WATA, performed by traditional songmen from the Northern Territory and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Northey, is a compelling collaboration composed by Paul Grabowsky.
Billed as a gathering for Manikay performers, WATA weaves together the timeless clan songs of the Yolngu people from north-east Arnhem Land, accompanied by Vocals, Bilma (sticks) and Yidaki (Digeridoo).
Manikay, with its indeterminate age, tells stories that can manifest in various art forms, including painting, language, dance, and music.
The performance’s recursive nature mirrors speech, where conventions can be combined to create different meanings. WATA exemplifies how distinct traditions can converse with each other, forming interconnected musical narratives. The piece consists of seven movements associated with the mythical figure of Djuwalpada, who traverses the landscape, creating, naming, and embodying the country.
Grabowsky’s role as a composer, facilitator, and collaborator shines through as he crafts motifs in response to a Wagiluk Djuwalpada Manikay shared by Yolngu songmen Daniel Ngukurr Boy Wilfred and his father, David Ypipininy Wilfred, on the didgeridoo.
The performance transcends mere storytelling, highlighting the importance of relational aspects in music and culture. Grabowsky’s close relationship with the performers, especially Daniel, is evident as at one point, Daniel shapes his song around Grabowsky’s piano improvisation, showcasing the fluidity and evolution of song-making.
The songs emerge from a living community in the Top End, with Daniel poignantly raising his hand to point during one of the songs, connecting the ceremony and myths to specific areas of land and ancestry. Both Daniel and David emphasised the significance of passing these songs to a wider audience and the younger members of their community.
Grabowsky’s involvement with the Australian Art Orchestra and his long-standing association with jazz groups in Australia bring a distinctive touch to the orchestration, notably with the use of trumpet and saxophone. Developing this piece with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Grabowsky has seamlessly blended diverse musical traditions into a cohesive and powerful performance.
Image courtesy of Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Jordan Munns
