5 December 2008
Hymns and Kores of theTorres Strait Islands
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Hymns and Kores of theTorres Strait Islands
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The Torres Strait islands, nestled between the tip of Australia's Cape York Peninsula and Papua New Guinea, are home to almost 6 000 people. A part of Queensland since 1879, the islands have their own languages and culture stretching back thousands of years. Christianity came to the Torres Strait in the 1860s, but it was the London Missionary Society which made the biggest impact when they arrived in 1871, an event celebrated every year on 1 July as The Coming of the Light. In the 1920s American Pentecostal groups began to appear, and today denominations such as the Assembly of God exist alongside older churches like the Anglicans.
With the missionaries came traditional hymns. These have been adapted and are sung by congregations or choirs in local languages like Kala Lagaw Ya in the Western Islands and Meriam Mir in the Eastern Islands, often to the beat of traditional single-headed skin drums. Since the 1960s contemporary Christian songs have also appeared called kores - sung in Torres Strait Creole and English as well as the local dialects - performed with electric guitars and drums. The sacred music of the Torres Strait islands is vibrant and unique and we'll travel to three islands of the region to experience their songs, hymns and kores - Thursday Island, Mabuiag and Iama/Yam.
Further Information
Dr Karl Neuenfeldt
Karl is the Executive Producer of the series of three CDs/DVDs of tradtional music and dance of the Torres Strait Islander communities in far north-eastern Queensland. The material was recorded on location at Badu, Iama/Yam, Mabuiag and Warraber islands. The project is an initiative of the Torres Strait Regional Authority in collaboration with local communities, Arts Queensland, the National Library and Central Queensland University, where Karl is an Associate Professor in the School of Arts & Creative Enterprise.
Torres Strait Regional Authority
The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) aims to strengthen the economic, social and cultural development of the Torres Strait to improve the lifestyle and wellbeing of Torres Strait Islanders and Aboriginal people living in the region.
Music
CD title:
Sailing the Southeast Wind
Track title:
Sailing the Southeast Wind
Artist: Seaman Dan
Composer: Raymond Wymarra & Karl Neuenfeldt
CD details: Central Queensland University
URL: http://www.seamandan.com.au/
CD title:
Acoustically
Track title:
My Island Home
Artist: Christine Anu
Composer: Neil Murray
CD details: Liberation Blue BLUE083.2
URL: http://www.christineanu.com.au/
CD title:
Iama Wakai tusi / voices of Iama : traditional and contemporary music and dance of Iama/Yam Island, Torres Strait
Track title:
Ngalpa Lak Kaima Eso (Hymn 178)
Artist: Iama/Yam Island Community Choir
Composer: trad.
CD details: Torres Strait Regional Authority
URL: http://www.musicaustralia.org/apps/MA?function=showDetail¤tBibRecord=000043623835&itemSeq=12&total=25&returnFunction=searchResults&term1=Neuenfeldt%2C+Karl.&location1=Anywhere&scope=scope¶meter1=phrase&boolean1=and&sessionId=reuseSearch092A
CD title:
Mabuygiw awgadhaw nawul: traditional and contemporary music and dance of Mabuiag Island, Torres Strait.
Track title:
Kizipay Ngapa, and Kumbaya
Artist: Cygnet Repu
Composer: Cygnet Repu
CD details: Torres Strait Regional Authority
URL: http://www.musicaustralia.org/apps/MA?function=showDetail¤tBibRecord=000043623833&itemSeq=16&total=25&returnFunction=searchResults&term1=Neuenfeldt%2C+Karl.&location1=Anywhere&scope=scope¶meter1=phrase&boolean1=and&reuseSearch=true&sessionI
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