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Dreaming in the Sand

From Robbie James comes a classical piece, his String Quintet No. 3 in nine movements, performed live by Bentley String Quintet at New Benner Theatre in Brisbane. It visualises the early stages of colonisation through a dream of a nation founded on inclusivity. This enduring dream continues to shape Australia today.

Dreaming in the Sand pays homage to the ancient Map Of Songs that began the story of our nation thousands of generations ago. James’ third string quintet debuts with a raw emotive performance by Bentley String Quintet laying bare the essence of the composer’s vision.

The piece opens with Dreaming in the Sand (part one), an ode to the Australian landscape, the ancient traditions and the ongoing aspiration for an unreservedly symbiotic relationship between two diverse cultures. The next movement mimics a day in the life of the Kangaroo until a pivotal moment at Kamay (Botany Bay) when James Cook’s arrival in Australia is depicted as a Ghost on the Beach. Following this epochal event, the Kangaroo Rides the Desert Skies as it embarks on a journey to the next world, symbolising the country’s transition to a new era.

In this narrative, Suzannah Sails with the First Fleet to the southern land and develops a profound connection with an original inhabitant named Wadni, who awaits her arrival on the shore. Discovering his unique abilities, Suzannah came to describe him as The Gentle Warrior. Their bond is expressed by the Dance on the Divide, representing the joining of two disparate worlds and the quest for peace amidst conflict. This theme persists through to the next movement, The Crow and the Irishman, which highlights fleeting moments of unity amidst discord, calling to mind the music the Irish convicts would play to remember the culture they left behind. The composition concludes with Dreaming in the Sand (part two), reaffirming the enduring nature of the dream and pays homage to the ancient Map of Songs that began the story of our nation thousands of generations before the coming of the ships.

James’ previous work, String Quintet No. 4: The Marree Sisters (ABC Classic, 2022), garnered acclaim, establishing him as a significant voice in contemporary Australian composition. With Dreaming In The Sand, James further solidifies his artistry, merging his multifaceted musical background with rich storytelling.

Artist

Bentley String Quintet

Award-winning cellist Dr Danielle Bentley specialises in Australian art music and is co-leader of indie-classical trailblazer Ensemble Sooon.


Press quote

“Robbie James is best known as a celebrated Australian rock/popular music guitarist and producer with the likes of GANGgajang and Yothu Yindi. He has loved classical music since childhood. His reputation as a composer has grown in recent years. Dreaming in the Sand ‘visualises the early stages of colonisation through a dream of a nation founded on inclusivity’. There are moments of Schubert-like sounds along with passage work that explores the lower registers of the quintet. Suzannah Sails commences with a Celtic-like melody on the violin and develops with a distinct folk music vibe. Dance on the Divide leaps and prances, alive with ideas rendered idiomatically for strings. It is one of my favourite movements. There is a purity, an innocence to the music of Dreaming in the Sand. It could be more complex harmonically and rhythmically, but it is not. There is a strong focus on melody and on establishing solid, but not crass, rhythmic foundations. It does hold one’s attention, however. Each of the nine movements of Dreaming in the Sand is a musical narrative, a miniature parable. It tells a story. There is no Beethovian grand design sculpted in sonata form, but there is nevertheless an arc established across 30 or so minutes of listening.The CD tells a version of our national founding narrative honestly and with musical integrity.”

Read full review

— Philip Pogson, Loud Mouth Music Trust e-zine

Audio previews

Track Listing

    Dreaming in the Sand: String Quintet No. 3 Robbie James

  1. I. Dreaming in the Sand (part one)
  2. II. Kangaroo
  3. III. Ghost on the Beach
  4. IV. Kangaroo Rides the Desert Skies
  5. V. The Gentle Warrior
  6. VI. Suzannah Sails
  7. VII. Dance on the Divide
  8. VIII. The Crow and the Irishman
  9. IX. Dreaming in the Sand (part two)

Performers

Where to buy

Dreaming in the Sand is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$20.00 AUD
Release date
June 2024
Copyright
© 2024 Robbie James
Phonogram
℗ 2024 Move Records
Categories
Australian, Classical
Catalogue number
MCD 620
Alternate catalogue number
MCD620
Barcode
EAN 9314574062021