Issue Details: First known date: 2007... 2007 Morrdjdjanjno Ngan-marnbom Story Nakka, 'Songs That Turn Me into a Story Teller' : the Morrdjdjanjno of Western Arnhem Land.
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Morrdjdjanjno is the name of a song genre from the Arnhem Land plateau in the Top End of the Northern Territory and this paper is a first description of this previously undocumented song tradition. Morrdjdjanjno are songs owned neither by individuals or clans, but are handed down as 'open domain' songs with some singers having knowledge of certain songs unknown to others. Many morrdjdjanjno were once performed as part of animal increase rituals and each song is associated with a particular animal species, especially macropods. Sung only by men, they can be accompanied by clap sticks alone or both clap sticks and didjeridu. First investigations reveal that the song texts are not in everyday speech but include, among other things, totemic referential terms for animals which are exclusive to morrdjdjanjno. Translations from song language into ordinary register speech can often be 'worked up' when the song texts are discussed in their cultural and performance context. The transmission of these songs is severely endangered at present as there are only two known singers remaining both of whom are elderly. (Publication abstract)'

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Australian Aboriginal Studies Studies in Aboriginal Song : A Special Issue of Australian Aboriginal Studies no. 2 2007 Z1475731 2007 periodical issue (2 issues)

    This special issue focuses on studies in Aboriginal song, resulting from 'research projects that focus on endangered language and music and involved either collaborative work between linguists and musicologists, or work by scholars with training in both disciplines' (1).

    2007
    pg. 35-45
Last amended 29 Sep 2017 09:52:59
35-45 Morrdjdjanjno Ngan-marnbom Story Nakka, 'Songs That Turn Me into a Story Teller' : the Morrdjdjanjno of Western Arnhem Land.small AustLit logo Australian Aboriginal Studies
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