Songs from the Heart is a new a capella cantata created by First Nations composers Elizabeth Sheppard and Sonya Holowell, in collaboration with The Song Company led by Antony Pitts.
The work is a musical and poetic response in five parts to the words and themes of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Noongar composer Elizabeth Sheppard takes the first-contact Dharug word Kaouwi (anglicized as 'Cooee') as a starting point, setting words from the Statement in a series of Kaouwi ex Cordis (literally 'Cooees from the heart') that draw on both her Indigenous cultural roots and deep familiarity with Catholic liturgy.
It’s not seeking to impose any opinions through the music. It’s just expressing a response to what the Statement said. But also seeking a response from the audience. And issuing that invitation, that really important invitation at the end of the Statement, to walk with the Aboriginal First Nations of Australia, to discover Australia’s future.
Her compositions also feature her own poetic responses, including two songs co-composed with Aranda musician Rhubee Neale.
Dharawal/Inuk composer Sonya Holowell's works punctuate the narrative of the Statement in a series of more tangential but highly charged pieces in a broad range of musical styles drawing on her practice as a vocal improviser.
I was pretty much just given free range to respond to the statement in any way that I wanted to, musically. And that’s been really empowering from the start. Because it’s meant that I can create work that’s very closely tied to the statement. But I can also go off on tangents and just follow my emotional reactions to certain words in the statement, or certain themes.
Alongside the music, you'll hear directly from Elizabeth and Sonya. As well as from Biripai tenor and Song Company member Elias Wilson. And from The Song Company's Artistic Director, Antony Pitts.
Recorded live at The Cell Block Theatre, National Art School, Sydney, 7& 9/10/2022. Sound engineer Chris Rollans. Producer Antony Pitts.
Program presented by Joel Carnegie and produced by Stephen Adams with Andrew Aronowicz. Program post-production by sound engineer Costa Zouliou.
New Waves theme music — Katia Beaugeais: Breath By Breath (Katia Beaugeais, soprano saxophone)
Program
Songs from the Heart, part 1: …calling…
i. Sheppard: Cross Country
ii. Sheppard: Kaouwi Two Children Cooee
iii. Sheppard and Neale: As I Walk
iv. Holowell: Never Extinguished
Songs from the Heart, part 2: …(be)longing…
i. Sheppard: Kaouwi ex Cordis — Gathering; The First Sovereign Nations; Sovereignty
ii. Holowell: We Here
Songs from the Heart, part 3: …beating…
i. Sheppard: Ngaala Maaman (The Noongar Prayer)
ii. Sheppard: Noonakoort Karnya Respect
iii. Holowell: This is the torment of our powerlessness
Songs from the Heart, part 4: …changing…
i. Sheppard: Kaouwi ex Cordis – Miyaldjan Teardrops; Australia's Nationhood; A Rightful Place; Enshrinement
ii. Holowell: Like You Can
ii. Sheppard: Kaouwi ex Cordis – Makaratta; A Better Future
Songs from the Heart, part 5: …(be)coming…
i. Holowell: A Way
ii. Sheppard and Neale: Keep Guard of our Dreams
iii. Sheppard: Koorlangka Children
iv. Sheppard: Land of Sunshine
v. Holowell: Become Like Children
Artists
The Song Company
Amy Moore (soprano)
Susannah Lawergren (soprano)
Sonya Holowell (mezzo-soprano)
Jessica O’Donoghue (mezzo-soprano)
Elias Wilson (tenor)
Ethan Taylor (tenor)
Alasdair Stretch (bass-baritone)
Antony Pitts (Artistic Director)
