Creating musical futures in Australian schools and communities: Refining theory and planning for practice through empirical innovation. This proposal forms a logical and much needed extension of the Commonwealth Government's (2005) National Review of Music Education. It will establish international leadership for Australian music education research by constructing the most complete picture of children's motivation to study music ever attempted. A series of interconnected studies will refine theo ....Creating musical futures in Australian schools and communities: Refining theory and planning for practice through empirical innovation. This proposal forms a logical and much needed extension of the Commonwealth Government's (2005) National Review of Music Education. It will establish international leadership for Australian music education research by constructing the most complete picture of children's motivation to study music ever attempted. A series of interconnected studies will refine theory in ways that can be used to mobilize public awareness of the life-long sense of wellbeing and enjoyment that artistic appreciation and participation in music can offer, and future efforts to promote more effective strategies for the provision of music education for all young people in Australia and beyond.Read moreRead less
When the Waters Will Be One: Indigenous Performance Traditions at the New Frontier of Inter-Cultural Discourse in Arnhem Land. This project will examine the emerging roles of Indigenous performance traditions from Arnhem Land as fulcra for the strategic development of new discourses between peoples of the region and the international community. The adaptation of music and dance traditions to new media and performance contexts will be considered as will the hereditary intellectual paradigms that ....When the Waters Will Be One: Indigenous Performance Traditions at the New Frontier of Inter-Cultural Discourse in Arnhem Land. This project will examine the emerging roles of Indigenous performance traditions from Arnhem Land as fulcra for the strategic development of new discourses between peoples of the region and the international community. The adaptation of music and dance traditions to new media and performance contexts will be considered as will the hereditary intellectual paradigms that underpin these processes. This project will also investigate historical antecedents to these new developments within the past 50 years, and explore their centrality to current attempts by Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land to achieve cultural and economic sustainability amid a continuing period of radical social change.Read moreRead less
From Muslim devotions to global niveau: the art of body percussion music as expression of cultural memory in Aceh and the diasporas. After Aceh's tsunami tragedy, Australia/ns pledged large amounts of money and effort to collaborate in rebuilding the devastated province. Results of this project can help us approach reconstruction in a more culturally sensitive way. Challenging stereotypes of Acehnese as fanatical and potentially hostile, the project can help explain Aceh's strong commitment to ....From Muslim devotions to global niveau: the art of body percussion music as expression of cultural memory in Aceh and the diasporas. After Aceh's tsunami tragedy, Australia/ns pledged large amounts of money and effort to collaborate in rebuilding the devastated province. Results of this project can help us approach reconstruction in a more culturally sensitive way. Challenging stereotypes of Acehnese as fanatical and potentially hostile, the project can help explain Aceh's strong commitment to Islam, pride in its great cultural achievements, and the continuing war. Improved bilateral and people-to-people relations between Australians and Acehnese/Indonesians can facilitate a more confident and sympathetic interpretation of the needs of our national security. In addition, material results of the project will augment two National Collections.Read moreRead less
Acoustics of the Didjeridu. We shall undertake a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the acoustics of the didjeridu-lips-vocal tract system. There is very little published technical literature on the dynamic acoustics of this important and uniquely Australian instrument, whose operation is surprisingly complex. A combination of stroboscopic measurements of lip motion, acoustic and vocal tract impedance measurements, MRI imaging of the vocal tract and computer modeling will be use ....Acoustics of the Didjeridu. We shall undertake a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the acoustics of the didjeridu-lips-vocal tract system. There is very little published technical literature on the dynamic acoustics of this important and uniquely Australian instrument, whose operation is surprisingly complex. A combination of stroboscopic measurements of lip motion, acoustic and vocal tract impedance measurements, MRI imaging of the vocal tract and computer modeling will be used to synthesize all components of the acoustic system into one quantitative model. The expected outcome will be an understanding of this instrument of unparalleled detail.Read moreRead less
Islam and Ideologies of War, Gender and Class as Determinants of Musical Identity in Twentieth Century Aceh, Indonesia. In the colonial and postcolonial periods, the natural wealth and strategic location of Aceh province brought it fame, foreign contact and frequent war, yet its cultural expressions - which can help explain Acehnese behaviour and the current war situation - are poorly known. Aceh's musical identity is determined by intersections between the music's internal syntax and extramusic ....Islam and Ideologies of War, Gender and Class as Determinants of Musical Identity in Twentieth Century Aceh, Indonesia. In the colonial and postcolonial periods, the natural wealth and strategic location of Aceh province brought it fame, foreign contact and frequent war, yet its cultural expressions - which can help explain Acehnese behaviour and the current war situation - are poorly known. Aceh's musical identity is determined by intersections between the music's internal syntax and extramusical associations arising from ideologies and functions of religion, combat, gender and class; history of noble and religious leadership; and social change. New theories are presented that relate musical style to the ideologies and explain the performing arts' fusion of indigenous, Arabic and other foreign elements.Read moreRead less
The revival of Tudor church music 1880-1930: choral traditions, Roman Catholicism and English national identity. Early English choral music is still a vibrant part of musical life, and continues to be performed by professional and amateur choirs around the world, from the Tallis Scholars (singing, at the time of writing, to sold-out houses around Australia) to the choir of Wangaratta Cathedral. It is part of Australia's cultural heritage. The Tudor music revival brought this music out of obscuri ....The revival of Tudor church music 1880-1930: choral traditions, Roman Catholicism and English national identity. Early English choral music is still a vibrant part of musical life, and continues to be performed by professional and amateur choirs around the world, from the Tallis Scholars (singing, at the time of writing, to sold-out houses around Australia) to the choir of Wangaratta Cathedral. It is part of Australia's cultural heritage. The Tudor music revival brought this music out of obscurity into the position it occupies today. It has, therefore, had a profound impact, but remains largely unexamined. This project will make a major Australian contribution to international music scholarship and will also be of interest to amateur choral enthusiasts in Australia, the US and the UK. Read moreRead less
A Study of Acoustical, Psycho-acoustical and Musicological Factors in Tuned Percussion Ensemble Design. This research will generate the following nationally benefits: 1) The World's first new, widely available, acoustical musical instruments in almost a Century, and the creation of a uniquely Australian musical form, 2) The creation of a major new teaching resource for classroom music and a new export industry for Australia, 3) New knowledge and techniques for the application of psycho-acoustic ....A Study of Acoustical, Psycho-acoustical and Musicological Factors in Tuned Percussion Ensemble Design. This research will generate the following nationally benefits: 1) The World's first new, widely available, acoustical musical instruments in almost a Century, and the creation of a uniquely Australian musical form, 2) The creation of a major new teaching resource for classroom music and a new export industry for Australia, 3) New knowledge and techniques for the application of psycho-acoustic theory to industrial design processes, and their evaluation with respect to musical instrument acoustics and performance practices, and 4) New knowledge of the human auditory system; thereby contributing to Australia's international standing as a leader in auditory research and promoting Australia's cultural and scientific capabilities.Read moreRead less
Understanding and overcoming technical difficulties in woodwind musical instruments. A large minority of Australians play musical instruments, and even more enjoy listening. Wind instruments predominate in school bands. This project will provide knowledge and resources that will improve teaching and playing techniques. It will also provide understanding and information useful to instrument makers, of which Australia has several. The information will be made available in both technical and non-te ....Understanding and overcoming technical difficulties in woodwind musical instruments. A large minority of Australians play musical instruments, and even more enjoy listening. Wind instruments predominate in school bands. This project will provide knowledge and resources that will improve teaching and playing techniques. It will also provide understanding and information useful to instrument makers, of which Australia has several. The information will be made available in both technical and non-technical forms via our widely used web site.
The quality of this research, its useful application to practical problems, and the rapid and easy communication to a wide and very interested subset of the public will enhance Australia's reputation for research and music.Read moreRead less
Policy Notes: Local Popular Music in Global Creative Economies. In providing the first comprehensive analysis of how music policy is created, the project assesses the viability of local music industries in a time of rapid, global technological change. It forges new ways of planning the different needs of producers, audiences and government in cultural production; and contribute to the economic and cultural health of Australian popular music industries. The project fills a major gap in Australian ....Policy Notes: Local Popular Music in Global Creative Economies. In providing the first comprehensive analysis of how music policy is created, the project assesses the viability of local music industries in a time of rapid, global technological change. It forges new ways of planning the different needs of producers, audiences and government in cultural production; and contribute to the economic and cultural health of Australian popular music industries. The project fills a major gap in Australian and international cultural policy studies in relation to the effectiveness of popular music policy and practice, particularly for industries situated outside the predominant centres of music production in Europe, the U.S. and Asia.Read moreRead less
SONG LYRICS FOR THE ENGLISH THEATRE 1660-1700: A PERFORMATIVE ANALYSIS. Restoration plays preserve the lyrics of over 1500 songs, ranging from sophisticated pieces set by Purcell to words written to popular ballad tunes. The project will collect the entire corpus of these lyrics and use them as the subject for a performance-oriented analysis, integrating words, music (when it survives) and what can be discovered about stage presentation. Cultural meanings will be established through close contex ....SONG LYRICS FOR THE ENGLISH THEATRE 1660-1700: A PERFORMATIVE ANALYSIS. Restoration plays preserve the lyrics of over 1500 songs, ranging from sophisticated pieces set by Purcell to words written to popular ballad tunes. The project will collect the entire corpus of these lyrics and use them as the subject for a performance-oriented analysis, integrating words, music (when it survives) and what can be discovered about stage presentation. Cultural meanings will be established through close contextualisation. Rhetorical theory and the concept of 'musical wit' will be used to relate verbal meanings to musical procedures and both to theatrical presentations of the body.Read moreRead less