People's music for people's Parliament House

TUESDAY 6 MAY 2008

The 20th anniversary of new Parliament House in Canberra should be a time to celebrate the diverse heritage of the people who helped create the Aussie icon, according to the musician tasked with capturing the spirit of its construction.

ANU composer Dr Ruth Lee Martin was commissioned to write the score for Pride of Place, a documentary about the building of Parliament House. It will be launched at the Open Day in Canberra this Saturday.

The film tells story of the history of the House from inception to completion. For the score, Dr Martin drew on the different cultural backgrounds of its architects.

“There is a profound use of symbolism that runs through Parliament House – from the large scale right down to the smallest detail. I was struck by this, and felt it fitting that the music continue this use of symbolism,” explains Dr Martin, a folk music specialist from the ANU School of Music.

“I used three folk songs for the basis of the three movements in the piece, each a nod to the Italian, American and Australian origins of the building’s architects. I chose folk music as it’s intrinsically the music of the people, and Parliament House is, after all, a ‘house for the people’.”

Dr Martin says the first movement is a tribute to the beauty and stillness of the traditional owners of the land on which Parliament House sits, moving from a solo didgeridoo to thrumming strings that indicates the vastness and pulse of the Australian bush. It is rounded out by an Italian folk song that honours the sacrifices of the nation’s service people.

The second movement is based on an American folk tune, using percussive attacks and instrumental colour to represent the noise, dirt and sweat expended during the busy construction period.

Finally, the third movement is a celebration of what was achieved in the building of Parliament House and all it stands for. This section is based on a version of Waltzing Matilda, which Dr Martin describes as an unofficial national anthem.

“This music is a tribute to all the people who worked on building Parliament House – the architects, the labourers, the craftsmen, the women who created the magnificent tapestry in the Great Hall.”

The score is performed by the Elektra quartet. The 20th Anniversary of Parliament House is being celebrated on Saturday 10 May 2008 in Canberra.

Dr Ruth Lee Martin is available for interview: 02 6125 5777, 0421 555 367
ANU Media Office: Simon Couper 02 6125 4171, 0416 249 241