The Old Songs are Always New: Singing Traditions of the Tiwi Islands

The Old Songs are Always New is a documentary that explores the return of 1300 ethnographic field recordings of Tiwi songs, made between 1912 and 1981, to the Tiwi Islands. The recordings have been archived at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra. The documentary reveals that the Tiwi song culture is fundamentally contemporary, topical, and current, resulting in the preservation of a rich social, cultural, and historical oral record.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2023
Publisher: Sydney University Press

Approximately 1300 ethnographic field recordings of Tiwi songs, made between 1912 and 1981, are archived at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra. In November 2009, Genevieve Campbell and eleven Tiwi colleagues traveled to Canberra to reclaim these archived songs and song texts. The Old Songs Are Always New explores their return home to the Tiwi Islands and reveals that the fundamentally contemporary, topical, and current nature of the Tiwi song culture has resulted in the preservation of a rich social, cultural, and historical oral record. Campbell describes the melody, rhythm, vocal technique, language, performance context, and function of the twelve Tiwi song types, and gives an overview of the language and poetic devices used in song composition.

The Tiwi Islands, located off the coast of northern Australia, are home to a rich and diverse musical tradition that has been documented through a series of ethnographic field recordings made between 1912 and 1981. These recordings, totaling approximately 1300, are archived at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra. In November 2009, a remarkable journey took place when Genevieve Campbell, along with eleven Tiwi colleagues, traveled to Canberra to reclaim these archived songs and song texts. The purpose of this trip was to bring these ancient melodies back to their rightful place on the Tiwi Islands, where they could be preserved and celebrated for generations to come.

The documentary film "The Old Songs Are Always New" explores this remarkable journey and delves into the profound significance of the Tiwi song culture. It reveals that the Tiwi song culture is fundamentally contemporary, topical, and relevant, despite its age. This is due to the ongoing importance of the Tiwi people's oral history and storytelling, which are deeply intertwined with their music. The film showcases the return of the Tiwi colleagues to their homeland, where they were able to reconnect with their cultural heritage and hear the songs that had been preserved for over 70 years.

In the film, Genevieve Campbell, a renowned Tiwi musician and cultural researcher, takes the audience on a journey through the twelve different types of Tiwi songs. She describes the unique melody, rhythm, vocal technique, language, performance context, and function of each song type. Campbell's expertise and passion for the Tiwi song culture shine through as she shares her insights into the creative process and the cultural significance of these songs.

Furthermore, the film provides an overview of the language and poetic devices used in song composition in the Tiwi Islands. The Tiwi people have a rich oral tradition, and their songs are often filled with metaphor, symbolism, and imagery. Campbell explains how these poetic devices are used to convey complex ideas and emotions, and how they contribute to the enduring appeal of the Tiwi song culture.

The Old Songs Are Always New is a testament to the power of music to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage. It showcases the resilience and vitality of the Tiwi song culture, and its ability to connect people across generations and continents. The film encourages viewers to appreciate the richness and diversity of world music, and to recognize the importance of preserving and promoting cultural traditions.

In conclusion, the Tiwi song culture is a living testament to the enduring power of oral history and storytelling. The approximately 1300 ethnographic field recordings of Tiwi songs, made between 1912 and 1981, are a valuable resource that provides insight into the rich cultural heritage of the Tiwi people. The journey of Genevieve Campbell and her colleagues to reclaim these archived songs and song texts is a testament to the importance of preserving and celebrating cultural heritage. The documentary film "The Old Songs Are Always New" is a powerful tool that showcases the contemporary relevance and cultural significance of the Tiwi song culture, and encourages viewers to appreciate the beauty and diversity of world music.

Weight: 42g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781743328750