Dreaming in the Sand

Dreaming in the Sand

Bentley String Quartet

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.

Track Listing:

Robbie James: String Quartet no 3 "Dreaming in the Sand"

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)
   

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Move Records
MCD 620