Pemulwuy
Text & Music: Paul Jarman
Performed by Birralee Blokes and Blokes Alumni
Conductor: Paul Holley OAM
Piano: Justine Favell
Recorded at Birralee Celebrates 2023, St Peter's Lutheran College Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane.
Audio: Daniel Kassulke
Video: Tnee Dyer
Pemulwuy was commissioned by Woden Valley Youth Choir and written for treble voices. Paul Jarman reset the piece for male voices for the Birralee Blokes. The song tells the story of Indigenous warrior and leader Pemulwuy who led the Aboriginal people of the Eora nation in the fight against colonial settlement. His totem was the crow hence the references to crows and ravens throughout the piece. Listeners are encouraged to learn more of the story of this important man in Australia's history.
To mark the 20th Anniversary of the Birralee Blokes in 2023 past members were invited to join the Blokes to perform. This piece has become a staple of the Blokes repertoire linking their past and present members.
This choir is one of the ensembles of Voices of Birralee, an Australian community choir organisation based in Brisbane. To learn more about Voices of Birralee visit: www.birralee.org