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Arnhem Land Music
Discography Search
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| Songs
of the Tiwi: Traditional Aboriginal Music of Australia |
|
Artist/Collector:
|
N/A |
|
Label
Information:
|
Aboriginal
Artists Agency: AAA-02 |
|
Media
Type:
|
EP |
|
Year:
|
1978 |
|
Availability:
|
Out
of print |
|
 |
Notes:
The Tiwi are a unique group of Australian
Aboriginals who have lived on Bathurst and Melville Islands
(50 miles north of Darwin) for thousands of years. Although
their life-style is comparable to that of mainland Aboriginals
because of similar geography and climate the Tiwi in their splendid
isolation have developed a culture which is both striking and
distinctive. They do not use the didgeridoo, woomera and boomerang
common to many mainland tribes. They neither circumcise nor
have any stage of initiation which could be called a physical
ordeal. Traditionally the Tiwi, secure in their very compatible
environment, lived an idyllic life, a feature of which was the
status accorded their elder men. Surrounded by large numbers
of wives and children, and never having to worry about enemies
from neighbouring regions the old men travelled constantly over
their two islands, visiting other clan leaders and sharing in
the considerable ceremonial activity which always related to
Man and his Environment. There are no prohibitions on women
and children in the ceremonial life of the Tiwi, and all still
join in the spectacular, vigorous singing and dancing. Bodies,
faces and regalia are painted with elaborate, ornate designs
and adorned with colourful feathers. The most spectacular ritual
of the Tiwi is undoubtedly the Pukamani (mourning) ceremony,
in which the living pay tribute to the deceased by performing
their dances around intricately carved and painted graveposts
called Purintiringa.
Although steeped in tradition the Tiwi have always taken
delight in recording current events in song, dance and mime.
Recent themes around which songs and dances have been created
include The Bombing of Darwin, Cyclone Tracy, and Armstrong
On The Moon.
For the first time this exciting, age-old music which has
related to the Australian environment for over thirty thousand
years is presented to the world through the medium of stereo
recording, jointly undertaken at Bathurst Island by the Aboriginal
Artists Agency and the Australian Broadcasting Commission
at the request of the Aboriginal Arts Board.
| Track
Number |
Track
Title |
Track
Time |
Notes |
|
01
|
Ingwati
the Honey Bees; Timulani the Mosquitoes; Boat Song 1;
Boat Song 2 |
|
First
Boat Song by Aloysius Puantalura, second Boat Song by
Raphael Apuatimi |
|
02
|
Kulama
Song - Cyclone Tracy |
|
Aloysius
Puantalura & Winnie Munkara |
|
03
|
The
Murderer's Song |
|
Phelan
Kantilla & Paddy Munkara |
|
04
|
Timulani
the Mosquitoes Train Song |
|
Raphael
Apuatimi |
|
05
|
Kulama
Song - The Aeroplane |
|
Leo
Tungutalum |
|
06
|
Kulama
Song - Mourning for a Dead Brothe |
|
Muriel
Tipingwuti |
|
07
|
Crocodile
on the Watch |
|
Phelan
Kantilla |
|
|
