Wata: A Gathering for Songmen, Improvising Soloists and Orchestra QPAC (As Part of Clancestry 2025) Thursday July 31st 2025

Wata is a celebration of the act of creation itself. Merging First Nations storytelling, experimental music, and classical composition, it challenged the boundaries of structure and convention - resulting in something that felt simultaneously rooted in tradition and vibrantly contemporary.

Directed by pianist Paul Grabowsky and featuring the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Wata: A Gathering for Songmen, Improvising Soloists and Orchestra featured Daniel and David Wilfred on voice and bilma and yadaki respectively, as well as Aviva Endean (bass clarinet), Peter Knight (trumpet and electronics), Helen Svoboda (double bass), and Erkki Veltheim (violin). The Wilfreds, alongside Endean and Knight, are members of the experimental ensemble Hand To Earth, which has been active since 2021 and will soon release its third album, Ŋurru Wäŋa, at the end of August.

Wata unfolds in seven musical chapters, tracing pivotal moments in the life of Djuwalpada, an ancestor figure credited with shaping the land. These songs are known as manikay—poetic ceremonial invocations central to the cultural traditions of the Wagilak people from Arnhem Land. As Yolŋu songmen from Ngukurr—a geographically isolated community in the Northern Territory—song and dance have long been woven into the fabric of the Wilfreds’ lives. Through Wata, they shared a part of this history with the audience - an act that felt deeply meaningful to all who attended.

One of the evening’s great pleasures was watching how the musicians communicated (a nod here, a gesture there), signaling transitions between movements or giving cues for upcoming solos. Grabowsky and the orchestra, masterfully conducted by Benjamin Northey, provided the foundation that allowed the Wilfreds and the improvising soloists to thread their unique musical voices into a cohesive whole.

Each experimental performer delivered a memorable contribution, with none overstaying their moment in the spotlight. Veltheim’s virtuosic and unconventional violin playing added richness and texture to the piece. But ultimately, Daniel and David Wilfred stood at the performance’s heart - carrying themselves with quiet confidence and offering audiences a profound cultural experience through their music and presence.

Presented as part of Clancestry - QPAC’s annual celebration of First Nations culture - Wata is a powerful convergence of distinct musical disciplines. Before the final song, Daniel Wilfred addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude to the musicians, symphony, and director Paul Grabowsky, and emphasizing the importance of protecting language and tradition. Visionary artists like the Wilfreds remind us how reverence for heritage can walk hand in hand with fearless innovation - leaving behind art that is as unforgettable as it is inspiring.

 

Written By: Nicholas Stephan

Imagery By: Sash Parlett