Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 3 - Torres Strait Islander Musics: Tradition, Travel and Change

  • from Part I - Continuities
  • Edited by Amanda Harris, University of Sydney, Clint Bracknell, University of Western Australia
  • Book:
    The Cambridge Companion to Music in Australia
    Published online:
    14 November 2024
    Print publication:
    14 November 2024, pp 40-55

  • Summary

    This article explores the importance of music to Australian Torres Strait Islanders, in their home islands and on the Australian mainland, for maintaining and sustaining connections with the historical traditions of the Torres Strait region in far northern Queensland. Beginning post-World War Two, there was a sizeable diaspora to the Australian mainland and also the gradual unravelling of race-based laws aimed at controlling the travels and personal lives of Islanders, and Aboriginal peoples. Because of the diaspora, there were some changes in Islander sociality and culture over time, place and situation, in particular regarding performance and performativity. However, aspects of Islander music practices remain similar to what had occurred traditionally, but with some modifications via adoptions, adaptations and innovations befitting new social, cultural and economic environments. This article concludes with discussion of how traditional practices have contributed to contemporary Islander music variously as culture, commerce and creativity.