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Banumbirr (1982) |
flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano - 9'
This piece was written during my first visit to Australia in 1982, and was inspired by an Aboriginal Australian bark-painting of Banumbirr, the morning star. Beyond trying to find - empathically - musical 'gestures' within myself that corresponded to the hieratic (totemic/ symbolic) patterns and deliberately restricted colours of that painting, there are no other connections with the indigenous art of Australia.
The piece is dedicated to Robert and Merryn Smallwood; the former conducted the first performance at Melba Hall, in the University of Melbourne on 16 May 1982.
© Michael Finnissy