Zoetrope-Wheel of Life is a new orchestral composition written for the Manawatu Sinfonia and made possible with a grant from the Earle creativity trust in 2015. It was premiered on May 21st 2017. Suitable for community/amateur and youth orchestras through to professional orchestras. Approximately 10 minutes long. Full score and parts.

A zoetrope is a 19th century barrel-like mechanical device that creates an early form of simple animation on a loop. ?Wheel of life? is its transliteration, the name being coined from the Greek words for life and turning. The title is inspired by the composers daughter, Zoey (meaning life) and was written throughout her first year. The work creates a feeling of wheel-like, rhythmical sequences that tell a story and draw the listener into a new sound world. The opening repeated chords heard throughout the work are cyclic in nature perhaps signifying the turning seasons/phases of life. 

Instrumentation: 2(2nd flute doubling Piccolo, 2,2,2 2,2,2,1 Timpani, Cymbals, Strings.

It seems fitting that Jerry Goldsmith should be selected to compose the score for the Next Generation crew?s first solo movie outing, directed by the ship?s first officer himself, Jonathan Frakes. Having kicked off the original series crew?s offerings with Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and turning in a surprisingly excellent entry for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (given that movie?s otherwise lacklustre reception), the director and producers made a specific point of budgeting Goldsmith into the production, and he was not going to turn down the opportunity to reinstate his themes into the franchise. 1996 saw a particularly busy schedule for Goldsmith though, with the late-running post production on The Ghost and the Darkness, and so Jerry called upon his son Joel to co-compose with him in the three weeks available to complete the score, with Joel handling most of the Borg-related material. Created from the original manuscript, this release offers a rare opportunity to study film music in its authentic, original orchestration and arrangement. An opportunity not to be missed!