Presented by RISING, Arts Centre Melbourne and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Buŋgul
Gurrumul's Mother’s Buŋgul, Gurrumul's Grandmother’s Buŋgul, Gurrumul's Manikay
Accessibility
Experience
A buŋgul is a ceremony, a gathering ground: a meeting place of dance, song and ritual.
Dr G. Yunupiŋu’s posthumously released album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow), is a landmark moment in Australian music. It transcends its author’s death and celebrates his life, by bringing together western and his Yolŋu family’s musical traditions.
Buŋgul is a celebration of that record’s legacy. Created on Country in Northeast Arnhem Land, with the Yunupiŋu family. In a hypnotic performance, live Yolŋu dancers and songmen present the songs, dances and paintings that inspired Djarimirri; accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; and directed by Senior Yolŋu man Don Wininba Ganambarr and Nigel Jamieson.
The heart and soul of a masterpiece made real.
“To the Yolngu, our songs, paintings, and dances are our books—they tell us where we have come from and where we are going to… They are our maps, our law books, our title deeds and our family history”
— Don Wininba Ganambarr, Co-Director
Presented by RISING, Arts Centre Melbourne and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Artistic Team
Music | Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Erkki Veltheim and Michael Hohnen
Directors | Don Wininba Ganambarr and Nigel Jamieson
Musical Director and Conductor | Erkki Velheim
Creative Producer | Michael Hohnen
Executive Producer | Anna Reece
Concertmaster | Veronique Serret
Design and Creative Associate | Jacob Nash
Lighting Designer | Mark Howett
Associate Lighting Designer | Chloe Ogilvie
Sound Designer | Steve Francis
Video Design | Mic Gruchy
Cinematographer | Paul Shakeshaft
Performers | Nebbie Burrarrwanga, Robert Burrarrwanga, Mark Guruwiwi, Terence Guruwiwi, Jaimie Yunupingu, Teo Yunupingu, David Yunupingu, Kyle Yunupingu and Nelson Yunupingu
Supporters
This production has been assisted by the Australian Government's Major Festivals Initiative, managed by the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., commissioned by Perth Festival, Darwin Festival, Adelaide Festival, RISING, Sydney Festival and Brisbane Festival. This project was initiated by the Yunuupinnu family and Skinnyfish Music. Supported by Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre - Yirrkala Arts Centre and The Mulka Project. Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) produced by Michael Hohnen & Skinnyfish Music with orchestrations by Erkki Veltheim.