This October, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra invites audiences to embark on a profound musical journey that flows seamlessly between past and present.
In a groundbreaking program, Handel’s iconic Water Music will be performed alongside the world premiere of Water, an original composition by Arnhem Land ocean and waterway custodian Rrawun Maymuru and acclaimed contemporary composer Nick Wales. This innovative concert series will take place at the Melbourne Recital Centre from October 9–12 and Sydney’s City Recital Hall from October 14–18.
A Meeting of Ancient and Contemporary Traditions
At the heart of this genre-defying program is the convergence of ancient Yolngu Songlines and Baroque orchestral traditions. Rrawun Maymuru, lead singer of Aboriginal rock band East Journey and a Yolngu songman from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land, will perform Water live on stage in Yolngu language. This marks the first time the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra performs alongside a soloist in Yolngu Mata, making it a historic moment for the ensemble.
Maymuru, the grandson of Dr. Yunupingu, the legendary frontman of Yothu Yindi, brings a deep connection to country and culture to his music. Singing in both English and Yolngu Mata, his work reflects the spiritual, cultural, and environmental significance of water. “The Yolngu people have been travelling and caring for the oceans and waterways for an eternity,” says Maymuru. “We sing when the water is calm, when it’s rough, clear or when it turns brackish. This work for Brandenburg comes from the Songline known as Nguy Gapu [the ocean].”
Maymuru’s collaborator, Nick Wales, is known for his immersive and progressive compositions that span dance, film, theatre, and visual art. Together, they have created a powerful orchestral work that bridges Yolngu Songlines with modern instruments. “The strength and power of Rrawun’s voice, his depth of connection to his culture, and the rich sonority of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra has really inspired me,” says Wales. “I hope audiences experience the same deep and elevating resonances I have felt throughout the creative process.”
A Program That Celebrates Water
Artistic Director Paul Dyer has curated a program that explores water as an essential life force, uniting Baroque music with First Nations voices to illuminate its enduring presence in music, culture, and life. “Almost five years in the making, Water Music is a deeply personal project,” says Dyer. “It is a sonic reflection on the role of water as both a sacred and fragile resource, a rich, layered journey that is both celebratory and contemplative.”
The program features:
- Handel’s Water Music: A Baroque masterpiece celebrating abundance and grandeur.
- Water by Rrawun Maymuru and Nick Wales: A newly commissioned orchestral work that blends Yolngu Songlines with lush chamber orchestral textures.
- Nick Wales’s Harbour Light: A composition inspired by the shifting moods of Sydney Harbour.
- Sophie Hutchings’s Cloud Beneath the Sea: A work that evokes the vast, arid beauty of central Australia while gazing towards new horizons.
A Historic Collaboration
Maymuru’s performance with the Brandenburg marks a significant moment in the sharing of cultural knowledge. “It is the right moment to perform this song for Brandenburg,” says Maymuru. “Nick’s ability to tune into the spirit of this Songline and compose this classical composition feels like a cosmic connection—a blessing from my ancestral spirits.”
Dyer’s vision for the program is to create a dialogue across time and cultures, celebrating water as a source of life, inspiration, and connection. “My goal was to craft a program that speaks across time and cultures, uniting Baroque music with First Nations voices,” he says.
Don’t Miss This Unique Musical Experience
The Water Music concert series is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the convergence of ancient and contemporary musical traditions. With its rich, layered program and historic collaborations, it promises to be a profound meditation on the spiritual, cultural, and environmental significance of water.
Event Details:
- Melbourne Recital Centre: October 9–12
- Sydney’s City Recital Hall: October 14–18
For more information and tickets, visit brandenburg.com.au.