Ntaria Choir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ntaria Choir
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| Also known as | Hermannsburg Choir. Ntaria Ladies Choir |
| Origin | Hermannsburg, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Labels | CAAMA Music ABC Classics |
The Ntaria Choir is a special singing group from Hermannsburg in Central Australia. This choir is made up of Aboriginal people, mainly from the Arrernte people. They sing songs in English, Arrernte, and Pitjantjatjara.
Over the years, the choir has had different names. Some of these include the Ntaria Ladies Choir and the Hermannsburg Choir. For a while, it was only women singing. They even performed as part of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir (CAAWC).
Contents
The Choir's Beginning
The Ntaria Choir started a long time ago, in 1887. Two pastors, Kempe and Schwartz, helped create it. They wrote down 53 church songs (hymns) in the Arrernte language. The people in the church learned to sing these songs. Singing was always a big part of church life. A German pastor named Carl Strehlow was one of the first choirmasters.
In the 1920s, a teacher's wife, Mrs. Heinrich, taught some people how to sing in harmony. This means singing different notes that sound good together.
The choir was a mix of men and women until the 1970s. Famous artist Albert Namatjira might have sung with them in the 1950s. In 1956, the Hermannsburg choir traveled outside their home area for the first time. They went to South Australia with their conductor, David Trudinger. There, they recorded an album called The Heart of Aranda.
Touring and Recording in 1967
In September 1967, the choir went on a big tour. There were 24 singers, half men and half women. They visited South Australia and Victoria. This trip was planned to celebrate Hermannsburg's 90th birthday.
Pastor Doug Radke was the conductor for this tour. Aboriginal country music singer Gus Williams was the host and lead singer. Together, they recorded an album called Hermannsburg Choir on Tour 1967.
The choir performed in many places. Their most special performance was at the Adelaide Town Hall. They also sang in churches and schools. About 12,000 people saw them at 13 concerts. The people of Hermannsburg still remember this tour. Pastor Radke said it was like teaching people in the south about Aboriginal culture.
After this tour, Pastor Radke and his wife, Olga Radke, left Hermannsburg in 1969. Olga had played the organ and piano for the choir.
From the 1970s, the choir became a group of only women. It was then known as the Ntaria Ladies Choir or Hermannsburg Ladies Choir.
The Choir in the 21st Century
In May 2003, the choir sang with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Their performance was recorded by ABC Classic.
In 2015, the choir traveled overseas for the first time. They went to Bavaria, Germany, as part of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir (CAAWC). They were invited to sing at the Kirchentag festival in Stuttgart. This is a huge event for the Protestant church, with about 100,000 visitors. The CAAWC also toured around Australia in 2016.
On May 3, 2019, the choir sang songs by the famous composer Bach. This was at the opening concert of the Canberra International Music Festival. David Roenfeldt was their choirmaster. After that, they performed at Parliament House, the National Museum of Australia, and the National Gallery of Australia.
Choirmasters of the Ntaria Choir
A choirmaster is the person who leads and teaches a choir. Some of the people who have led the Ntaria Choir include:
- Pastors Carl Strehlow and Paul Albrecht
- Aboriginal country music singer Gus Williams
- David Roenfeldt, who led the choir in the 2010s.
The Choir in Books and Films
The Ntaria Choir has been featured in several documentaries and books.
- In 2003, a film called Journey to Horseshoe Bend (also known as Cantata Journey) was made about the choir. It showed their performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
- In 2005, the choir appeared in An Aural Map Of Australia. This film was about an experimental artist and violinist named Jon Rose.
- The 2015 trip to Germany with the CAAWC became a documentary film called The Song Keepers (2017). Naina Sen directed this film. It was shown at the 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival and won an ATOM Award.
- In 2021, Olga Radke wrote a book about the 1967 tour. It is called Hermannsburg Choir on Tour - Remembering the 1967 Choir Tour. The book includes her detailed diary from the tour. A CD of the digitally improved music from the 1967 tour was released with the book. David Roenfeldt helped prepare the music for this re-release.
The Choir Today
The choir is now called the Ntaria Choir. It once again includes both men and women. As of 2020, there were eight people in the choir. They sing in Western Arrarnta and Pitjantjatjara. The members are Marion Swift, Clarabelle Swift, David and Lily Roennfeldt, Sonya Braybon, Genise Williams, Damien Williams, and Nicholas Williams.
Music Albums
The Ntaria Choir has released several music albums:
