ENSEMBLE OFFSPRING
STORIES OF WATER & EARTH
North meets south and freshwater meets saltwater in Stories of Water and Earth, featuring Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson and Djapa woman Melanie Mununggurr, in a weaving of cultures, instrumental chamber music, beat poetry and dreaming stories.
Please direct all enquiries to admin@ensembleoffspring.com
Past Shows
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The Studio, Sydney Opera House
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Darwin Festival
Backstage Music, Woodburn Creatives Sydney
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Freshwater Woman (formerly -barra), City Recital Hall (Sydney Festival)
Watch and Listen
Critical Acclaim
“On the bill was a new long form commission from Djapa woman Melanie Mununggurr and Netanela Mizrahi titled Stories of Water and Earth in the first half, followed by a work titled Freshwater Woman by Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson. I have seen a lot of live music this year, but this concert was something special, and everyone in the room seemed to understand that in that moment we were a part of something bigger.”
“Mununggurr’s got a fantastic presence as a performer, too, delivering hard-hitting lines with uncompromising strength.”
“Simpson is as gripping a storyteller as she is a vocalist. Her prowess as a writer bubbles up through the fluidity of her language, and she shines as a performer here too. She’s so engaging here, sharing these stories, which unfold even further with the music that follows them.”
“Last night I attended the ‘Stories of Water and Earth’ at the Darwin Festival. I was blown away. I just wanted to let you know how profoundly moved I was. The most sensitive exhibition of indigenous talent and situation, backed by creative, experimental and professionally performed music.”
“Nardi Simpson is one of our greatest national treasures and if you haven’t seen her perform you are doing yourself a disservice. Freshwater Woman is no exception to the very highest calibre of musical expression we have come to experience with Nardi at the helm.”
“A truly unique and heart-warming evening of language, poetry, music, beauty and breath. Every audience member was invested. I saw tears, laughter, gasps, cries of joy and cheers to conclude the evening – a testament to the power of these two deadly women whose practice is informed by their ancestors, inspired by the strength of Country and held in the dreaming.”
“Noble brings out the harmonics on a growling bass clarinet, and Edwardes (who also performs on a hanging shell mobile) nails some vocal harmonies from behind the vibraphone. Véronique Serret is such a wonderfully expressive player; every small violin lick is given rich colour and a virtuosic spin.”
“A testament to genuine collaboration that honours the land and the language it came from. You could feel the weight of Country in the room, and the careful tension of artists unlearning, relearning, and reshaping.”