The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 biblical film by Mel Gibson with a score composed by John Debney. The soundtrack received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score and reached number one on the best Christian albums and best soundtracks charts in 2004. In 2005, the album won a Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. The soundtrack is a coherent, moving, and well-executed musical statement, whether or not one has seen the film. The album is a combination of folk instruments, Eastern-tinged harmonies, solos, and choral voices. Debney worked with master Indian violinist and singer L. Shankar and singer and double violinist Gingger Shankar.