MOTUAN CHORAL TRADITIONS OF PEROVETA BLEND WITH THE DISTINCTIVE SOUNDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ART ORCHESTRA
Hundreds of people in Port Moresby have experienced a special musical event, featuring the Australian Art Orchestra and the Tatana Village Choir.
Ane Ta Abia is a new musical work and collaborative project two years in the making, created by Australian–Papua New Guinean composer and Artistic Director Aaron Choulai.
The piece brings together the Australian Art Orchestra and the Tatana Village Choir, celebrating Motuan choral traditions of Peroveta from Tatana (Choulai’s home village) blended with the distinctive sounds of the Australian Art Orchestra.
On 15 November, eight members of the Ensemble who travelled from Australia to Papua New Guinea performed Ane Ta Abia alongside the Tatana Choir for local audiences in Tatana Village.
Earlier this year, a 12-member Tatana Choir and the eight-piece Australian Art Orchestra Ensemble premiered the work at Arts Centre Melbourne for the Asia TOPA Festival, followed by a performance at WOMADelaide in South Australia.
This original collaboration highlights shared musical practices between Australian and Papua New Guinean artists and incorporates traditional Peroveta singing. The performance also featured five short films created from footage collected in Tatana.
The PNG tour included a day of workshops in Tatana Village, offering activities that showcased art and music as creative outlets and vehicles for self-expression.
Artistic Director Aaron Choulai says “it was an incredibly meaningful experience to be able to bring these two worlds together again, this time in Port Moresby. Without the support of the community, the Australian High Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we would have not had this opportunity and we are eternally grateful.”
Choir Leader Ake Siaoa, said “performing back here in my village for my family and community to see is so emotional and I’m so proud of it.”
Choir Member Paia Heni said, “we know Papua New Guinea is not far from Australia and the partnership that Aaron has brought together with the talented musicians and the collaboration has been extraordinary.”
The tour is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program, and by the Tatana United Church. The Australian Art Orchestra is supported by Creative Australia and Creative Victoria.
