Work
Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace (multiple choirs with full orchestra)
by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon (2018)
Audio Sample
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CD
Women of Note : A Century of Australian Composers, Volume 2.
Library shelf no. CD 3111 [Not for loan]
Work Overview
Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace is a
large scale composition for Indigenous and non-indigenous
performers, sung entirely in the ancient dialects of the
Gunditjmara people.
Original text by
Deborah Cheetham AO expands on the structure of the traditional
Requiem Mass, was translated into the Dhuawurd Wurrung and
related dialects by Gunditjmara language custodian Vicki Couzens
and Victorian based linguist Kris Eira.
"The name
Eumeralla is unlikely to be among the theatres of war that you
could name.
The history of battles fought and the lives that were lost
is almost unknown to anyone outside the Aboriginal community. It
is more than 170 years since the last shots rang out in the
country of the Gunditjmara but the land is not silent. The voices
of those who lost their lives in defence of their country ring in
your ears when you stand amongst the lava flow of south west
country of Victoria. Unlike other theatres of war such as Anzac
Cove and the Somme, where peace was declared and relationships
restored with the Turks and Germans, no such peace was declared
in the resistance wars, no such
restoration.
Whilst the Gunditjmara
uphold the memory of their warriors slain, most Australians have
been denied access to this history and denied resolution - and so
the land remains haunted.
Eumeralla
was written in recognition of one of the most brutal resistance
wars fought on this continent and is designed for non-Indigenous
Choirs to perform along-side Indigenous musicians. It is my hope
that this war requiem will help the spirits of those who fell -
those who resisted and their aggressors, to find a lasting peace
and that we their descendants might find our way to deeper
understanding of the legacy of these battles."
Deborah Cheetham AO
Work Details
Year: 2018
First performance: by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Consort of Melbourne, Dhungala Children's Choir, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Don Bemrose, Benjamin Northey, Melbourne Youth Orchestra at Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace (Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne) on 15 Jun 2019
Videos
Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace |
Subjects
- Influenced by: Indigenous music
- Influenced by: Indigenous Australian Culture
- In the form/style of: Requiems
Performances of this work
30 Sep 2022: at Eumeralla, A War Requiem for Peace (Perth Concert Hall). Featuring Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Dhungala Children's Choir, WASO Chorus, Benjamin Northey, Don Bemrose, Linda Barcan.
20 Oct 2019: at Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace (QPAC Concert Hall). Featuring UQ Symphony Orchestra, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Don Bemrose, Talia Garrett-Benson, UQ Chorale, Dhungala Children's Choir, Voices of Birralee.
15 Jun 2019: at Eumeralla, a war requiem for peace (Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne). Featuring Benjamin Northey, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Consort of Melbourne, Dhungala Children's Choir, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Don Bemrose, Melbourne Youth Orchestra.
15 Jun 19: featuring Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Consort of Melbourne, Dhungala Children's Choir, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Don Bemrose, Benjamin Northey, Linda Barcan.
14 Oct 2018: at Closing Gala: Eumeralla (Southcombe Park Stadium ). Featuring The Consort of Melbourne, Dhungala Children's Choir, Deborah Cheetham Fraillon, Plexus Ensemble, Don Bemrose, Linda Barcan.
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