X. Kangaroo -- XI. Fate -- XII. She ran -- XIII. Shing sets a trap -- XIV. Deals Deals Deals - XV. I loved her -- XVI. Which darkie -- XVII. The spider dance -- XVIII. You cannot win -- XIX. The hot box -- XX. The line-up -- XXI. The night before the Mid-Autumn Festival -- XXII. There's nothing here -- XXIII. Shing walks through town -- XXIV. Remind me to teach you poker someday -- XXV. -- The true story of the life of Annie Thomas -- XXVI. Tomorrow.
Awards & Prizes
| Year | Award | Placing | Awarded for/to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Screen Music Awards : Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie | Winner | Caitlin Yeo |
| 2022 | Screen Music Awards : Best Soundtrack Album | Finalist | Caitlin Yeo |
| 2022 | Screen Music Awards : Best Television Theme | Winner | Caitlin Yeo |
| 2021 | AACTA Industry Awards | Winner | Caitlin Yeo for New Gold Mountain (Best Original Score in Television) |
Analysis
Resonate article: AACTA Awards to Caitlin Yeo and Christopher Gordon by Australian Music Centre
Subjects
- In the form/style of: Film & TV Music
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