Ms. Portman has composed the scores for dozens of feature films, including "Emma", "Chocolat", "Oliver Twist", "The Cider House Rules", "The Duchess", and "Never Let Me Go".
She was the first female composer to win an Academy Award in the category of Best Musical or Comedy Score (for "Emma" in 1996). Ms. Portman was also nominated for Academy Awards for her scores for "The Cider House Rules" in 1999 and "Chocolat" in 2000.
She composed a score for the film "Dangerous Beauty," but it was unused; George Fenton replaced her, but some of her material still remains in the film. For television she composed the score for all thirteen episodes of Jim Henson's The Storyteller and two episodes of The Jim Henson Hour ("Monster Maker" and "Living with Dinosaurs"). Her other works include a children's opera, The Little Prince, which was later adapted for television, and Little House on the Prairie, a musical based upon the Laura Ingalls Wilder books "Little House on the Prairie" (2008). Ms. Portman was commissioned to write a piece of choral music for the BBC Proms series in August 2007.
On 19 May 2010, she was honored at the BMI Film & TV Awards with the Richard Kirk Award which is bestowed on composers who have made significant contributions to the realm of film and television music. Portman made BMI history as she became the first woman composer to receive the honor.
Portman was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.
Official website: http://www.rachelportman.co.uk
Hailsham School Song
Rachel Portman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Afar and asunder
Parted are those
Who are singing today
When we look back
And forgetfully wonder
What we were like
Oh, the great days
Will bring distance enchanted
Days of fresh air in the rain
And the sun
How we rejoiced as we struggled
And panted
Echoes of dreamland
Hailsham lives on
The meaning behind the lyrics of the Hailsham School Song is deeply profound, evoking a sense of nostalgia and reminiscence about a place that once was. The first two lines talk about being scattered and asunder, which could be a reference to the students of Hailsham School who are now grown up, moved away, and have gone on to lead their own lives. The next two lines - "Parted are those Who are singing today" - indicate separation and could be a reflection of how the students who once sang this song together are now far apart.
The subsequent lines, "When we look back And forgetfully wonder What we were like In our learning and play," are a call to remember the good old days when life was simpler and carefree. It speaks to the idea that as people grow older and move away from their childhood home or school, they tend to look back at their happy memories with a sense of nostalgia. The following lines speak of the joyful moments spent at Hailsham School - the fresh air in the rain and the sun - and how in those moments of struggle and exertion, the students rejoiced and felt a sense of immense satisfaction. Finally, the last two lines talk about how the echoes of dreamland still hold the spirit of Hailsham School alive - perhaps indicating that even though the school may not exist any longer, the memories, experiences, and lessons learned there will forever live on.
Line by Line Meaning
When we are scattered
As we go our separate ways
Afar and asunder
Far apart from each other
Parted are those
Separated are the people
Who are singing today
Those who are here in this moment singing this song
When we look back
When we reminisce
And forgetfully wonder
Asking ourselves with vague memories
What we were like
What kind of people we used to be
In our learning and play
During our time spent learning and playing together
Oh, the great days
How wonderful those days were
Will bring distance enchanted
Will give us a magical feeling of nostalgia
Days of fresh air in the rain
Days of enjoying nature in all weather conditions
And the sun
And sunny days that brightened our spirits
How we rejoiced as we struggled
How we found joy in overcoming challenges together
And panted
Even when we were out of breath and tired
Echoes of dreamland
Memories of a place that seemed like a dream
Hailsham lives on
The spirit of Hailsham continues to endure
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.