The collaborative compositions we produced did not involve any engagement with cultural lore, or sensitive Aboriginal traditions of country. The compositions created by this research illustrate the musical associations that were informed by the sound of the Stuart & Sons piano playing Australian Aboriginal music, articulated by the mixture of contemporary Aboriginal singers of various Australian Indigenous cultural origins.
Richard Green, descendant of Buruberongal Sydney people of the north west regions, is a scholar of the languages and dialects of the Sydney region, an actor featured in TV dramas such as ‘Redfern Now’, and the language consultant for many regional artistic projects such as, Kate Glanville’s ‘The Secret River’. Richard continues to assist myself and interested others at the Conservatorium with his skill and expertise in translating the lyrics of well known songs, into the Sydney Aboriginal language.
Matthew Doyle descendant of the Muruwari people of N.S.W. , grew up on Dharawal land south- western regions of Sydney, an educator and teacher of Indigenous songs.
Clarence Slockee descendant of the Mindjingbalj people in the Tweed Valley of N.S.W. and at the time of this research was the Education Officer of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, promoting Aboriginal culture and bush tucker.
Karen Smith is a Sydney Darug woman of the Buruberongal clan of the Derrubbin area western Sydney. Karen works for the Aboriginal Heritage Office in Northbridge, Sydney, working as an education officer.
Bremda Gifford, a descendent of the Yuin nation, south coast of N.S.W. Gifford’s grandfather told her stories in the Dhurga language, and she is actively composing music using the words her grandfather used.
Both Matt Doyle and Clarence Slockee are graduates of the Indigenous performing Arts college, NAISDA405 , and Richard studied music composition under Dr Chris Sainsbury at Eora TAFE, Chippendale.
405NAISDA is a rich place of learning and cultural connection… and continues to create tremendous young artists and I’m proud to say many are an integral part of today’s Bangarra. – STEPHEN PAGE Artistic Director, Bangarra Dance Theatre.http://www.naisda.com.au/ accessed 28th Aug,2015
