Phar Lap Soundtrack (1983) – Bruce Rowland

If I was to choose just one Australian movie to take away with me on a Desert Island it would be Phar Lap. It is based on the true story of legendary Australian racehorse Phar lap which I showcased on Friday’s-Finest back in 2019. Phar Lap transports me to a time and place that I never grow tired of revisiting. The sights, smells and sounds of Australia and my youth all come flooding back. Any horse or sports lover should watch and enjoy this movie. The cinematography, production and music in particular is outstanding. It still remains one of the most popular Australian films.

Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public’s imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia by Harry Telford. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne Cup, two Cox Plates, an AJC Derby, and 19 other weight for age races. He then won the Agua Caliente Handicap in Tijuana, Mexico, in track-record time in his final race despite racing under duress with a injured hoof,and not used to racing on dirt tracks.

The subject of today’s post is the movie soundtrack by Bruce Rowland. The music throughout is fantastic but unfortunately the original music as ‘stand-alone’ pieces do not appear on YT. The best I can do is present these two videos below. The first one: Phar Lap – The Movie : Phar Lap’s last race before he died has disallowed playback from ‘other websites’. The music I wanted to highlight is the culminating minute of the film which starts at 7:19. I would like this as the final elegy at my funeral. The second video is an ensemble of melodies from Phar Lap, but unfortunately it is not the music as it appears in the film.

Bruce Rowland (born 9 May 1942 in Melbourne) is an Australian composer. Rowland received his education at Caulfield Grammar School, Melbourne in his hometown. He learned piano and was a keyboard player for Australian music groups, and singers.

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand