UNAIPON
the music
Commentary by David
Page, Composer
"It is always a wonderful challenge creating
new music for Bangarra - to bring new ideas but maintain
that Bangarra essence. Working on Unaipon with Frances Rings allowed
me to challenge the music and sound design and helped take the
dance to another level. Frances is very inspiring and gives you
the creative freedom to experiment but she is also clever enough
to remind you of the importance of simple approach in delivering
the right message. David Unaipon's life was very full and
very complex. It would take an 8 part documentary to tell his
whole life story. Just to reflect his inspiration and his legacy
through the medium of dance and music was hard enough. There is
so much information about this incredible inventor, philosopher,
writer and storyteller. I am very privileged to be part of this
artistic project that continues to honour and respect such a spiritual
and extraordinary Aboriginal man."
RATIONS the music
Commentary by Steve
Francis, Composer
"The process of creating music for Bangarra
is kind of like writing for film but without having the pictures,
just having the script! You have an indication of the emotion
involved in the piece and maybe the narrative - from that you
create something that fits the mood. Stephen and Fran give me
what's in their head and then I give them back my interpretation.
When you get it right it can be the most rewarding relationship.
The opening section of Rations
features an amazing traditional women's choir (The Adnyamathanha
Women's Choir). Earlier in the year Fran went on a research
trip to the Flinders Ranges area of South Australia and hooked
up with the women. They sing songs in 'language' about
themselves and their culture but they're kind of like hymns with
western melodies - there's this great cultural crossover.
In another of Fran's pieces called Blankets
she's looking at how the introduction of western commodities,
like blankets, altered the peoples lives. Not only through the
poisons they contained like smallpox and the symbolic 'smothering'
of culture, but also how the people became reliant on these things
they didn't need before. Fran really liked a piece of music
from an indigenous band called NoKTuRNL who are based in Alice
Springs. NoKTuRNL are a really good band - they do full
on, heavy, hard rock as well as a bit of rapping. Fran particularly
liked a song of theirs called "New Era" and that became
the catalyst for the Blankets music. Originally I used some samples
from the song and built the track around it. As it turned out,
NoKTuRNL were in Sydney doing some recordings so we invited the
guys to come into the studio to re-record that section of the
song. So now we have an original recording of that piece of music
which is great."
back to top
|
