UNAIPON the
music
2006/2007 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
2006/2007 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."
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