THE QUIET EARTH: THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN CHARLES - 40TH ANNIVERSARY
CD Includes Digital Download / Digital Booklet
Dragon’s Domain Records presents THE QUIET EARTH: THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN CHARLES, a compilation of music composed by John Charles from several projects in his filmography, including THE QUIET EARTH, UTU and IRIS.
Celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year, THE QUIET EARTH has become a cult classic among sci-fi film buffs and is frequently shown at art cinemas around the world. Released in 1985, the film was directed by Geoff Murphy, written by Craig Harrison, Bill Baer and Bruno Lawrence, starring Lawrence, Alison Rutledge, Pete Smith, Anzac Wallace, Norman Fletcher and Tom Hyde. THE QUIET EARTH follows scientist Zac Hobson (Lawrence), who is awoken early one morning in his oceanside motel room to witness Operation: Flashlight, an effect whereby through a giant energy blast, there are suddenly no people anywhere. Zac attempts to contact other survivors without success. He decides to enjoy “the good life,” moving into an elegant mansion, treating himself in style to goods in local supermarkets and shopping centers. Eventually he locates two other people in his new world — Joanne (Routledge) and Api (Smith). The usual tension, which develops in the two-men-one-woman scenario, gives way to the realization that the urgency of their very survival is paramount. The film’s empty streets, quiet countrysides and deserted buildings create otherworldly landscapes, augmented by John Charles’ elegant score, employing a large symphony orchestra and judicious use of electronics.
Airing on television in 1984, IRIS was directed by Tony Issac, written by Keith Aberdein, starring Helen Morse, Philip Holder, John Bach, Donogh Rees, David Ashton, Elizabeth McRae, Roy Billing and Peter Hambleton. IRIS relays the life of New Zealand writer Iris Wilkinson, international novelist, poet and journalist who wrote under the name of Robin Hyde. IRIS is played by Helen Morse, fondly remembered for her work in A TOWN LIKE ALICE. John Charles composed one of his finest works for IRIS, chamber score, very much in style of the 20th-century impressionists such as Debussy, Ibert and Ravel.
Released in 1983, UTU was directed by Geoff Murphy, written by Murphy and Keith Aberdeen, starring Anzac Wallace, Bruno Lawrence, Tim Elliot, Kelly Johnson, Tania Bristowe, Ilone Rodgers, Martyn Sanderson, John Bach, Sean Duffie and John Malcolm. UTU is a visually stunning, well-paced and powerfully acted adventure film, dealing with passion and revenge between the European settlers and native Māoris in late nineteenth century New Zealand. UTU was well received by the major critics at the time of its initial release. Charles’ rich and evocative original score, drawn from folk music and traditional Māori material, evokes the period of the drama with orchestration reminiscent of classical music of the nineteenth century.
John Charles was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1940. During his first year at University of Victoria Wellington, where he enrolled for a BA in 1958, he joined the UVW Jazz Club and began playing jazz regularly as their pianist. In 1963, after two years at New Zealand Broadcasting Service, he returned to UVW to complete his study for a Bachelor of Music degree. In 1967 he was appointed producer for NZBC television. There he produced and directed various live current affairs, documentary music, ballad and jazz programs, and broadcasts of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (1970-1973). He moved to Australia in 1974 and for the next four years worked in the Music Department at ABC-TV, directing broadcasts of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the series MUSIC OF AUSTRALIA and WILFRED LEHMAN CONDUCTS. His cinema music credits include GOODBYE PORK PIE, CONSTANCE, A SOLDIER’S TALE , ZOMBIE BRIGADE and TAKING LIBERTIES, the television movies MAN OF LETTERS, THE PERFECTIONIST and the mini-series HEART OF THE HIGH COUNTRY.
Previously released on compact disc by Label X in 1993, Dragon’s Domain Records brings together the scores for THE QUIET EARTH and UTU, along with IRIS, newly remastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland, carrying over the original liner notes from producer John Stephen Lasher.
THE QUIET EARTH: THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN CHARLES is a limited edition release. THE QUIET EARTH: THE FILM MUSIC OF JOHN CHARLES will begin shipping on September 29th, 2025
THE QUIET EARTH
01. Sunrise (3:24)
03. Moving Up In The World (2:13)
04. Zac Takes Over (0:51)
05. Going Down (1:24)
06. Born Again / There Are Others (2:33)
07. The Effect Continues (1:33)
08. Trio (1:44)
09. Taking Off (1:07)
10. Road Block (1:14)
11. Alarm (1:04)
12. Last Love Scene (1:14)
13. Finale / Saturn Rising (4:14)
IRIS
14. Opening Music (2:28)
15. You’ve Been With Spring (1:41)
16. Backstage (0:50)
17. Thunder In The Night / Sandhills (2:06)
19. We Are Two Ghosts / A Real Accident (2:02)
20. All Night Long (1:21)
21. Sleep, Sweet Sleep (1:55)
23. God’s Matchless Vault / But The Last Black Horse of All (2:12)
24. Take Me Home (2:06)
UTU
26. Patrol / Destroyed Village* (2:59)
(*trad. chant sung by Rangi Dewes)
27. Te Wheke Stalks Emily (2:42)
28. Moko (2:16)
(trad. chant sung by Joe Malcolm)
29. The Raid After The Raid / Williamson Retaliates (4:17)
30. Quadruple Barrelled Shotgun* / The Army Approaches Te Puna (3:57)
(*composed by S.C. Foster / arr. John Charles)
31. Henare / Night Sentry / Fishing After The Battle (4:18)
32. Williamson Reflects / Te Wheke’s Trek / Williamson Prepares For Utu (2:57)
33. Death Of Te Wheke (Lament*) And Finale (2:33)
(*trad. chant sung by Rangi Dewes)
34. Drummers (0:44)
35. Waiata Tangi (2:37)
(trad. chant sung by Jane & Paul Makura)
Total Time: 77:36
