Songs from the stations : Wajarra as sung by Ronnie Wavehill Wirrpnga, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal and Dandy Danbayarri at Kalkaringi / Myfany Turpin, Felicity Meakins, with photographs by Brenda L. Croft.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Turpin, Myfany, 1972- author.

Meakins, Felicity, author.

Contributor:

Croft, Brenda L., 1964- photographer.

Karungkarni Art and Culture Aboriginal Corporation.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Gurindji (Australian people)--Songs and music.

Gurindji (Australian people).

Gurindji (Australian people)--Social life and customs.

Gurindji (Australian people)--Australia--Wave Hill Station (N.T.).

Manners and customs.

Australia.

Music, Aboriginal Australian.

Wajarri (Australian people).

Ngarnjul, Topsy Dodd.

Wavehill, Ronnie.

Danbayarri, Dandy.

Corroborees--Northern Territory.

Corroborees.

Wave Hill Station (N.T.).

Kalkaringi (N.T.).

Northern Territory.

Genre:

Songs and music.

Physical Description:

xli, 220 pages, 16 unnumbered plates : illustrations (some colour), portraits (some colour) ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

University of Sydney, NSW : Sydney University Press, 2019.

Summary:

"The Gurindji people of the Northern Territory are perhaps best-known for their walk-off of Wave Hill Station in 1966, protesting against mistreatment by the station managers. The strike would become the first major victory of the Indigenous land rights movement. Many discussions of station life are focused on the harsh treatment of Aboriginal workers. Songs from the Stations portrays another side of life on Wave Hill Station. Amongst the harsh conditions and decades of mistreatment, an eclectic ceremonial life flourished during the first half of the 20th century. Constant travel between cattle stations by Indigenous workers across north-western and central Australia meant that Wave Hill Station became a cross-road of desert and Top End musical styles. As a result, the Gurindji people learnt songs from the Mudburra who came further east, the Bilinarra from the north, the Nyininy from the west, and the Warlpiri from the south. This book is the first detailed documentation of wajarra, public songs performed by the Gurindji people in response to contemporary events in their community. Featuring five song sets known as Laka, Mintiwarra, Kamul, Juntara, and Freedom Day, it is an exploration of the cultural exchange between Indigenous communities that was fostered by their involvement in the pastoral industry.."--Publisher's website.

Contents:

List of figures

List of musical examples

List of tables

List of maps

List of plates

Preface

Acknowledgements

Contributors

A note on orthography

Abbreviations, terms and conventions

Introduction: Social, linguistic and geographic origins of the songs

Performing wajarra

The wajarra song sets

Mintiwarra

Kamul

Freedom Day

Laka

Juntara

Conclusion

Appendix 1: The recordings

Appendix: Song items.

Notes:

"The corroborees [in this book] - Kamul, Mintiwarra, Laka, Juntara - are for everyone to sing and dance. We all perform them, men and women alike. Wajarra is open to all... - Ronnie Wavehill, 2017"--Page [vi]

Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-212) and index.

ISBN:

9781743325841

1743325843

OCLC:

1089194264

Publisher Number:

99980509073