Water Song

Repertoire Notes

Water Song is a groundbreaking new work composed collaboratively by Ensemble Ochaye, a dynamic group of Australian diasporic women improvisers. Drawing from the rich personal and cultural stories of its members – whose backgrounds span Australian, Korean, Chinese, Iranian, Irish and Dutch Jewish heritage – the ensemble weaves a vibrant tapestry of sound that reflects water’s profound significance across cultures and histories.

At the heart of Water Song is the idea of water as a sentient being, embodying life’s essence and our interconnectedness with all living things. Through intricate improvisations and collective composition, the music explores water as a symbol of communication with the afterlife, a force of mystery and power, a vessel of emotion and a source of community, joy, celebration and survival. It reflects on water’s role as a threshold between worlds, a conduit of life and death and a source of inspiration that unites diverse cultural perspectives.

Through this evocative work, Ensemble Ochaye invites listeners to celebrate water not only as a natural element but as a profound metaphor for connection, resilience and shared humanity. Water Song is a call to honour the stories water holds and the deep bonds it creates across time, space and cultures.

The Instruments of Water Song

The instrumentation of Water Song is as unique and evocative as the music itself, blending traditional, contemporary and invented sounds in a way that transcends cultural and musical boundaries.

Lead artist Sunny Kim brings her powerful voice to the ensemble, seamlessly blending the eclectic influences of jazz, Korean traditional singing and her ongoing intercultural exploration with Yolŋu manikay songmen. Her artistry anchors the ensemble’s sound, embodying its spirit of connection and transformation.

Mindy Meng Wang introduces audiences to the Chinese guzheng, a plucked zither with over 2,500 years of history. While traditionally known for its delicate, harp-like cascades, Mindy reinvents the instrument with bold textures and innovative techniques, creating a sound that bridges ancient traditions and contemporary expression.

Gelareh Pour plays the Iranian kamancheh, a bowed string instrument often described as the soulful voice of Persian classical music. Gelareh’s emotive and inventive approach reimagines the kamancheh as both a storyteller and a sonic adventurer in this ensemble.

Zoe Barry’s cello adds depth and resonance, her imaginative musicality and original approach allowing the instrument to move seamlessly between anchoring harmonies and lyrical flights of improvisation.

Aviva Endean expands the ensemble’s soundscape with clarinets and other invented woodwind instruments, using innovative techniques to craft unexpected layers and textures. Electronics further enhance the ensemble’s palette, merging acoustic and digital worlds into a cohesive and vibrant sound.

Every artist in the ensemble reinvents their instrument, developing a personal language that reflects their cultural roots while embracing experimentation. Together, they weave an extraordinary sonic tapestry, blending their voices into a dynamic and fluid musical journey. In Water Song the musicians also interact with bodies of water, allowing these encounters to shape a soundscape that is as immersive and ever-changing as water itself.