creation story of the lyrebird

Aboriginal performer Matthew Doyle was raised in the south western Dharawal region of Sydney, and has been given custodial permissions to sing the cultural Dharawal story Wirritjirribin , the creation story of the Lyrebird. The ambient atmospheric introduction is played with extra space, and rubato.

Stuart piano sets the atmosphere of the ‘d’ tonality with the very low A0 and D1 notes. The selective abstract sustain sounds frequencies two octaves below the yidaki pitch. The highest note of the Stuart piano, f8 is heard in the high ‘shell’ rattling sounds.

Yabun Yaguna, music today.

Yabun Yaguna is a set of compositions that portray my perceptions of the Stuart piano sound, and how I have interacted these musically with the Indigenous culture of our modern society. Each piece of music is composed for the collaborations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous musicians. The uniquely Australian sound of the Stuart piano has encouraged me to look more deeply into what my notions of contemporary Australian music are. With the use of its modern soundscape, I have built myself a musical world in which I can improvise collaboratively with Indigenous musicians. In doing so, I have experienced the beauty of our cross-cultural society.

Over fifty Indigenous musicians have collaborated in the music of Yabun Yaguna. As part of this experience, I have produced two Indigenous music festivals entitled OUR MUSIC- performing place, listening to Sydney at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. For these performances, a Stuart piano was ceremonially painted by the Paakantjy and Ngiyampaa students of Menindee Central School.