The Land is Healed: Ban.Garay! (2014)
(for a cappella choir SATB)

This movement for a cappella choir is drawn from the dramatic cantata “Jandamarra – Sing for the Country”. The piece tells of a moment of triumph for the Bunuba people as Jandamarra sings the Snake Spirit Yilimbirri Unggud back to his spring. This is a sign of the country being healed through the power of song. The healing of the land, the power of song and respect for culture are all strong thematic threads explored throughout the cantata and are brought into focus in this movement. It is both reflective and celebratory in tone.

There are a number of words from the Bunuba language and culture used in the text:

Ban.garay! “Barn-ga-ray” He is back! (The snake spirit)

Yilimbirri “Yi-lim-bi-rri” The name of the snake spirit and his spring

Unggud “Oong-good” Spirit / creator spirit

Raii “Rah-ee” Little spirit beings who live around water

Jalgangurru “Jarl-ga-ngoo-roo” Magic man, man of power

Jandamarra “Jarn-dah-mah-rrah” Name of Bunuba resistance hero.