A UNIQUELY WEST AUSTRALIAN PIECE SIX YEARS IN THE MAKING
“It cuts through rules and genres of music in a pure celebration of life” - ABC Radio National
‘Kiangardarup’ is an original composition by Robert Zielinski for traditional Irish fiddle, wooden flute, cello and bouzouki, inspired by the Torbay Inlet in Western Australia’s remote Great Southern region, where Robert lived for several years working as a violin maker and touring musician. The piece takes the listener on a journey from the awakening dawn, through the heat of the day to dusk, to a still night under the canopy of the giant karri trees and stars. ‘Kiangardarup’ comes from the country of the Minang people, the indigenous people that have lived there for thousands of generations. As one of the original names of the Torbay Inlet and surrounding area, the name Kiangardarup was given to Robert by Minang elder Vernice Gillies.
Being a traditional Irish musician and having learned by ear in the oral tradition, Robert composed ‘Kiangardarup’ without a score, only sound. Robert was taught traditional Irish music from the older generation, first in Australia, and then on the west coast of Ireland, where he lived for 14 years. One of his main mentors in Australia was Mick Doherty, nephew of the iconic Donegal travelling fiddle player Johnny Doherty. A few years after his return to Australia, Robert moved to Torbay, making violins, including his own. As soon as he had finished making his violin, the piece came to light.
During this period he spent a lot of time away from man-made sounds, surrounded by the natural world. Part of this six-year process was Robert recording it outside over the course of 18 months in the very places that inspired the piece. These field recordings were refined by Lee Buddle at his recording studio in Perth, where Melinda Forsythe (cello), Manuela Centanni (wooden flute) and Jim Green (bouzouki) meticulously added their parts over a further two-year period. It was then mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London by senior mastering engineer Andrew Walter. The unique sounds of the Australian bush can be heard throughout the entire album. The album also features a 28 page booklet with images of the inlet and surrounding country, taken by Manuela. The piece received a standing ovation at its world premiere in the Perth Concert Hall in May 2024.
Of the first single and video from the album, ‘Donegal’, Robert says, “Donegal- a place of memories, sadness and hope. Wherever they are in the world the Irish always look back to a place they call home. I’m not Irish or from Donegal but my great friend and mentor Mick Doherty was. It was him that kept that place alive all the way out in Western Australia.” Bio info and more about the project:
www.robertzielinskimusic.com
Video Donegal:
Video Robert Zielinski:
Renowned Irish Fiddler Robert Zielinski Releases Kiangardarup
