AUSTRALIA – AUSTRALIE Aboriginal Music from Australia – UNESCO Collection – Musical Sources – Philips 6586 034

AUSTRALIA – AUSTRALIE
Aboriginal Music from Australia – UNESCO Collection – Musical Sources – Philips 6586 034, recorded by Alice Moyle, 1959-1969 (LP)

Despite the many disruptions to their way of life caused by British settler colonization since the late 18th century – including violence and discrimination, loss of land and forced displacement, and often denial of the right to practice their culture and languages – the Aboriginal people of Australia, also known as First Nations people, have one of the oldest continuous cultures in the world, dating back at least 40,000 years.

 

This seminal LP was recorded by Alice Marshall Moyle (1908-2005), an eminent Australian ethnomusicologist and co-founder of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, as a testament to the rich history, vitality and profound meaning of the ancient Aboriginal traditions. These collective rituals and ceremonies are an affirmation of their close connection to their culture, land, ancestors, and the spirit world. This cosmic renewal and symbolic re-enactment of creation and the cycle of nature is particularly present during the Corroboree ceremonies, when the participants enter a mythical and metaphysical Dreamtime to transcend past and present through body painting, music and dance.

 

This excellent panorama of Aboriginal music, comprising voices, wooden didgeridoos that produce a drone-like sound, and clapsticks, performed by nine different cultural groups, includes a stunning Rain Dreaming Ceremony (A1) notably featuring the otherworldly wailing of the novices’ mothers.

 

Malgré les nombreuses perturbations causées par la colonie de peuplement britannique du continent à partir de la fin du XVIIIe siècle – notamment la violence, la discrimination, la perte de terres et les déplacements forcés, sans compter les interdictions fréquentes de pratiquer leur culture et leurs langues –, les Aborigènes, ou peuples autochtones d'Australie, possèdent l'une des cultures continues les plus anciennes au monde, remontant à au moins 40 000 ans.

 

Cet album enregistré par l’éminente ethnomusicologue et cofondatrice de l’Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Alice Marshall Moyle (1908-2005) témoigne de la richesse de l'histoire, de la vitalité et de la signification profonde des anciennes traditions autochtones. Ces rituels et cérémonies collectifs sont comme l'affirmation de leur lien étroit avec leur culture, leur terre, les ancêtres et le monde des esprits. Ce renouveau cosmique et cette reconstitution symbolique de la création et du cycle de la nature sont particulièrement présents lors des cérémonies corroborées, qui permettent aux participants d'entrer dans le « temps du rêve » mythique et métaphysique afin de transcender le passé et le présent à travers des peintures corporelles, de la musique et de la danse.

 

Cet excellent panorama de la musique aborigène, composé de voix, de didgeridoos en bois produisant un bourdon, et de clapsticks (deux courts bâtons entrechoqués), interprété par neuf groupes ethniques/culturels différents, comprend une étonnante Cérémonie du rêve de pluie (A1), où l'on entend notamment les gémissements des mères des novices semblant venir d'un autre monde.

A1 – Rain Dreaming (Ngapa) Ceremony (excerpts) 

Novices are led around the fires by their guardians followed by the wailing of the novices’ mothers;

Walbiri language; recorded in Yuendumu, Northern Territory, February 1967.

 

A2 – A Re-singing of Rain Dreaming Songs Following the Ceremony 

Dinny Djalbaldjari, vocals; 

Walbiri language; recorded in Yuendumu, Northern Territory, February 1967.

 

A3 – Rain-Making Song (excerpt) 

Bill Anda Nunggulmarra, vocals;

Wunambul language; Recorded in Derby, Western Australia, July 1968.

 

A4 – Balgan Songs 

Wadi Ngyerdu, vocals;

Worora and Wunambul languages; recorded in Derby, Western Australia, September 1968.

 

A5 – Djabi Song - The Windmill of Wallanie Plains 

Andy, vocals, unknown rasp percussion and didgeridoo players;

Garadjari language; recorded in La Grange, Western Australia, June 1968. 

 

B1 – Wongga Dance Songs 
Tommy Barandjak, vocals, and Harry Ferguson, didgeridoo;

Wogadj langage, recorded in Delissaville, Northern Territory, June 1968. 

 

B2 – Brolga Bird Clan Song 

Dabulu, vocals, and Magurn, didgeridoo;

Nunggubuyu language, recorded in Rose River, East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, July 1969. 

 

B3 – Women's Wu-ungka Songs 

Utekn and Yuimuk, vocals;
Wik-ngatara language, recorded in Aurukun, North Queensland, October 1966.

 

B4 – Morning Star, Pigeon and Rain Songs 

Didgeridoo “wooden trumpet” demonstration, unknown performers;

Djapu language, recorded in Caledon Bay, North-eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, June 1959.

 

B5 – Stingray, Dolphin, Curlew and Shark Songs 
Abadjera, Gula and Malkarri, vocals, unknown didgeridoo player;

Enindilyagwa language, recorded in Groote Eylandt, Gulf of Carpentaria, 1964 and 1969. 

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Our other Australian Aboriginal music posts:

Australie – Central Australia Vogue EXTP 1056 here

The Music of Primitive Man – Horizon – P 11857 here

Photographs below are from World Geography and Customs Series (Vol.3), Published by Shinkosha, Japan, 1931 here and from a vintage postcard:

Sacred Arrernte corroboree in Dreamtime with costume, music and dance, Northern Territory, Australia:

Vintage postcard of a ceremony performed by the Gumbaynggirr people, 

Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia:

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