New chapter for ancient songbook (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

New chapter for ancient songbook

Andrew Bock
August 30, 2011
AUS

Endangered Aboriginal languages have been reinvigorated with a
collaborative music project, writes Andrew Bock.

THE centrality of song in Aboriginal culture is often overlooked.

In traditional Aboriginal culture, story is first enacted by song - it
precedes both painting and dancing - and the custodians or ''song
people'' are accordingly perplexed by the popularity of painting.

Patrick McCloskey is the manager of a new indigenous recording project
in Tennant Creek. ''The singers often say 'the painting and the
patterns don't exist without us, they don't exist without the songs'.
The song is the thing that binds it all together,'' he says.

The Song Peoples Sessions is a visionary project that has brought two
leading indigenous singer-songwriters home to the countries of their
grandparents to compose music with traditional song people.

Access full article below:
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/new-chapter-for-ancient-songbook-20110829-1ji6a.html