The Music of Shackleton: A Change of Course
- Tony Parker NESC
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 22
Tony Parker NESC
Summary:
In this update to The Music of Shackleton project, composer Tony Parker shares how the series has evolved. Originally planned as an album of original songs, it now includes the restored voice of Captain Frank Worsley, giving a firsthand narration of Shackleton’s Antarctic survival story. The project is copyright-free and available for streaming or use in museum exhibitions.
The Original Idea
Hi,
When I started, the plan was simple: an album of songs inspired by Shackleton’s incredible survival story. Each track would capture a moment, an emotion, a feeling—think Dylan, Pink Floyd, Beatles or U2 music and vocals telling the story in its own way.
Discovering Frank Worsley’s Voice
Halfway through, something extraordinary happened. Using modern technology, I could access the real voice of Frank Worsley, captain of the Endurance. Not AI, not an actor—his actual recordings.
Hearing him narrate the story was electric. I realised this project could be more than music. By cleaning and restoring Worsley’s voice, I could bring him back to life, letting him tell the story in his own words.
The last two tracks reflect this shift. Originally, they had layers of music beneath, like a silent-film soundtrack. Stripping that back made Worsley’s voice the centrepiece—poignant, direct, and alive.
I’ve searched extensively and made every attempt to find any copyright on Frank’s voice from nearly 100 years ago. To the best of my knowledge, it is copyright-free, and I have no intention of profiting from it. This project is purely about preserving and sharing history.
Museums & Exhibitions
This approach has sparked interest from museums. The Akaroa Museum in Canterbury, New Zealand, Worsley’s birthplace, is planning to use some of this material.
To support this, I’m trying to make the project copyright-free. Anyone can use it in exhibitions or educational settings. It’s also available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and anywhere you stream music.
What’s Next
I’ve even gone back to the beginning, adding tracks with Worsley narrating the eve of the Great War, the launch of the Endurance, and the first harsh Antarctic winter. The full album will be released in the coming months, finishing this incredible story.
This journey has been full of learning, reading, listening, researching, and reconstructing the timeline. And I couldn’t have done it without my co-producer, Peter Fisher, who’s been with me every step of the way.
Quick Questions
A few questions I have been asked:
Is Frank Worsley’s voice recreated with AI?
No. It’s his original recorded voice, restored for clarity.
Where can I listen to the Shackleton project?
All tracks are on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and are free for exhibitions. Just search Tony Parker NESC or select the links at the top of this page.
What’s the goal of the project?
To bring Shackleton’s survival story to life through music and narration, preserving history in a new way and have creative fun.
Thanks for listening, reading, and following along. We’re almost at the end, and I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve been enjoying the journey.
Tony Parker
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