mpson (MC), Chris Sainsbury, and Mark Ross introductions
Will Kepa Sleepless Dreaming vibraphone, piano & bass clarinet (2022) World Premiere
Will Kepa Ailan Opping arranged for violin, clarinet, vibraphone & double bass (2020)
Aaron Wyatt Cirrus bass clarinet, vibraphone & double bass (2022)
Aaron Wyatt Cumulus bass clarinet, vibraphone & piano (2022) World Premiere
Marlene Cummins Starting Over clarinet, violin, vibraphone & double bass (2021)
Marlene Cummins Marloo's Blues clarinet, piano, double bass & shaker (2022) World Premiere
Mark Ross Loss and Lost clarinet, percussion & piano (2022) World Premiere
Mark Ross The Streets of Sydney clarinet/bass clarinet, vibraphone, violin & double bass (2022)
Performed by Ensemble Offspring
Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion) Jason Noble (clarinet, bass clarinet)
Susie Bishop (violin) Brendan Clarke (double bass) Alister Spence (piano)
Will Kepa Ailan Opping
arranged for violin, clarinet, vibraphone & double ba Ailan Opping, a simple creole (Broken English) way of saying ‘Island Hoppin from an outer island in the Torres Strait into the main hub or central part wh y Island, affectionately known as T.I. The journey begins early in the morning, the sea is calm, most of the villagers are still asleep, but excitement gradually becomes of the children and the family who are gearing up to set off in their high speed 65 horsepower dinghy The morning sun glistens across the water and it doesn’t take long for the wind to pick up, spraying the sea off the front bow into the morning faces of the children onboard. The travel through uncertain weather, cautiously riding on top of shallow reefs, taking breaks on many of the uninhabited islands or sand cays to seek shelter and have a rest, refuel the petrol tanks, and maybe stop in to visit other family members on another island, before reaching their final destination, safe and sound. Will Kepa
Aaron Wyatt Cirrus bass clarinet, vibraphone, violin & double bass (2022)
Cirrus was inspired by the Melbourne sky on a bright but cold day It reflects and meditates on the view from the Djerring Trail, a path that winds its way beneath the sky rail near my home Thin wisps of white dot a deep azure canvas that stretches off into the distance between a frame of concrete. The suburban trains that periodically roll overhead bring their own rhythm, punctuating the stillness above. Written between lockdowns, during a time of great uncertainty, the work seeks to explore these small glimpses of awe and beauty that exist in the ordinary, and in the interplay between the natural world and our modern existence. Aaron Wyatt
Starting Over is a reflective jazz piece for clarinet, violin, vibraphone and bass. The title suggests me branching into new areas of expression, further developing my jazz voice I always thought that the Kind of Blue album by Miles Davis was the best jazz album ever, and I feel it has influenced me in some way. From now on I want to immerse myself more into jazz improvisation and composing, and have various ideas for new pieces. Marlene Cummins
Mark Ross Loss and Lost clarinet, percussion & piano (2022)
All alone, drunk, confused, still drinking & walking the streets at 4am. Thinking of all the family & friends that have passed lately.
Walking, walking and going nowhere. Everybody close are disappearing. As the sun starts to rise, he takes another sip with tears in his eyes.
As the city comes to life, other humans rush and make their way past him. Judging glances from strangers, he gulps another mouthful, drowning his sorrows. He stumbles into the park
In his mind, all he feels is depression and confusion. Those that matter to him are disappearing. His memories are clouded. His head is pounding. He lays down with his head spinning 'round and 'round. All he has is crazy thoughts running through his head.
As the spinning slows down, his eyes are slowly closing. He is drifting. Drifting off to sleep.
As he sleeps, he is now is a place where he can dream of all the good times. All the happy memories of those that have left him But in his slumber they are there with him
His soul is lost. His only solace is his dreams as he sleeps. The only way he can sleep is by drinking himself to oblivion. It is an endless cycle. It is a deadly cycle. As he wakes face down in the grass, he wonders what today brings. It is probably more of the same. Mark ‘Munk’ Ross
Mark Ross Streets of Sydney clarinet/bass clarinet, vibraphone, violin & double bass (2022
This is a story from the streets of Sydney, where it is very easy to become a victim of circumstance because of the environment of the streets where you grow up and evolve.
This young fella is lucky to get a chocolate bar for Christmas, if anything at all. His parents are trying to keep it together and put food on the table. This boy prefers to stay alone in his room. At school the kids tease him and he doesn’t like going. He constantly walks around in the back lanes of the suburbs, seeing all sorts of things he should not be seeing Men and women selling stolen goods & drugs Crooked cops beating people up and making deals with these men and women. He and his vivid imagination get him into trouble all the time. He always has the best conversations with his best friend in this world: himself.
As he transforms into a teenager, navigating puberty, he is still a familiar face on the back streets where he spends the majority of his time. He feels love and acceptance: finally he has found people that understand him. These people are bad influences in his life but they accept him for who he is. He is easily led astray and soon enough he is using drugs Just like his parents trying to get by, over the years his new family do what they need to do to get by
One night this lad and his friends desperately need money to score so they arm themselves with weapons, steal a car and break into a shop. The adrenaline is pumping and as they leave the store, a police car drives past and the chase is on. He runs until he cannot run any more, straight into the arms of a cop who punches and kicks him to the ground, then picks him up and with a huge right hook, knocks him out.
He wakes up in a cell and is led out to a waiting paddywagon. Next thing he knows, he is in court and the judge sentences him to a year in jail. In jail he has time to think about his life as he navigates the rules and regulations and where being paranoid has saved him from being stabbed by another inmate. He goes cold turkey and doesn’t want anything to do with the drugs that were controlling his life He keeps his head down and spends time reading and learning
One day though, his luck seems to be changing as he gets parole. So he comes out into the free world with a new outlook on life.
His parole officer helps him get into some training courses. He is motivated to make something of himself and his life. He finds a job and also starts playing and producing music and that fascinates him. He starts earning good money and puts a hundred percent effort into everything he is doing. He has cut ties with everyone and everything that is negative in his life Of course, he will never forget his past and where he comes from But he is going from strength to strength and also inspiring others. Maybe it’s just the yin and the yang. He had to go through the struggles to get to where he is today and he is content with where he is at. He has met a lovely partner and they are living together happily.
His partner tells him that she is pregnant with his child, and the greatest day of their life is when their first child is born. He promises to himself his kids will never have to go through the trauma he suffered, and he will do everything in his power to make sure that happens … with love. Mark ‘Munk’ Ross
a is an artist development program intended to build bridges for musicians to step forward, further develop their composing skills, with the art music sector. The program was initiated by Dharug composer Chris Sainsbury, and the words 'art music' here refer to the vast spectrum of contemporary classical/new music, contemporary original jazz and improvisatory practice, experimental practice, including sound art and installation, computer music, and more.
Ngarra Burria is delivered by a partnership between Moogahlin Performing Arts, the Australian Music Centre, ANU School of Music, and Ensemble Offspring, with funding support from APRA AMCOS, and in kind support from EORA College of TAFE, the Royal Australian Navy Band, and ABC Classic.
Thanks to Stephen Wilson Barker, Digital Producer at Moogahlin Performing Arts, for his tireless efforts as Project Producer, and Dan various works.
Ngarra Burria alumni and current participants are;
Eric Avery Rhyan Claph
Marlene Cumm Brenda Giffo
Tim Gray James Henr Will Kepa Mark Ross Troy Russe Elizabeth Shep Nardi Simps Aaron Wya
