Songs of Aboriginal Australia and Torres Strait

Despite making up only a small percentage of the country’s total population, the aboriginal tribes of Australia are incredibly diverse and speak over 200 distinct languages. This recording features songs by aboriginal tribes from Western Australia, North Queensland, and the Torres Strait. Didjeridu player Albert (no last name given in liner notes), who uses a five foot didjeridu made from a hollowed out telegraph pole, can be heard on a number of tracks. Many of the songs on the recording have been passed from tribe to tribe, which has made the lyrics difficult to translate. Nevertheless, the songs’ meaning is still understood within the framework of ceremonial music. The liner notes feature photographs, musical transcription, and lyrics in the native languages and in English (where translation is possible).

Track Listing

101	Song with didjeridu	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	01:12
102	Song with didjeridu	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:52
103	Song with didjeridu	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	01:04
104	Untitled Song	Albert	00:53
105	Untitled Song	Albert	01:06
106	Untitled Song	Albert	00:59
107	Untitled Song	Albert	01:00
108	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:55
109	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	01:02
110	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:57
111	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	01:31
112	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:58
113	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	01:44
114	Song by Kupangu	Kupangu	01:42
115	Song by Kupangu	Kupangu	00:43
116	Song by Kupangu	Kupangu	00:41
117	Song by Kupangu	Kupangu	00:51
118	Song by Kupangu	Kupangu	00:41
119	Song by Kupangu	Kupangu	00:42
120	Untitled Song	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:52
121	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:46
122	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:41
123	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:45
124	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	01:00
125	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:41
126	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:45
127	Song by male group	Group of male singers, Nyangumarda	00:49
128	Male solo	Yindjibarndi man	00:45
129	Male solo	Yindjibarndi man	00:28
130	Female group	Group of Yindjibarndi women	00:45
131	Female group	Group of Yindjibarndi women	00:36
132	Song by Albert and Rosie	Albert and Rosie	00:52
133	Song by Albert and Rosie	Albert and Rosie	00:51
134	Song by Christopher Jeffrey	Christopher Jeffrey	00:57
135	Song by Christopher Jeffrey	Christopher Jeffrey	00:40
136	Ti Ti (Christmas Headdress)	Peter Creek and Furry Short	00:28
137	Bora (Initiation song)	Peter Creek and Furry Short	00:55
138	Way keriba ged (This is our island)	John Bon	01:42
139	A99	John Bon	02:19
140	Keyp Yok Adud Ged (Cape York is a bad place)	John Bon	02:05
141	Song by John Bon	John Bon	01:47