Eye of the Needle was commissioned by Caulfield Grammar in 2004 as part of the song cycle, ‘Beyond the White Sails’.
Students in years five and six took part in an inclusive research project with the composer which would result in the creation of a major performance piece. A topic relevant to the school would be chosen, and all agreed that the history of the shipwreck coast of Victoria, including the story of the famous Lockhart disaster, would give the students the opportunity to experience first hand how to research a wide topic and use this knowledge to create a relevant work. After an initial field trip, staff, students and Paul Jarman spent months studying related topics including mapping and geography, special histories, lighthouses, shipbuilding and trade. Through a series of workshops with Paul and local historians, collective input gradually became verse, music and then a musical theatre piece, composed by Paul Jarman inspired by the student’s poetry, art work, stories and melodies. Students had spent a year working closely with Paul and their teachers, engaging in this history through the arts.
Eye of the Needle is one of five songs from the piece, describing the dangerous journey sailing ships took between King Island and the mainland of Australia during the great age of migration. This treacherous stretch of water saw the demise of hundreds of ships and the loss of thousands of lives. It was said to be like threading the eye of a needle. The chorus lyrics were originally conceived by a student in Year Five, Jason Spivakovsky.
Sample recording courtesy of the Hillcrest Christian College Choirs, directed by Jenny Moon
