Solo Performance The performance starts with a conventional performance of the Prelude to the G major suite for unaccompanied ‘cello by J.S.Bach. Instead of performing the suite as a whole, for this production I have made a selection of dance movements from the first suite and integrate them with my own compositions for unaccompanied ‘cello. The ‘cello by nature creates linear melodies however in recent years with new technologies being developed I can record while I am performing and “loop” sections effectively creating multi-tracked pieces in a live setting. The first half of the performance includes: Prelude - G major suite by J.S.Bach
“Bach, Burridge and into the Amazon”
The second half of the performance “Into the Amazon” then commences .
In my production “Into the Amazon” I have mixed together recordings of Xavante songs and their environment. I accompany them with “Mr Cello” and enjoy utilising the modern sampling technology to create the multi layered pieces. I aim to take the audience on a brief journey into an Indian village and we commence with the birds at dawn followed by various recordings of both groups and individuals. The production ends with recordings of the Xavante making their daily prayers as they do each evening after their singing practise. The sun has gone down, the faces of the children and adults are lit by the fire and the sounds and rhythms of the forest at night reverberate in the air.
“Into the Amazon”
commences with “Dawn”, followed by the village singing a “Song for the Day“. Singing unifies the community and here is led by the Chief with his rattle.Rain falls and I then accompany the “Rain man who calls the rain”
“Agosta sings an Indian anthem” A woman has walked down to the river with a baby in a basket on her back. She sings a song that she tells me is famous amongst the Xavante and basically translates; “the Indians went to the top of a hill and saw the white man digging up the ground and burning the trees. The Indians warn Toa ah toa ah - don’t do that don’t do that if you do that great sadness will come…..
“Song of the Adolescents” Adolescent boys are schooled by the elders and from the age of thirteen until their initiation into being a man they live a secluded existence in the boys house. In the evening they sing in groups in designated areas of the village and sometimes during these songs the boys run races around a clearing that surrounds the village.
“Proclamation”
the whole village sings, everyone with their own voice within the group. I call it “Proclamation” because when I hear it I think of this amazing cultural group singing their songs in the fast diluted natural environment of the cerrado. It brings out an emotion in my playing whereby I express my own outrage at the vast soya silos that mar the horizon and the shock of witnessing the disappearance of a landscape and consequent impact on the indigenous people.“Atsawidi Maria”
the group gather for prayers at the end of their songs. Maria they have adopted from the Roman Catholic missionaries into their own religion.Night settles and the insects create a cacophony of sound.
Performance length: 2 x twentyfive minutes. Interval optional.
For concert bookings and enquiries please e mail: admin@emilyburridge.com
Why and how the Amazon has been integrated into my work as a composer?
We are all aware of the Amazon region of Brazil and the role it plays within the global climate regulation. We are not so aware of the people that live there. The Brazilian Indians in general live in designated areas of the Amazon. Where they live the forest stands. If you fly above the designated areas you quickly realise the forest is fast being replaced with bland expanses of the mono culture soya. Fly further south and the soya is uninterrupted only by comparatively small impressions of the original Cerrado. The Cerrado of the Mato Grosso is where amongst other tribal groups the Xavante Indians live.
Over the years I have drawn a lot of inspiration from my own experiences of the natural environment of Brazil and in particular experiences staying with the Xavante Indians. My last CD production “Bridge between Worlds” features songs of the Xavante within an orchestral work.
At the core of the Xavante culture is the daily practise of singing. They sing in groups, including adolescent “choirs” and it is not uncommon in the morning to see a person emerge from their house singing a new song. The Xavante receive the lyrics for their songs from dreams.
During the last fourteen years when I have been staying with a Xavante community I have made recordings of some of their songs and of the forest and cerrado where they live .
I first met them at a performance I was giving in the National Theatre Brasilia. Some Indians were walking past the Theatre and I invited them in to my show . It was only afterwards I learned that they were indigenous to the area which during the concert I had spoken about as being inspirational for the production of my first CD “Earth Songs”. Afterwards they invited me to visit their village. Two years later when I was living in Rio de Janeiro I boarded a bus and set off across Brazil to go and visit them. The result of this first visit amongst other things was to set up a charitable Trust “Indigenous People’s Cultural Support Trust “ and through this charity I have been able to help the community in building a health centre with solar power, a medicinal garden and now I return to help develop a tree nursery initiative. The plan is to cultivate species of trees and plants from within their reservation for regenerating areas outside of the reservation as well as making available plants and trees for sale to the local residents in the towns. Thereby creating a sustainable income for the community as well as conserving the plants and trees of the Cerrado. To find out more about Emily’s work both with the Xavante Indians and her work in music including CD releases and forthcoming performances please visit www.emilyburridge.com
For concert bookings and enquiries please e mail: admin@emilyburridge.com
Venues:
Brazilian Embassy in London
Butley Priory Music Series Suffolk
Harcourt Arboretum - Oxford Contemporary Music I looked up and children were dancing. A relaxed atmosphere with families picnicking.
Warneford Hospital, Oxford. “Into the Amazon” proved to be an effective “out reach” project as I related my experiences of the forests of Brazil and tribal people and accompanied my story telling with the musical production.
Penny Gallery, Kingston upon Thames in collaboration with international photographer Sue Cunningham exhibiting the "Heart of Brazil" photo exhibition
Donhead St Mary Church, Dorset. Benefit concert for the Xavante Tree Nursery initiative
