Ethereal: A Yuin Woman's Cultural Knowledge In Classical Music

Abstract

I operate in an evolving space that is accepting Indigenous voices in the Classical music context. We / I am part of evolving this space. At the core of what I do is Culture. It informs what I do. Music is an extension of my culture. Culture is music, is dance, is art. They are not separate things. Country is everything. Connection to country is important for us. I keep in touch with my country by visiting it and my family. Spending time on Country and observing. Country speaks if you take time to listen. I listened to the winds on the headland, and these gave me an idea for a piece. The ebb and flow of the water, and just slowing down and becoming attuned to nature. I spent time talking to my family. I always pick up gems of knowledge from them. This knowledge of fresh/salt water and the relationship that encompasses them informs my work, i.e. mara/fish —saltwater bream and blackhead, and fresh water bass. The idea of two-way learning, Black/white—we both learn from each other. Collaboration is a part of how I work. A two-way process between participants. My work will be described in relation to Indigenous philosophy and belief systems, and how Aboriginal composition and my processes of incorporating Culture into my work counters the ongoing effects of colonisation by refusing to conform to accepted mainstream settler views, and by being active in the classical compositional space.