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- William Barton
Elements of the Earth (2022)
- Wise Music G. Schirmer Australia Pty Ltd (World)
Commissioned by Melbourne String Ensemble as part of a collection of works inspired by the Seasons of Country
Commissioned by Melbourne String Ensemble as a part of a collection of works by Indigenous composers based on 'The Four Seasons' interpreted in the context of the Australian landscape.
- str
- Didgeridoo (optional)
- 10 min
Programme Note
William Barton: Elements of the Earth
Commissioned by Melbourne String Ensemble
Winter - inspiration from my Kalkadungu country
As the cool air is embraced by the first signs of the winter season, the sky descends upon the earth met by the upward draft. The sun descends through partially-birthed clouds, and as the fragments become crystallised, the transparent horizon cradles the morning gift of life.
The violins dance with the sunlight of dawn upon the delicate transparent vessel/skin of a water drop. Here the thoughts and memories of the winter sky ceremoniously gather as mystical mist spirits, at times calming the sometimes other-worldly wind flow, to become dust spirits dancing on the earth.
A memory. As the wintery sky eclipses the thoughts of the night, the stillness of the air ascends into a prism of light to the universe – a reflection of the canvas of earth from an eagle’s eye view.
The deep red blue hues resonate a sound, a feeling, etched in time. The big sky country expands into an ocean of blue.
The bird song calls out to the translucent moon. Dancing on silver-lined ghost gums by the rivers. Forever connected to the rivers of our mother country.
The shimmer of the strings sing with the ancient earth. Winter: a time of reflection, strength, resilience, hope and survival. A necessary journey – a season of renewal. A time where life may stand still like the ghost gums by the river; like the etchings of our living Dreamtime on the canvas of our past on the cave walls. So much ancient wisdom our winter gives.
A beautiful season to reawaken the spirit. One of many seasons to appreciate in our cycle of life.
William Barton
28th March 2022