Composing connections between continents: tracing the history of Australia's engagement with Antarctica through music

This article explores the history of Australias engagement with Antarctica through music, from the earliest songs and an opera created by the first Australian explorers to Antarctica, to the popular Antarctic-related classical music of Australian composer Nigel Westlake and the soundscape-based comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian Historical Studies
Main Author: Philpott, C
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Univ Melbourne 2018
Subjects:
Studies in Creative Arts and Writing
Performing Arts and Creative Writing
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1080/1031461X.2017.1417456
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/124389
Description
Summary:This article explores the history of Australias engagement with Antarctica through music, from the earliest songs and an opera created by the first Australian explorers to Antarctica, to the popular Antarctic-related classical music of Australian composer Nigel Westlake and the soundscape-based compositions of Australia-based sound artists Philip Samartzis and Lawrence English. Drawing on the field of musicology, but also the scholarly turn to the senses as part of the broadening reach of cultural history, the article argues that Australias musical engagement with Antarctica constitutes a significant, though understudied, aspect of our aural heritage. Further, deeper and critical appreciation of this music as cultural and aural heritage enhances our ability to reflect on the full extent of Australias relationship with, and contribution to knowledge about, its Great Frozen Neighbour and its identity as a gateway to the Antarctic region.

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