Under the Australian Sky
Commissioned Work: Wattle Sky
Words by J. O’Regan. Music by J. Twist.
Time ... can you imagine 10 billion nights? That’s a LONG time!
This song introduces the wattle tree that has been growing under the Australian sky and stars for LONGER than some of the stars in space have even existed. The wattles have provided a home, protection and food for birds – from the time of the very FIRST songbirds.
The wattle’s gold flowers blaze bright yellow, like the stars, for just several months a year, and
the birds live in the wattle trees before they fly to other parts of the land or even the world.
Wattles are part of the natural bushland and mallee scrub, and are planted in parks and
reserves. The golden wattle bursts with colour, yellow against green, under the bright blue
winter skies of our country. Have YOU noticed the yellow wattle?
Singing these Wattle Sky songs requires knowing the story and context of each song.
Sing with clear diction (+mouth energy) and tell this fascinating Australian story to a
brand-new audience.
