| Summary: | Research Background: World premiere of vocal chamber work The Cooktown Cantata, songs of Love, Place, and Identity, comprising 12 songs by Louise Denson to words by Jan Black. This work commemorates the life of botanical artist Vera Scarth-Johnson, her work as a conservationist and environmental activist in North Queensland from 1970-1999 and her close ties with First Nations people of the region, notably Guugu Yimithirr Elder Tulo Gordon. Vera Scarth-Johnson has been attributed with overturning plans for sand mining and development in the Cooktown region through her activism in the 1970s. Composer Louise Denson crafted a work which combined vocal, instrumental, and spoken elements of diverse genres, to create a format for the storying of an artist who occupies a unique place Queensland's history. Featured in the cantata was prominent Guugu Yimithirr singer/songwriter Derek Rosendale, baritone Jeffrey Black and the researcher, Margaret Schindler, as the protagonist Vera. The work was premiered in Brisbane at St Mary's Anglican Kangaroo Pt and subsequently presented at the Cooktown and Cape York Expo 2021, part of Cooktown's Sesquicentennial celebrations from June 17-19th in the presence of the Governor General David Hurley, Cooktown Mayer Peter Scott and Willie Gordon, son of Tulo Gordon, the Guugu Yimithirr Elder who had such a profound influence on Scarth-Johnson's life. The performances were reviewed for Limelight Magazine, the project comprised a large feature article in The Courier Mail and was promoted via interviews for ABC radio. The form of this work which combines theatrical elements, spoken voice, jazz, folk and classical music genres represents a reimagining of traditional vocal performance formats. Of special significance is the way in which this work was able to incorporate the voices and historical perspectives of First Nations people. Performed to capacity audiences in Brisbane and Cooktown, critically acclaimed. A recording is planned for Feb 2022. No Full Text
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