Enyato, the original title for this work is extracted from Edwards’ Maninya text, an arbitrary nonsense poem dating from 1981 which has had a formative influence on much of his instrumental and vocal music. Through their musical associations the ‘words’ Maninya and Enyato have acquired the meanings dance/chant and dualism respectively. The piece has a straightforward appearance, presenting an immediately attractive sound world to the listener. The first movement is like a chorale, cast in mediaeval European modality tempered by South East Asian inflections; the second, a joyful dance (sound clip above) whose ethos is distinctively Australian and specifically aligned with the Sydney school in its subtle interfusion of pentatonic modes and sparkling cross rhythms.
Ross Edwards
One of Australia’s best known composers, Ross Edwards has created a unique sound
world which seeks to reconnect music with elemental forces and restore such qualities
as ritual, spontaneity and the impulse to dance. Intensely aware of his vocation
as a composer, he has largely followed his own path, allowing the music to speak
for itself. Edwards considers it his responsibility to make the most effective use
of one of the planet’s most powerful forces to communicate vividly and widely at
the highest possible artistic level. His music, which is concerned with the age-
For more information please visit: www.rossedwards.com
Chorale & Ecstatic Dance -
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