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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'The Dyirbal people of the Cairns rainforest region in North Queensland have a rich heritage of song poetry, reflecting their way of life, their way of looking at the world, and their way of coping with invasion. This pioneering study examines the words and music of 174 songs, across five distinctive styles of performance, each with its own metrical pattern and linguistic and musical characteristics, describing the social context in which the songs were sung and explaining their message.
As sung by nineteen Dyirbal singers, this collection explores the poetic tradition of a culture which flourished in Australia long before European impact. As a detailed record of an ancient and disappearing literary tradition, it is invaluable. For language and music specialists it provides the unique vocabulary and grammatical patterning so characterisitc of Aboriginal song'. (Source: Back cover, UQP 1996 edition)
Notes
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Accompanying sound disc available.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Untitled
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Journal of Australian Studies , no. 59 1998; (p. 216-218)
— Review of Dyirbal Song Poetry : The Oral Literature of an Australian Rainforest People 1996 anthology poetry criticism -
Untitled
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Aboriginal History , vol. 20 no. 1996; (p. 234-236)
— Review of Dyirbal Song Poetry : The Oral Literature of an Australian Rainforest People 1996 anthology poetry criticism
-
Untitled
1996
single work
review
— Appears in: Aboriginal History , vol. 20 no. 1996; (p. 234-236)
— Review of Dyirbal Song Poetry : The Oral Literature of an Australian Rainforest People 1996 anthology poetry criticism -
Untitled
1998
single work
review
— Appears in: Journal of Australian Studies , no. 59 1998; (p. 216-218)
— Review of Dyirbal Song Poetry : The Oral Literature of an Australian Rainforest People 1996 anthology poetry criticism
Awards
- 1999 winner Stanner Award