The Black Arm Band

The Beginning

17 October 2006

The growing consciousness for this project began nearly 20 years ago when I toured remote Aboriginal communities as a member of Circus Oz, flying around the top end in an old DC3, experiencing first hand the culture of remote community. It was then that a seed was planted in my mind. murundak and The Black Arm Band is the flower from that seed.

Early on, we wanted to bring together an Indigenous orchestra to develop the rich diversity of local Aboriginal musicians; and in doing so perhaps be a forerunner to an ongoing ensemble…to be to music what Bangarra Dance Theatre is to dance. This remains a compelling ambition for The Black Arm Band.

Later, the proposition to celebrate the soundtrack to Indigenous life became irresistible. When we (Dave Arden, Shane Howard and I) started to look at repertoire, a living, breathing, social memoir in the form of a musical performance with archival film, came alive.