'You Can Dig All You Like, You'll Never Find Aboriginal Culture There': Relational Aspects of the History of the Aboriginal Music of New England, New South Wales, 1830-1930

Abstract

This thesis surveys the history of south-eastern Australian indigenous music, especially that of the New England Tablelands of New South Wales, from 1830 to 1930. In the process, it analyses several significant principles, including the indigenous strategy of reciprocal cultural accommodation, and musical tradition. Examination of the musical practice of one Aboriginal family of Armidale contextualises methods by which indigenous composers and performers incorporated European elements into their expression without risking its indigenous integrity. The radically relational character of Aboriginal culture is highlighted in the study, and it is argued that only through the examination of personal relationship, can the essence of indigenous music be correctly perceived.