Music by Grey Larsen from the Original 1980 Tuck Everlasting Movie
PLEASE NOTE: This is not
music from the 2002 Disney Tuck Everlasting film!
Click here to buy Tuck
Everlasting materials or read below for more background information.
In 1980, Frederick King Keller directed the first movie adaptation
of Natalie Babbitt's children's novel Tuck Everlasting. Since then, it has been
a popular cable TV offering as well as a touchstone to thought-provoking
classroom discussions of the deep questions raised in Babbitt's classic
novel. Keller's film is widely available for rental, and for loan from
many libraries.
Disney's Tuck Everlasting movie (2002) sparked massive renewed interest in this
compelling novel. The music box itself is a central, timeless character in
the story. Not being alive, it, and its music, are everlasting, as are the
Tuck Family.
In the novel, the haunting melody of the music box is left to the reader's
imagination. But in the two Tuck films, composers Grey Larsen and William
Ross have delved deep into their own imaginations to bring that music
to life. These days many parents and children, teachers and students,
are humming William Ross' music box theme after seeing the Disney movie.
Inquisitive minds will want to hear Larsen's original theme as well.
A CD and/or sheet music can be yours today, very reasonably priced,
with students and school teachers in mind.
Actually, Grey composed two different themes for the music box. Director
Keller loved them both. He chose Theme #1 for the music box itself, and the
music of Theme #2 to underscore the scenes of Jessie and Winnie's growing
affection for each other.
Teachers
Play Grey's Tuck Everlasting themes for your students to help enliven
and deepen your classroom's discussions and writings on the story, the book,
and the films. In fact the subject of how this novel has been adapted for
film makes for an intriguing discussion in itself.
Music Teachers
Invite your students to compare and contrast the Larsen and Ross music box
themes, and to make up their own music box themes. Grey has written a Letter
to Students encouraging them to do just that, and exploring with them
some of what composing is all about. He would love to hear your students'
creations and will do his best to respond to them directly in a timely manner.
Students
Please read Grey Larsen's letter to students.
In it he invites you to make up your own Tuck Everlasting music box
theme, and offers you some ideas that he hopes will be helpful. He'd
love to hear what you come up with and will try his best to respond
to you directly without too much delay.
A CD containing both of these themes, performed by the composer, is
available for purchase. Sheet music is also available, for both themes,
arranged for piano/keyboard, or for recorder trio (soprano, alto and
tenor).
Click here to buy
Tuck Everlasting materials.
Grey's Letter to Students is included free
with every order. Feel free to duplicate this letter.
We ask that you not duplicate the sheet music. We offer two Classroom Packages
to address multiple copy needs. If we have not addressed your needs in this
regard, we welcome your suggestions.
Getting a music box that plays this music
We are often asked if we know how one can obtain a music box that plays the music box theme from one of thsee two movie adaptations. We do not offer such music boxes and are not aware of anyone who does.
