Jonas and The Sea from Marvin Hamlish International Music Competition
Miguelangel Garcia
Published
“Jonas and The Sea” is a film directed by Marlies van der Wel.
It is a beautiful animated film with a unique style. Its story is simple but powerful: Jonas wants to be a part of the ocean, but unfortunately, he is not a fish, so he dedicates his life to finding a way to get into this underwater world.
This was my first-ever competition, and the music still appeals to me as if I wrote it yesterday. I created the music based on two themes—one for the water and one for the outside world—represented by two corresponding motives (I’m a highly motivic composer).
The music develops into dramatic moments, such as the storms that sweep by in the film. Finally, the last storm brings the resolution. (Spoiler alert) Jonas makes it into the ocean. Right before he enters, there is a big, triumphant orchestral moment. The moment Jonas enters the ocean, the final, developed theme for “Jonas and the Sea” is complete. In the end, Jonas was always meant for the ocean, and that’s how I wrote the music.
This is one of my favorite scores, and I am really proud of it