Kura Tungar: River Songs and Stories

Original Music and Lyrics: Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach
Composers and Arrangers: Paul Grabowsky, John Rodgers, James Greening, Phillip Slater, Niko Schäuble
Theatre Director: Patrick Nolan
Musical Director: Paul Grabowsky
Associate Musical Director: John Rodgers
Lighting Design / Filmmaker: Mark Howett
Premiere: Hamer Hall, October 2004, Melbourne International Arts Festival

Program

Kura Tungar (Ruby Hunter, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Ngarrinderi Dreaming (Archie Roach, arr. John Rodgers)
Held Up To the Moon in My Grandfather’s Hands (Ruby Hunter, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Coolamen Baby (Ruby Hunter, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Instrumental (Phillip Slater)
Like A Bird (Archie Roach, arr. James Greening)
Daisy Chains, String Games and Knuckle Bones (Ruby Hunter, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Took the Children Away (Archie Roach, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Down City Streets (Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Old So & So (Archie Roach, arr. by Paul Grabowsky)
Into the Bloodstream (Archie Roach, arr. James Greening)
Nopin Kurongk (Archie Roach, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Instrumental (John Rodgers and Phillip Slater)
Ngarrindjeri Woman (Ruby Hunter, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Wash My Soul (Archie Roach, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
Instrumental (John Rodgers)
Care for the Waters (Ruby Hunter, arr. John Rodgers)

Watch excerpts from Kura Tungar

Program Notes

In a first-time collaboration, Artistic Director Paul Grabowsky and other members of the Australian Art Orchestra work with the original songs of Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach to produce a new kind of Australian musical. Kura Tungar: Songs from the River explores the traditions of the Murray River and its connection with the Indigenous Australians who have been its guardians since Ngurunderi formed it in the Dreamtime.

Directed by Patrick Nolan and featuring the full Australian Art Orchestra, whose Testimony and Into the Fire have been Melbourne International Arts Festival highlights in the past two years, Kura Tungar is a passionate call for Australians to reconcile with a plundered landscape and its people.

Tour History

2004 - Hamer Hall, Melbourne International Arts Festival

Performance Artists

Tristram Williams Trumpet
Scott Tinkler Trumpet
Phil Slater Trumpet
James Greening Trombone
Adrian Sherriff Trombone
Lachlan Davidson Reeds
Paul Cutlan Reeds
Sandy Evans Reeds
Julien Wilson Reeds
Elliott Dalgleish Reeds
John Rodgers Violin
Stephen Magnusson Guitar
Paul Grabowsky Piano
Alister Spence Keys
Gary Costello Double Bass
Simon Barker Drums
Alex Pertout Percussion
Niko Schauble Percussion

Collaborators: Patrick Nolan, director
Ruby Hunter, vocals/compositions/lyrics
Archie Roach, vocals/compositions/lyrics

Duration: 1hr 50min

Press for Kura Tungar: River Songs and Stories

Kura Tungar

The Age  ( Jessica Nicholas)  19 October 2004