Stories of Water & Earth : Ensemble Offspring and Nardi Simpson
“A testament to genuine collaboration that honours the land and the language it came from.”
— Happy Mag
First Nations storyteller and singer Nardi Simpson joins leading chamber orchestra Ensemble Offspring in this evocative and beautiful afternoon of song, ceremony and country. Nardi (one half of the Stiff Gins) draws on her Yuwaalaraay freshwater stories and brings her trademark wit and charm to this performance. A sonic welcome will be performed by Adam Manning and John Maynard.
At the centre of the work is ‘Freshwater Woman’, performed by Nardi Simpson, which shares Yuwaalaraay women’s creative and cultural practices through song, storytelling and interactive moments. This powerful work dramatically concludes with a compelling selection of deadly compositions from the past decade of Ngarra-Burria.
Ensemble Offspring is Australia’s leading new music group, standing at the forefront of musical innovation since 1995. Led by internationally acclaimed percussionist Claire Edwardes OAM, the ensemble unites the country’s most fearless and virtuosic instrumentalists.
Stories of Water and Earth is an opportunity to immerse yourself in First Nations storytelling, culture and musical artistry.
WORKSHOP WITH NARDI SIMPSON
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“…every Australian should see this brilliant performance piece... ★★★★½ “From each and every performer, joy radiated from their eyes, their smiles, their hearts” – REBECCA VARIDEL, SYDNEY SCOOP
DURATION
50 mins
SENSORY & CONTENT WARNING
Suitable for all ages.
ACCESSIBILITY
Newcastle Conservatorium is wheelchair accessible, with ramp access, accessible viewing and wheelchair accessible amenities.
ARTISTS & COLLABORATORS
Nardi Simpson, Claire Edwardes (Artistic Director, percussion), Jason Noble (clarinets), Lamorna Nightingale (flutes), Rowena Macneish (cello), Adam Manning (musical Acknowledgement of Country), John Maynard (musical Acknowledgement of Country).
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Composer and featured performer Nardi Simpson showcases her deadly skills as a storyteller and singer, inviting audiences to hear the language of the land, explore the beauty of singing to Country, and experience music inspired by place.
At the heart of Ensemble Offspring is an unwavering commitment to the creation of living new music. Renowned as Australia’s most fearless and virtuosic instrumentalists, the ensemble stands at the forefront of musical innovation. A culmination of nearly ten years of First Nations musical collaboration, Stories of Water and Earth is both a story and a musical journey of language, culture, and song — one that speaks to the soul, the heart, and the mind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ensemble Offspring is assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and the New South Wales Government through Create NSW.
