A Lithium Fascination

Abstract

A Lithium Fascination explores regionalism and First Nations composition. Pertaining to regionalism in the work I take the latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates of the Mt Cattlin mine in WA, one of the major mines for lithium in Australia. I use those coordinates to create pitch material for the work. I also employ the use of mobile phone sounds (ring tones, text sounds, etc) by the ensemble on stage because our phones use lithium. In Australia mining frequently occurs on First Nations land, and whilst the Mt Cattlin mine is not responsible for the movement of people in recent years or the desecration of sacred sites or objects, other mines have had such impact. This work is a simple political comment by a First Nations composer on mining, and contributes to a body of such comment by First Nations visual artists in other regions of mining in Queensland and the NT. Show more