Commissioned Work: Wattle Sky
Words by J. O’Regan. Music by J. Twist.
A specially adapted 3 song choral commissioned work by acclaimed Brisbane-based composer Joseph Twist and South Australian Jodie O’Regan, who lives in Burra.
“The beautiful golden wattle is Australia’s national flower. Over millions of years, it has adapted to survive the harsh Australian conditions - heat, fire, drought and floods.
Can you picture the national colours of Australia, the colours of the uniforms that our athletes wear to the Olympics?
Have you ever wondered why they are green and yellow?
September 1 is National Wattle Day.
Can you see the wattle on Australia’s National Coat of Arms?
Wattle seeds germinate in heat, which means after an area has been burnt by bushfire, the wattle is one of the first new trees to appear.
Golden wattles provide food and shelter for a number of birds, insects and animals and help other trees by improving the soil - taking nitrogen from the air into the soil. The golden wattle’s yellow flowers blaze across the Australian countryside in late winter, covering the trees in profusions of joyous and distinctive fluffy yellow balls.
Wattle wood was used as musical instruments by First Nations People, and now wattle’s extreme hardiness has earnt it a place in the stars.
In 2020 wattle seeds flew to space to live on the International Space Station for 7 months.” Writes Jodie O’Regan.
The three songs are titled –
- Under the Australian Sky
- Seed Lullabies
- Star Seeds
Can you imagine…..
Seed Lullabies
Words by J. O’Regan. Music by J. Twist.