Dr Lou Bennett AM and the Australian String Quartet - nyilamum - song cycles

NOMINATION: Performance of the Year - Notated Composition

NOMINATION: Performance of the Year - Notated Composition

For the performance of a single Australian work, showcasing the performer(s)’ success in revealing the nature and intention of a composition with clear notated instructions for the performer. Works with significant improvisatory aspects should instead be submitted for Performance of the Year: Jazz / Improvised Music. 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 performance 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 the Australian String Quartet

Nominee email

azucco@asq.com.au

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

Performance Date

1/2/2024

Venue

Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam

Nominator Statement
This world premiere performance beautifully captures the unique story telling of dja dja wurrung, yorta yorta Dr Lou Bennett AM and the story of jarra nyilamum - 'jarra baby'. The piece tells of the rematriation of a child's remains. Lou Bennett's vocals tell the story vividly in language, in movement, in spoken word and song in what can only be described as a monumental performance of extraordinary power. De Niewe Muse in The Netherlands wrote of Lou's performance "...the earth seemed to rip open and turned the Muziekgebouw into an enchanting universe."

The Australian String Quartet partnered with Dr Bennett who co-composed this piece with Paul Stanhope. The deep process of discovering the work through a series of workshops and a long collaborative process pays enormous dividends as the elements of voice and instrument are intimately inter-twined. This piece is a massively important moment in Australian Music taking a new work to be premiered at the International String Quartet Biennale in Amsterdam is a significant cultural achievement and the quality of the performance can be immediately deduced.

This performance was broadcast live on Dutch Radio and a video of the performance is available on ABC iview, so its impact is thoroughly international.

Congratulations to Lou Bennett and the ASQ on this monumental achievement.

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