iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

[stream]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/38387/wurrurrumi.mp3[/stream]

Well, the first CD from the National Recording Project for Indigenous Performance in Australia (you gotta take a deep breath to say all that, or how about NRPIPA?) is out!

The title is "Wurrurrumi Kun-borrk: Songs from Western Arnhem Land, by Kevin Djimarr" and iDIDJ Australia has a bunch available for sale, cheaper than what the distributor is charging. You can order in the iDIDJ Store:

http://www.ididj.com.au/store/music.html

This is a quality product and it is obvious good equipment was used in the field for recording. Best of all, there are substantial notes in the form of a 29 page booklet with pics and background info on Kun-borrk, Kevin Djimarr, and song conception... and there's even full transcripts of the songs and their meaning so you can sing along if you want

The songmen are Kevin Djimarr, James Iyuna and Jimmy Djarrbbarali. Mago puller is Owen Yalandja from the Darnkorlo clan. The mago accompaniment is interesting because of the variety of 'breathing patterns' and rhythms demonstrated by Yalandja, or more correctly according to the booklet, patterns and rhythms that are specific to each song. Some of the rhythms sound similar to Darryl Digarrnga's style of play, whereas others I've not come across before.

There are 35 tracks altogether (see scan below of track listings). I've attached track 28 which is titled "Take me by the arm"... the words for this are:



As the booklet explains:

"Kun-borrk songs are also often referred to as gossip songs or love songs because many of the topics of the songs are concerned with oblique references to romantic relationships and affairs. One way that kun-borrk song men make indirect references to risque or even illicit behaviour by lovers is to place the characters of real life dramas into the guise of other beings such as the spirit beings known as wayarra..."

Looking forward to more of these CDs!

Guan

Heh this looks good - put me down for a copy - gotta keep my collection current !

I've ordered my copy

What's the story on this project, Guan? I'm not familiar with this one.

Answered my own question!

Here's the link to some background information.

Looks like an exciting project, to be sure.

These are great projects - sometimes I seriously wish I was young again and able to be involved in this sort of work - there's so much happening out there - oh to be a young undergrad looking for a great research project......

One of the internal links in this site is to an interview with Joe Neparrnga Gumbula (Gupapuyngu if I recall correctly) and Aaron Corn on ABC Radio National's 'Music Show' back in August - the following link is to the ABC page where you can listen to the interview;

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/musicshow/stor ... 995829.htm

Well, I've received this recording from Guan and it's definitely one of my favorites. I'm finding the full transcriptions of the songs very helpful, and close reading will give you the 'ear' to pick out the words that are being sung. You might even be able to extrapolate a grammar rule or two!

Lovely playing by Owen Yalandja with some very interesting breathing patterns unique to the specific songs.