Earth Flow

Composer and yidaki master William Barton learned yidaki as a child on Kalkadunga country, taught by Uncle Arthur Peterson, a Wannyi, Lardil and Kalkadunga elder. When the old songman passed, Barton was given the rare honour of holding onto his didgeridoo, and from this ancient instrument comes the heart of Earth Flow — knowledge passed hand to hand, voice to voice. 

A work honouring the living systems of memory, Earth Flow reimagines the library as a forest, holding rings of interconnected knowledge from the books that line the shelves to the people who move through this place each day. Barton brings together special guests alongside his mother, Aunty Delmae Barton, for a performance spanning poetry, movement, sound and song. A journey through cycles, layering experience through exchange, performers and audience alike are brought together by the four winds forming a human forest in the Library

Earth Flow also marks the premiere of ‘Song Book’ — a new piece composed by William Barton and dedicated to the library. 

This event is part of the library’s 200th Anniversary Festival, an exciting six-week program of performances, talks and free live music. 

Photo by Daniel Boud.