Central Australia has a long history of choral singing. Song is important in many cultures and the sharing of songs with visitors is a special way of making connections and creating the foundations for new friendships.
In June 2013 over 150 people came together at Ross River Homestead in the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges about 80 kilometres from Alice Springs. They came together to share songs in their languages, learn new songs together – some in languages new to everyone – and to get to know each other over cups of tea, and around the campfire.
Singer travelled from every Australian State and Territory and from six remote desert communities from Docker River in the far west to Laramba in the north, to be part of the third Big Sing in the Desert.
In Part One, we hear from facilitators and musical directors Rachel Hore and Morris Stuart who talk about how they met, working with Central Australian choirs, and the origins of Big Sing. They also talk about some of the stories behind the songs which now form part of the evolving Big Sing Song Book.
Broadcast: Tuesday 16 July 2013 at 5.30pm on 8CCC Community Radio 102.1FM
and streaming live on on the world wide web!
Repeated: Following Friday at 9am and Sunday at 5.00pm
Producer: Joy Taylor
Big Sing in the Desert FaceBook Page
Photos courtesy of Amy Jean Harding, Eye of Light Photography and Joy Taylor
The organisers of Big Sing in the Desert gratefully acknowledge the support of the NT Government and a host of individual contributors from around Australia who assisted members of remote community choirs to travel to Ross River and participate in the event.
