NOMINATION: Work of the Year - Chamber
Chamber music is defined as works for between 1 and 12 players, with or without vocal parts, and with or without electronics
A work is defined as a single complete musical composition, or expression. This includes music with movements or sub-works (i.e. song cycles), installations, and real-time compositions (improvised music).
If you believe your work to be nominated in the wrong category or the details of your nomination to be incorrect, please contact the AMC via email at awards@australianmusiccentre.com.au before proceeding with the nomination.
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Nominee
Dr Lou Bennett AM and Paul Stanhope
Title of the work
nyilamum song cycles
Composer(s) of the work
Dr Lou Bennett AM and Paul Stanhope
Librettist(s) or source author(s)
Dr Lou Bennett AM
Performer
Dr Lou Bennett AM and Australian String Quartet
Performance Date
Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam (also released via ABC iview)
Venue
1/2/2024
Nominator Statement
nyilamum song cycles is a ground-breaking First Nations-led work, co-composed by Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung, Dr Lou Bennett AM, and Paul Stanhope, that has received global recognition. The work was developed through a multi-year creative collaboration with Dr Bennett, Stanhope, and the Australian String Quartet (ASQ) in association with Binung Boorigan, which allowed for a genuine connection and deep empathy to be established between the artists.
The resultant work, nyilamum song cycles is an extended piece for voice and string quartet, sung entirely in Dja Dja Wurrung language, that explores in depth, Dr Bennetts story of jaara nyilamum.
Dr Bennett writes in her essay Speaking with Spirits (used with permission):
The creation of nyilamum has been seated in a process of language rematriation, of story rematriation, starting with one song and developed over a course of time creating detail from her story and presented as a set of song cycles.
In January 2024, following a private showing On Country in Bendigo, Dr Bennett, Stanhope, and ASQ travelled to Amsterdam, to give the World Premiere of nyilamum song cycles at the prestigious Amsterdam String Quartet Biennale the worlds largest festival for string quartet music. From its headline concert in the Muziekgebouw, nyilamum song cycles received an extended standing ovation and critical acclaim:
Compelling and atmospheric (The Guardian)
Gripping and beautiful... You hear something so special but once in a life-time! De Nieuwe Muze
Since then, the work has been performed in the renowned Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome, and broadcast via Dutch National Ratio and Italian Rai Radio 3. It is also available to watch across Australia via ABC iview. It is set for its official live Australian Premiere as part of Adelaide Festival 2025 on February 27.
Co-composed by two Australian artists at the height of their creative powers, this chamber work sits at the fulcrum of First Nations Australian and western art music, and is a ground-breaking example of the power and impact of authentic creative collaborations.
Background
Dr Bennetts collaboration with the ASQ commenced in 2017 through an artistic residency with Iain Grandage at UKARIA, South Australia. Delivered with support from the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and UKARIA, this residency supported the creation of jaara nyilamum a short piece for voice and string quartet. Since its creation, the work has been performed across Australia, is regularly broadcast via ABC, and can be experienced as part of the jaara nyilamum video installation by Dr Romaine Moreton and Dr Bennett at the Australian Centre for Moving Image. The work is also available on all major music streaming services via the ASQs Australian Anthology platform. Following the realisation of jaara nyilamum, Dr Bennett and the ASQ were joined by composer Paul Stanhope in November 2022 to participate in an artistic residency at Four Winds, Bermagui. Exploring in more detail Dr Bennetts story of jaara nyilamum, the residency lay the foundation for a thoughtful and inspiring 1.5 year-long creative development resulting in nyilamum song cycles. nyilamum song cycles was commissioned by the ASQ with support from the nyilamum song cycles Commissioning Circle and other donors.
Nominee
Dr Lou Bennett AM and Paul Stanhope
Title of the work
nyilamum song cycles
Composer(s) of the work
Dr Lou Bennett AM and Paul Stanhope
Librettist(s) or source author(s)
Dr Lou Bennett AM
Performer
Dr Lou Bennett AM and Australian String Quartet
Performance Date
Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam (also released via ABC iview)
Venue
1/2/2024
The resultant work, nyilamum song cycles is an extended piece for voice and string quartet, sung entirely in Dja Dja Wurrung language, that explores in depth, Dr Bennetts story of jaara nyilamum.
Dr Bennett writes in her essay Speaking with Spirits (used with permission):
The creation of nyilamum has been seated in a process of language rematriation, of story rematriation, starting with one song and developed over a course of time creating detail from her story and presented as a set of song cycles.
In January 2024, following a private showing On Country in Bendigo, Dr Bennett, Stanhope, and ASQ travelled to Amsterdam, to give the World Premiere of nyilamum song cycles at the prestigious Amsterdam String Quartet Biennale the worlds largest festival for string quartet music. From its headline concert in the Muziekgebouw, nyilamum song cycles received an extended standing ovation and critical acclaim:
Compelling and atmospheric (The Guardian)
Gripping and beautiful... You hear something so special but once in a life-time! De Nieuwe Muze
Since then, the work has been performed in the renowned Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome, and broadcast via Dutch National Ratio and Italian Rai Radio 3. It is also available to watch across Australia via ABC iview. It is set for its official live Australian Premiere as part of Adelaide Festival 2025 on February 27.
Co-composed by two Australian artists at the height of their creative powers, this chamber work sits at the fulcrum of First Nations Australian and western art music, and is a ground-breaking example of the power and impact of authentic creative collaborations.
Background
Dr Bennetts collaboration with the ASQ commenced in 2017 through an artistic residency with Iain Grandage at UKARIA, South Australia. Delivered with support from the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival and UKARIA, this residency supported the creation of jaara nyilamum a short piece for voice and string quartet. Since its creation, the work has been performed across Australia, is regularly broadcast via ABC, and can be experienced as part of the jaara nyilamum video installation by Dr Romaine Moreton and Dr Bennett at the Australian Centre for Moving Image. The work is also available on all major music streaming services via the ASQs Australian Anthology platform. Following the realisation of jaara nyilamum, Dr Bennett and the ASQ were joined by composer Paul Stanhope in November 2022 to participate in an artistic residency at Four Winds, Bermagui. Exploring in more detail Dr Bennetts story of jaara nyilamum, the residency lay the foundation for a thoughtful and inspiring 1.5 year-long creative development resulting in nyilamum song cycles. nyilamum song cycles was commissioned by the ASQ with support from the nyilamum song cycles Commissioning Circle and other donors.