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William Barton

Origin: Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Genre/styles: Classical, Traditional

William Barton is widely recognised as one of Australia’s finest traditional didgeridoo players and a leading didgeridoo player in the classical world. Website: www.williambarton.com

William Barton’s mother is opera singer Delmae Barton, a member of the Stolen Generations.

The documentary Kalkadoon Man is a movie about William Barton’s musical work.

Discography

Earth Cry / Piano Concerto / Kakadu

William Barton - Earth Cry / Piano Concerto / Kakadu
Released 200?
Tracks
  1. Earth Cry
  2. Memento Mori
  3. Piano Concerto
  4. From Oceania
  5. Kakadu

William Barton plays with music by Tasmanian-born Peter Sculthorpe who has re-written some of his key works to include parts for the didgeridoo.


Songs of Mother Country

Sorry, no image for: - Songs of Mother Country.
Released 2003
Tracks

Sorry, no tracklisting available.

William Barton composed and performed Songs of Mother Country as a major commission for the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music.


Requiem

Released 2004
Tracks

CD/side 1

  1. Requiem: Introit / Kyrie / Gradual / Sequence / Canticle / Sanctus / Agnus Dei / Communion

CD/side 2

  1. My Country Childhood: Song of the Hills / A Church Gathering / A Village Funeral / Song of the River
  2. Earth Cry (abridged version)
  3. Great Sandy Island: The Sea Coast / The Boro-ground / The Rain-forest / The Garrison / Dune Dreaming
  4. New Norcia
  5. Quamby (for chamber orchestra): Prelude / In the Valley / On High Hills / At Quamby Bluff

The double CD Requiem is a major work for orchestra, chorus and didgeridoo by Peter Sculthorp.


Songs of Sky and Sea

William Barton - Songs of Sky and Sea
Released May 2004
Tracks
  1. Earth Cry
  2. Mangrove
  3. Songs of Sea and Sky: Prelude / Saibai - solo violin: Alan Smith / Interlude / Mission Hymn / Dance Song / Lament
  4. Kakadu - solo cor angalis: Alexa Murray
  5. From Ubirr

Songs of Sky and Sea features works by Peter Sculthorpe revised for didgeridoo and orchestra, performed by William Barton and the Queensland Orchestra. The album was nominated for ‘Best Classical Album’ in the 2004 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards.


The Journey

William Barton - The Journey
Released 2007
Tracks
  1. Dawn of Time
  2. Earth Song
  3. Bird Song
  4. Fire
  5. The Storm
  6. Gathering 1
  7. Gathering 2
  8. Cleansing
  9. Life Circle
  10. Sound of Movement
  11. Journey's End
  12. Slow Break Beat
  13. Dance at Sunrise

This is William Barton’s first self-released album.


River Symphony

Released 2007
Tracks
  1. Concerto for Didgeridoo: Earth / Wind / Water / Fire
  2. River Symphony: Storm Clouds Gather / Memory of the Sea / Riverflow to Angry Waters / Dolphin, Platypus and Fish Dart in the Shallows / A New Purpose / Memory of the Sea, Riverflow and River of Life / River, Cities and Pollution / Lament for the River and Triumphant Return to the Sea

The Concerto for Didgeridoo was inspired by didgeridoo player William Barton, the soloist in this recording, who provided Sean O’Boyle with the rhythms on which the piece is based.


Dreamtime: Improvisations for Didgeridoo and Guitar

Released November 2009
Tracks
  1. Dream (35:00)
  2. Dijilile (based on Dijilile by Peter Sculthorpe; 8:16)
  3. Earth (15:45)

Desert Stars Dancing

William Barton - Desert Stars Dancing
Released June 2011
Tracks
  1. Desert Stars Dancing
  2. I Sunrise
  3. II Flight
  4. Moreton Bay
  5. Night Breath
  6. I Trance
  7. II Dreams and Chanting
  8. III Cadenza
  9. Electric Landscapes
  10. I Air
  11. II Light
  12. The Ground Beneath Us
  13. Meridional

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