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Andr​é​e Greenwell: Arrows II

from After Julia [studio album] by Decibel

/

about

I was overwhelmed by the volume of gendered abuse directed toward our nation’s Prime Minster, Julia Gillard,
so incisively compiled in Anne Summer’s speech Her Rights at Work: The political persecution of Australia’s first female Prime Minster. If this information had the media coverage it deserved, would it alter the hopes of young women who aspired to significantly and positively contribute to our society in the future? And where would that leave Australia in terms of eventually becoming a nation of true equality? I wanted to respond to Decibel’s invitation to contribute to the program After Julia using words and the voices of young women, so I thank writer Hilary Bell for her research and wisdom in this process. I would like to thank the vocalists who have generously participated in this project.


Andrée Greenwell is a multi-award winning composer who has written for Australia’s leading performing arts organisations - for theatre, orchestra, film, dance, concert, television, radio and installation. She is a leading creator of music theatre, notably The Hanging of Jean Lee and Dreaming Transportation, both adapted from poetic works by Jordie Albiston, which were staged at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Festival, and Arts House, North Melbourne; and recorded and broadcast by the ABC Radio National Music and Drama Units for a variety of feature programs, one which went on to win an international prize. Andrée’s works frequently combine specialist performers from classical, popular, rock, improvisation and electronic music genres. Her short films LAQUIEM and MEDUSAHEAD that she directed and composed, toured to many international film and music festivals. Andrée holds a Doctorate in Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong. andreegreenwell.com

Hilary Bell is a playwright and librettist, whose work has been performed around Australia and internationally. She is also author of the best-selling book Alphabetical Sydney.
hilarybell.org

lyrics

Raining
Raining from the winter sky
Describe a lovely arc
Little arrows with their poison tips Little arrows tumble from the lips. They draw no blood
No bruises to show
Death comes oh so slow,
Invisibly.
A thousand tiny pricks
A thousand tiny wounds
A thousand little words
A thousand million ways
Define the world.
Raining
From every arrow-slit.
Defend the fortress
Remind you of your place
And what you face
If you dare, if you dare scale the walls. The clicking of the locks
The toxic little shocks
The thousand poisoned pricks
The thousand vicious kicks
Designed to remind you of your place.
A thousand reasons why,
Proclaimed for all to hear from on high. Those little arrows fly through the dark, Little arrows fall and find their mark, They fly and fall and find their mark.

Lyric by Hilary Bell

credits

from After Julia [studio album], released April 9, 2023
Arrows 2: Vocalists - Andrée Greenwell (lead), Charlotte Crowe, Ines Paxton, Helen Grimley

Ensemble recorded by both Stuart James and Hadyn Buxton, live telematically between Soundfield Perth and Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance Digital Hub at Monash University, Melbourne, during the COVID19 lockdowns.

Vocals recorded by Ryan Miller, engineered by Tim Carr, at One Flight Up, Petersham, NSW.

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Decibel Australia

Decibel is an Australian new music ensemble devoted to the realisation of music where acoustic and electronic instruments are represented. Decibel pioneer electronic score formats for new and existing works, incorporating mobile score formats and networked playback environments.
Both studio albums and live recordings are listed on this site. ... more

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